Chevy Chase Circle Divides Chevy Chase MD, DC
Chevy Chase, DC, is pushing for traffic signals for Chevy Chase Circle, and Chevy Chase Village is feeling left out of the conversation.
Chevy Chase Village and the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Washington, DC, share more than just a name.
They also share access to a traffic circle. And, while the neighborhood commission of Chevy Chase, DC, is in favor of installing traffic signals at the circle, Chevy Chase Village is more skeptical.
Chevy Chase Circle sits on the boundary of Chevy Chase, MD, and DC. Connecticut Avenue (Maryland state Route 185) and Western Avenue (the DC-Maryland border) both run around the circle, as does smaller Grafton Street. Magnolia Parkway also connects to the circle on the Maryland side. The circle—with its wide and graceful water fountain—is owned by the National Park Service.
Both the DC Department of Transportation and the advisory neighborhood commission of the Chevy Chase neighborhood in DC are in favor of adding traffic signals to the Western Avenue approaches to Chevy Chase Circle, according to a letter written by the Chevy Chase, DC, advisory neighborhood commission to the National Park Service.
The district transportation department's Rock Creek West II Livability Study of 2011 recommended the signals to improve traffic flow around the circle and to make the circle more accessible to pedestrians, according to a memo prepared for the village board by Chevy Chase Village Manager Shana R. Davis-Cook.
But Chevy Chase Village residents are feeling left out of conversation.
"I would say if they’re going to their local [advisory neighborhood commission] and asking for a green light, they’re pretty far down the road. ... I would like to sit down and have them look at all [of the considerations that are a part of deciding to install signals at the circle] from the village’s point on view," Chevy Chase Village Board of Managers Chair Patricia Baptiste said at a board meeting on Monday.
Chevy Chase Village residents are concerned that traffic signals installed on the circle will back traffic up into the Chevy Chase Village neighborhood.
"Traffic would be backed up to Bradley (Lane). ... The village would be a sieve" for vehicles trying to get south of the circle, Baptiste added.
Porter Wheeler, chair of the Chevy Chase Village Traffic Committee, said the proposal to add signals to the circle was "very poorly thought through. Certainly some improvements in the flow [of traffic around the circle] would be desirable, but not this."
Village board members are hoping to meet soon with Chevy Chase, DC, neighborhood commissioners; DC Department of Transportation officials; National Park Service officials and Maryland State Highway officials to find a resolution to the conflict.
How do you think the conflict could be resolved? Are the signals necessary? Tell us in the comments.
Santiago
9:30 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
NOt all CC/DC residents support lights at the Circle. In my case, I oppose lights for aesthetic and practical reasons. I like the circle as is and anyone can see that it works well. The circle already manages traffic flow effectively and people that don't like it can use alternative streets governed by lights --What problem do the lights address? Drivers in DC & MD are REQUIRED to know how to navigate a circle competently. Those who do not feel "safe" can update their driving skill with a refresher driver-ed course or use an alternate route.
MocoLoco
9:53 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I happen to think the circle works well without lights. But, I'm still confused why all three lanes in the circle can exit the circle onto Connecticut Ave. southbound. If you're in the middle lane and you want to continue around the circle, you risk getting hit by a car in the inside lane who wants to exit the circle.
David Becker
1:31 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I've been using the circle for over 25 years now and I think that it works great without traffic lights. Cities the world over use traffic circles to keep traffic flowing and not just for aesthetic reasons. I say keep it as it is.
Eric S.
4:14 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I think the circles work way better without lights in general. I also say, given the way people drive, we bring back the streetcars. And onions on our belt, because that was the fashion back then. But only the yellow ones, since you couldn't get white ones due to the war.
David Becker
5:09 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Have a seat Abe, your nurse will be with you shortly.
Patrick J. McDonough
8:12 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
PATRICK
I have been using the Circle for over 40 years. LEAVE it alone! The Circle automatically adjusts traffic flow to accomodate volume at any specific time. Lights would cause SERIOUS taffic congestion on Western nd Conn Aves.
MocoLoco
8:43 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
I completely agree with this. There was an intersection in Kensington (Plyers Mill/Metropolitan/Connecticut, that was working well. The state came in and supposedly spent $600,000 to "improve" the intersection. It was a disaster, with worse back-ups than ever before. Now, those expensive traffic lights have been switched to flashing reds--basically the cheap stop signs that were there before. Your point about the circle automatically adjusting for traffic flow is precisely what traffic lights do not do.
Alan Osterholm
11:38 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
I drive this circle every day, several times a day. It is difficult to navigate whether driving or walking. No one pays attention to the "yield to circle traffic" signs that are placed at all entry roads. It's an accident waiting to happen. Traffic signals would seem to be the only way to control the grid lock, especially during rush hours and heavy volume periods.
V. Taylor
2:10 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I have driven the Circle for decades and know when to yield to both cars and pedestrians. Lights are not needed, though I do have a suggestion. For those circling to Connecticut Avenue south, install an overhead sign: "STOP HERE ON RED" at the Western Avenue intersection. I am appalled each day at the rude and ignorant drivers who "block" that intersection when they are lined up at a red signal, unable to move.