Michael Harris of Opel Jones office has been added to receive automatic updates thru SCF

DPW Traffic Diane B assigned this issue to DPW HWYS Traffic

Following up. This is a busy intersection, particularly with lots of walkers in neighborhood/parents driving their children to school due to bus issues.

Please call our office at 410-313-2430 with the SCF # 14134769 to discuss your concerns. Thanks,

Please call our office at 410-313-2430 with the SCF # 14134769 to discuss your concerns.
Your voicemail is full so I could not leave a message for you. Thanks,

I do not have voicemail; please ensure the number you dialed is correct. I called and left a message on the DPW number. Thanks.

The phone number is correct. A phone conversation was made via the same phone number noon time 9/7/2023.
A request of the field meeting was arranged to include the representatives from HCPSS Student Office of Transportation, HCPD Crossing Guard Division, Howard County Office of Transportation, Howard County DPW Engineering, and office of District 2 were all invited to meet on site to address your concerns.

Thank you all for attending the field meeting regarding the SCF# 14134769 Initiation of Investigation for school crosswalk and ADA ramps across Mellenbrook Road at the southern entrance of Thunder Hill ES on Friday September 15th, 2023 at 2pm.
Several of the community members showed up before/during the meeting and provided local experience regarding the traffic pattern on Mellenbrook Road.
Mellenbrook Road is 36 feet wide with two 11-foot travel lanes, a 6-foot bike lane on the northbound (school side) and a 8-foot shoulder on the southbound allowing parking. Traffic Division shared the speed data from October 31st to November 1st, 2022, that the overall 85th% speed is 30 mph and the daily traffic volume is 3044 VPD on Mellenbrook Road near THES. Traffic Division also shared the Sight Distance Analysis by using both design speed of 30mph and 35mph at this request location.
First part of the discussion was seeking a school crosswalk on Mellenbrook Road at the southern entrance of THES. Traffic Division proposed a pedestrian refuge island per Howard County Design Standard R-4.08 at this location. This proposal was supported by the members at the meeting.
The neighbors then brought another issue of currently HCPSS school bus stop for the middle school and high school is located on the corner of Mellenbrook Road and Lightingview Road, morning picking up on the southbound direction and afternoon drop off on the northbound direction. They were also looking for the feasibility of a marked crosswalk at this location to facility students crossing Mellenbrook Road safely. After a group visit at this location, the proposal of a marked crosswalk with bump-outs (see Howard County Design Manuel Vol III chapter 2.2.E.10) was chosen as the requested school crossing for Mellenbrook Road.
As a summary, the proposed school crossing location is now on Mellenbrook Road at Lightingview Road because it will serve a broader crossing need for the community. Traffic Division will work with designers for an preliminary design plan to identify the potential impacts, including but not limited to existing traffic pattern to THES during drop off/pick up time, existing utilities, existing drainage inlets, obstructions on the sight lines, existing school bus locations, potential crossing guard posts, existing on street parking, existing bike lanes, ect.
Should the plans are approved for construction, the estimated construction time would be summer 2024 pending on the FY25 budget approval.

Thank you. We will follow up on progress of this design with both Opal Jones' office & DPW

What is the status of the design?

Please call our office at 410-313-2430 with SCF#14134769 to discuss your concerns. Thanks,