Traffic calming proposals under review

Traffic engineers from the Department of Public Works are awaiting local residents' approval to install speed humps in Parkville and Overlea.

Residents on White Oak Avenue have requested traffic calming measures on their street between Oakleigh Elementary School and Loch Raven Boulevard. County officials conducted a traffic study and in October plans were returned to residents for review and approval.

A percentage of the affected residents must sign off and approve the plans, then, when the money is available, the county will fund the project, said David Fidler, spokesman for the Office of Public Works.

The county's traffic engineers review the number of vehicles that frequent the street in question and other qualities that affect public safety are identified, such as the availability of sidewalks and the average speed of the vehicles, according to Fidler.

In November, Overlea's Dale Avenue, between Kenwood Avenue and Elmwood Elementary School, also qualified for traffic calming measures. County engineers suggested speed humps and pedestrian islands to curb speeding in the area.

Only small, residential streets can be reviewed in this manner, Fidler said.

And while there have been a few instances where the county initiated a review, he said, mainly the program responds to community need. "It was created to serve the community and has been incredibly popular.

"People want to be able to do something and this is something tangible," he added.