It?s going to be easier to get around at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport thanks to improvements on the roadway that just took effect. Traffic along the upper level roadway will be split into two groups ? a dedicated commercial lane for authorized BWI buses and public lanes for all other vehicles. The outer curb of the new median will be opened to allow for passenger drop-off while the inner curb of the new median will continue to be a work zone.
Temporary pedestrian crosswalks from the median to the airport terminal will be opened as part of the shift. When all the work is done this fall, the result should be more capacity and even easier access to an airportthat is already the region?s easiest for getting to and from.
Watch the road
The view of the Chesapeake Bay from the Bay Bridge is a thing to behold.
It?s also the thing that causes about half of the accidents on the bridge each year. Because of that, state officials are trying something new to remind you to keep enough space between your car and the one in front of you. Ninety-six pink triangular signs have been installed on the bridge and on the approaches as markers. The idea is for you to put two of those markers between you and the other cars. The program is being called “Keep Your Cool and Pace Your Space” and that?s the only thing I don?t like about it ? the name. It sounds like something that Jesse Jackson came up with. I?m curious to see what impact the pink color has in grabbing driver?s attention, too. It?s an unusual color in the world of traffic safety but maybe it?s what?s needed to really stand out from all the yellows, reds and oranges already out there.
A reminder
This is Memorial Day weekend and that means a lot of things. In addition to being the unofficial kickoff to summer, it?s also the third worst holiday of the year in terms of deaths from drunken driving. In fact, four times as many people die during this holiday than on New Year?s Eve (granted it lasts longer). Too many people attend or throw parties where alcohol is served and is not controlled. Here are some tips to make things safer. 1) Plan ahead and use a designated driver, 2) use alternative transportation including cabs rather than getting behind the wheel, 3) report drunken drivers you see on the roads and 4) always wear your seat belt. If you?re having people over, there are also some things you can do so that your guests don?t meet with tragedy when they leave. They include: 1) Not letting your guests mix their own drinks, 2) serving plenty of food, 3) cutting off any guest who has had too much and holding their keys, 4) having a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks and 5) stop serving alcohol an hour before the party ends or, if you are throwing a baseball game, in the 7th inning.
Keep in mind that this is also the kickoff of the “Smooth Operator” program and there will be a lot of police out there on the roads checking for drunken and aggressive driving as well as seat belt compliance. Because there will be so many checkpoints and extra patrols, your chances of getting caught are very high so just don?t take the risk. At the same time, get out there and have some fun ? you deserve it.
Questions, comments, random musings? Write to [email protected].
