Thanks Wheaton Pedestrian Volunteers for their Efforts to Educate Public
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett celebrated the completion of pedestrian safety improvements installed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) on Reedie Drive, between Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue in Wheaton. This 800-foot stretch of road was targeted because it was designated as one of the County’s “High Incidence Areas” (HIAs) -- locations having the highest density of pedestrian collisions. Between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012, there were 20 pedestrian collisions, including one fatality, in the Reedie Drive HIA.
The Reedie Drive area is heavily traveled by pedestrians going to Wheaton Westfield Shopping Mall, the Wheaton Metro Station, public parking, retail shops, restaurants and nearby bus stops. Wheaton redevelopment is expected to further increase pedestrian activity.
The engineering improvements along Reedie Drive already appear to be reducing traffic speeds and increasing compliance of drivers yielding to pedestrians.
Leggett also thanked members of a group of 30 Spanish- and English-speaking pedestrian safety advocates who have been conducting education activities in Wheaton/Aspen Hill for 15 months. Several of the volunteers were instrumental in working with the State of Maryland to have a new signal installed at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Claridge Road to improve pedestrian safety in this heavily traveled area.
More details about the Reedie Drive improvements and the volunteer outreach efforts are available on the County’s website.
