Sandy Point Traffic Update

The Broadneck (BNK) has survived the scourge of another summer of Rte #50/301 beach traffic! Many agree that this is the worst summer to date with long lines of vehicles blocking our service roads resulting in lengthy wait times to journey home. Now beachgoers spread out their travel days and consume our eastbound roadways from Thursday-Saturday and westbound from Sunday-Monday. Despite our efforts to improve BNK roads, MdTA’s site selection for a new Bay Bridge (BB) span, along with the funding to lock in the 3 phases of planning/development/construction, are many years away. There are two major eastbound traffic conflicts at the Bridge:

– Rte #50 Beach traffic
– Sandy Point State Park (SPSP) unmanaged traffic lines waiting to gain Park access.

WORKING THE PROBLEM
For over 8 months, the BCC met with our elected officials-Senator Ed Reilly, Delegates Malone, Saab, McConkey and Councilman Peroutka plus meetings with the Transportation Secretary Rahn, Deputy Chief Riccio of Staff for Gov L.Hogan, AA Cty Police Chief Altomare, DNR Mgmt teams, SHA Director, and the MdTA BB Barracks Commander. As members of the BB Reconstruction Advisory Group (BBRAG), representing our western shore BNK Communities, P. Lynch and B. Hitchings met with MdTA mgmt on SPSP and BB improvements to our #50/301 corridor.

THE GOOD AND BAD OF IT
The good news is that after significant pressure, DNR agreed to modify their entry procedures for (SPSP) by adding additional staff, a third entry lane and cash only lane, agreement to wave fee collections if traffic is slow on Broadneck Roads, closure of a large group pavilion the Park during summer holiday weekends, and several other concessions. Our AA County Police assumed control of the SPSP entry roadways and directed traffic over summer weekends assisted by DNR and MdTA police. Thanks also to SHA who installed “no parking” signs so waiting vehicles cannot park on either E. College Parkway nor on the South side of Rte #50, on Whitehall Rd or Skidmore Dr or they will be ticketed.

Unfortunately, the AA County Police cannot stop cars on our service roads to ask if they are “local” residents. This is unconstitutional without probable cause, such as a traffic violation. Thus electronic navigation applications, such as the WAZE phone app continues to direct drivers to exit heavy traffic on Rte #50/301 onto our Broadneck service roads. We continue to work with the AA County Police on legal steps to block the WAZE app for beach traffic, but so far legal constraints have blocked all efforts by our County Police, and WAZE continues to refuse to adhere to local traffic ordinances.