Public Works Director J. Michael Evans will present a “traffic calming” plan to commissioners Tuesday that addresses speeding in residential neighborhoods.
Traffic calming speed deterrents include speed humps, islands, road narrowing and machines that tell drivers how fast they are traveling.
Evans met with residents of Westminster?s Winchester Park on Monday to discuss the increased traffic in the neighborhood, spurred in part by events at the nearby Carroll County Agriculture Center and Shipley Arena.
“It?s been getting progressively worse,” said Marge Espenschade, a Winchester Park resident and member of the Winchester Park Improvement Association.
“We do not have sidewalks, and as we try to walk along the street, it?s dangerous for us.”
Maryl Harshey, another community association member and resident, said she too has noticed more traffic since the arena?s opening.
“People just zip down this road,” Harshey said.
Larry Collins, general manager for the center and arena, acknowledged the increase in traffic in the community and on Smith Avenue, the main route to the center, which holds 4-H events, concerts and other activities.
“It?s true,” he said. “There are more events now than there were before and there will probably be more events in the future.”
To provide residents some relief from increased traffic, Collins said he recently received permission from the county to set up road blocks in the neighborhood?s entrances during large events.
The barricades will have signs that say “local traffic only,” and will be manned by event promoters? employees, he said.
The two Winchester residents expressed relief about the county taking action.
