Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

On July 30, a large group of concerned neighbors turned out in force to show their support for the “Make Route 32 Safe” cause. This standing-room only crowd filled the training room of the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Station to hear presentations by state and local officials and to voice their frustration about a traffic issue that has gone too long without resolution.

Retired police chief Wayne Livesay facilitated the meeting, which began with a presentation by State Highway Administration engineers Dave Coyne and John Concannon. Their message comprised of two main points: Funds are limited, and SHA hands are tied until the county prioritizes safety issues on the northern stretch of Route 32. The crowd remained respectful throughout the presentation, but they did murmur in disbelief when the SHA representatives described the shoulders of this dangerous section of road as “dedicated bicycle lanes.”

Next, a police representative reported accident data for all of Route 32 in Howard County. He broke these numbers down by intersection between Rt. 99 and the Carroll County line and then further subdivided them by type of accident: property damage, personal injury, and/or loss of life. Looking strictly at the statistics, accidents on the northern stretch of road represent a small percentage of the whole.

Liaisons from various neighborhoods and organizations along Route 32 then spoke about their concerns. These individuals included Livesay, from Day Road, Jay Zumbrun, from Amberwoods, Cathy Lein, from Coventry Meadows, Steve Ryan, from River Road, Phil Respass, from Friendship Baptist Church, Cindy Haller, from the local PTA, and Howard Blackman, developer of the Web site www.makeroute32safe.com.

The community liaisons explained that accident statistics do not capture “close calls” or the 5-10 minute wait times residents often experience when trying to exit their neighborhoods, thus prompting them to make unsafe decisions. They also spoke about the evasive maneuvers they make on a daily basis to avoid accidents. They feel that any loss of life is unacceptable, and neither the county nor state should wait for more incidents to occur before acting.

Suggestions for improvements varied by neighborhood and ranged from relatively simple to more long-term. Many hope for increased police presence to cut down on speeding and illegal passing. Some want more signage and flashing lights, as well as dedicated turn lanes at every intersection. Still others believe that Route 32 will continue to pose a threat until the state widens it to two lanes each way.

Several local politicians attended the meeting – State Senator Allan Kittleman, State Delegate Gail Bates, State Delegate Warren Miller, and County Council Member Greg Fox – and pledged, as neighbors and elected officials, to push for improved safety measures on Rt. 32. Community members voiced their disappointment that County Executive Ken Ulman did not attend the meeting.

Leaders of the “Make Route 32 Safe” effort emphasized to the community the need for unity and strength in numbers. They reminded those in attendance to go to the group’s website to submit their Rt. 32 incidents and register for e-mail updates. Individuals can also become a fan of the cause at www.facebook.com/pages/Makeroute32safecom/109920039673.

Our community still mourns the deaths of Mt. View Middle School student Vincent Woodward and his mother, Jennifer Kim, in a June 23 crash that occurred at the intersections of Route 32 and River Road, in Sykesville. Although residents along this stretch of highway have long complained about road safety issues, they feel frustrated by the lack of progress. Woodward and Kim’s tragic accident may serve as a catalyst for change.

Community leaders have begun a grassroots effort to push for new safety measures and hope to recruit liaisons from every neighborhood and organization impacted by the Route 32 corridor between Interstate 70 and the Carroll County line. Additionally, they seek the support of the community at large.

Howard Blackman, a resident of the Amberwoods neighborhood, has developed a website, www.makeroute32safe.com, to keep the community apprised of the group’s efforts. He asks that interested parties sign up online to receive e-mail updates, and he reports that nearly 180 families registered during the first two days the site was active.

Additionally, the Make Route 32 Safe group plans to meet with local politicians and Maryland State Highway representatives July 30 at 7 p.m. at the new West Friendship Volunteer Fire Station. The address is 12535 Old Frederick Road (Route 99), in Sykesville. Blackman encourages all interested community members to attend and explains that the meeting is “designed to let the Highway people talk, then we can ask questions one at a time with no outburst, no yelling.” The group does not wish the event to turn into an “emotional screaming match.”

Although some individuals find this area of Route 32 too risky to travel during rush hour, those who live near the highway obviously cannot avoid it. If you have witnessed an accident, a close call, or any other scary traffic incident in the area, the group asks that you go to its website to share your experience. Through strong organization, persistence, and large numbers, the group hopes to finally effect some positive changes along this dangerous thoroughfare.