Comments on Silver Spring, Singular: The Bridge on the Street Wayne

A bridge over Wayne to the new Library? You gotta...

2010-06-13T12:09:50.560-05:00

A bridge over Wayne to the new Library? You gotta be kidding! Montgomery County needs to focus on synchronizing a few traffic lights and redesigning the turn lanes.

Getting through Silver Spring on Fenton is a disaster and will be worse with people getting to a library; unless the lone County traffic engineer gets smart.

Melanie: Your kids will probably already be out o...

2010-05-27T08:13:10.950-05:00

Melanie:

Your kids will probably already be out of college by the time they get around to building the Purple Line!

Pacci's rocks. I still haven't heard of a decent ...

2010-05-27T08:10:32.357-05:00

Pacci's rocks. I still haven't heard of a decent argument for the bridge. As an editorial stated in the Gazzette, you still have to walk there either on a bridge or the sidewalk. I'll bet my bottom dollar there's at least one elevator from the street level up to the library.

On another note, my kids are going to love seeing the trains go under them while reading the Bearnstein Bears!

On a different topic, is Nicaro back open? We have...

2010-05-26T23:42:05.883-05:00

On a different topic, is Nicaro back open? We have a gift certificate to there and were thinking of using it this weekend! Or what are folks thinking of Pacci's these days?

Concerning: "Planners suggest a library design wit...

2010-05-26T06:37:45.619-05:00

Concerning: "Planners suggest a library design with limited parking on the first level to serve people with disabilities as well as those seeking a quick-drop for book returns. Those spaces would meet American with Disabilities Act requirements, be practical for patrons with special needs and cost less than a raised bridge, planners assert."

That would have worked, but the selection of the final Purple Line route required that the building be designed to accommodate the Purple Line station and running the Purple Line through the building. That's why the library ended up on the third and higher floors.

Concerning putting handicapped parking on the first floor of the Wayne Avenue Garage, going up and down in elevators isn't the problem. The parking could be on any level in the garage. The problem is the long distance to the corner of Wayne and Fenton, crossing five lanes of traffic, and then the distance back to the library entrance since the Purple Line station is at the corner. Putting a crosswalk across Wayne directly from the garage to the library might solve the problem, but apparently a crosswalk in mid-block is a non-starter with the traffic people because of safety and traffic volume concerns. Hence the bridge is the least expensive practical solution.

I'm not sure where the $3.5 mil figure for ADA com...

2010-05-25T20:54:55.684-05:00

I'm not sure where the $3.5 mil figure for ADA compliant on-site parking comes from, but this article from the county parks and planning commission says planners say first floor parking for people with disabilities would be cheaper than the bridge.

http://montgomeryforum.net/showthread.php?p=27452

"The proposed library includes a special book collection for the disabled. Planners suggest a library design with limited parking on the first level to serve people with disabilities as well as those seeking a quick-drop for book returns. Those spaces would meet American with Disabilities Act requirements, be practical for patrons with special needs and cost less than a raised bridge, planners assert."

I just read through all the old Silver Spring Peng...

2010-05-25T17:13:31.446-05:00

I just read through all the old Silver Spring Penguin posts on the library/bridge (which go back AT LEAST to October 2008) and now I forget how I feel about it.

On one hand, if it's the cheapest and easiest way to meet ADA requirements (which are, after all, in place for a reason), then build the bridge, I guess.

It seems like there must be another solution, though. Remind me again why the current parking in the garage doesn't meet ADA requirements for the new library site.

"If it really is the cheapest alternative, then wh...

2010-05-25T12:10:35.234-05:00

"If it really is the cheapest alternative, then why in the world would MoCo even be mulling it over? Why the need for the parade floats and pep rallies and special mascot appearances? "

Because we are Montgomery County and this is our way.

"Why am I the only who hasn't had to sprint, dive,...

2010-05-25T12:06:18.773-05:00

"Why am I the only who hasn't had to sprint, dive, dodge, and, generally, be the most well-conditioned athlete to avoid being hit in DTSS?"

I usually mosey and chat as I'm walking through that garage and around the renovated DTSS area.

I was hit by a car once, but it was over at 16th and East-West Highway. An elderly gentleman forgot to look for pedestrians before making a right turn on red and laid me across the hood of his car. No joke. In DTSS, I've never even had to quicken my step, let alone run for my safety. Running wouldn't have helped when I was hit, actually. He sort of snuck up behind me.

So let's say you're handicapped and live in downto...

2010-05-25T09:13:38.600-05:00

So let's say you're handicapped and live in downtown silver spring because you are unable to drive a car. Now you want to go to the library, how the hell are you supposed to do that if you can't drive to the third floor of the parking garage? Don't you have ANY compassion!

If it really is the cheapest alternative, then why...

2010-05-24T21:55:27.409-05:00

If it really is the cheapest alternative, then why in the world would MoCo even be mulling it over? Why the need for the parade floats and pep rallies and special mascot appearances? If the issue really is disabled access, then the sign-waving crowd should be HAPPIER with the allegedly more expensive (yet much closer to the entrance) on-site handicapped parking. If the issue is money, then it's a no-brainer--assuming that the quoted costs are accurate--and MoCo likely wouldn't have shot it down in the initial planning stages.

Again, can anyone support the $800,000 vs $3.5 million figures? Bueller? Bueller?

It looks like "on-site dropoff" would be in additi...

2010-05-24T21:15:46.538-05:00

It looks like "on-site dropoff" would be in addition to other things - at least that is how I read it. What would that mean, like a circle out front? Would that interfere with the purple line? I don't know much about it, and I honestly am not invested enough to do all the research required, but I think the conversation should turn to things more constructive than "I hate the bridge idea!!!1!"

According to this document (http://www.montgomeryc...

2010-05-24T20:21:09.166-05:00

According to this document (http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/col/2009/090504/20090504_5.pdf) another option is "drop-off access" instead. Sounds like a much cheaper option than either the bridge or on-site parking.

If MoCo is going to build a bridge, we desperately...

2010-05-24T09:38:37.988-05:00

If MoCo is going to build a bridge, we desperately need one at Georgia Avenue and Forest Glen Road. People have been hit and killed crossing the road on their way to/from Metro. I am quite cautious and have endured several near misses myself.

I know the bridge draws everyone's ire, but I want...

2010-05-24T04:15:10.544-05:00

I know the bridge draws everyone's ire, but I want to bring attention to Robert's comment about how without it the new library does not meet ADA guidelines. It has always been my impression that the bridge was the cheapest solution to meeting that need. Perhaps its not the most "urban" solution, but if you want to spend more money on that, we can have that argument... let's just go into both of them with all the facts. This isn't about having perfectly capable people who whine about crossing the street appeased. This is about meeting the ADA regulation (at least that has always been what I have understood). Let's quit our knee-jerk reacting and do some actual journalism on this subject before we all start our yelling.

Sorry for the multiple posts.

2010-05-21T21:27:39.674-05:00

Sorry for the multiple posts.

Attempt 2: I am, too, one of those people who coul...

2010-05-21T21:27:00.965-05:00

Attempt 2:
I am, too, one of those people who could give a flying fig if they put a bridge there or not. With that said, I've continually been turned off by proponents of the bridge with statements like "As an able-bodied walker, I often have to sprint to avoid getting hit by cars entering or leaving the garage."

There are far too many arguments from bridge proponents making walking in DTSS seem like you need to be a world-class athlete able to avoid cars aiming to mow you down.

Face it, it isn't the end of the world if the bridge isn't built. Exaggerating the consequences of no bridge are silly.

Attempt 2: I am, too, one of those people who coul...

2010-05-21T21:26:23.671-05:00

I am, too, one of those people who could give a fl...

2010-05-21T21:18:18.884-05:00

I am, too, one of those people who could give a fl...

2010-05-21T21:17:48.870-05:00

I am, too, one of those people who could give a flying fig if they put a bridge there or now. With that said, I've continually been turned off by proponents of the bridge with statements like "As an able-bodied walker, I often have to sprint to avoid getting hit by cars entering or leaving the garage."

Why am I the only who hasn't had to sprint, dive, dodge, and, generally, be the most well-conditioned athlete to avoid being hit in DTSS?

Sligo, We need a man among us willing to come to ...

2010-05-21T09:47:24.063-05:00

Sligo,

We need a man among us willing to come to his senses and, at the very last minute, fall upon the detonator's plunger (figuratively speaking, of course).

Actually, I have no opinion on this topic. I just wanted to give you the appropriate h/t.

For those is SOUTh SS - wishing to easily come ove...

2010-05-20T22:24:29.339-05:00

For those is SOUTh SS - wishing to easily come over to East SS:

as Terry said there IS a bridge from 410 to Georgia by cutting thru NOAA andcrossing to Marc station - right now a pain due to transit construction.

BUT there is another BETTER alternative crossing OVER the urine-soaked underpass on Georgia - just climb the steps near Mayorga - go over - climb steps back down - no stank, dank tunnel - easy-peasy! This is a bike path overpass. Explore a bit and check it out.

$800,000. For a people bridge. From a parking lot...

2010-05-20T17:42:38.105-05:00

$800,000. For a people bridge. From a parking lot ACROSS THE STREET. A parking lot that HAS ELEVATORS. 4 elevators to be exact. Incredible. Spend spend spend....

Creating handicapped spaces on the first floor wou...

2010-05-20T13:56:24.290-05:00

Creating handicapped spaces on the first floor would require those with wheelchairs or walkers to cross at least two lanes of traffic going into and out of the garage since there are no parking spaces to the right of the parking entrance/exit. As an able-bodied walker, I often have to sprint to avoid getting hit by cars entering or leaving the garage.

More HC spaces on the 1st floor of the garage??? A...

2010-05-20T12:30:31.440-05:00

More HC spaces on the 1st floor of the garage??? Are you crazy? The users would still have to go out onto the sidewalk(gasp!), then negotiate the superhighway cloverleaf intersection of Wayne & Fenton. What a silly idea you pragmatist :)