More than 200 people crowded into a State Highway Administration meeting Thursday to demand long-lasting improvements to Route 32 in western Howard County, a stretch of roadway where collisions have claimed three lives in the past four months.

During an at-times emotional meeting, residents outlined the types of changes they’d like to see along Route 32 between I-70 and the Carroll County line, including the installation of traffic lights or roundabouts at key intersections, a reduced speed limit and widening the road to four lanes in the area near the latest fatal collision Sept. 10.

“This is a touchy issue. We’ve seen a lot of people die on this road,” said Pete Simonetti, who lives near the Amberwoods community, in Sykesville, where the latest fatality occurred.

Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation Beverley Swaim-Staley, who attended the Sept. 17 meeting at the Howard County Department of Education in Ellicott City, thanked residents for their suggestions.

“For everyone in this room I know there’s been a great deal of loss and a great deal of tragedy,” she said.

Earlier this week, SHA officials announced measures they will take to make Route 32 safer, including the immediate posting of signs warning of left-turning traffic at several intersections, closing some passing zones near key intersections, and deploying “speed trailers” in the area to remind drivers of their speed.

Later in the fall, crews will re-stripe Route 32 at key intersections to provide separate turn lanes and increase the width of the center line and edge line markings to increase their visibility.

The changes were announced in the wake of the Sept. 10 death of Brian Edgar Emery, 49, of Sykesville.

Emery was killed when he was waiting to make a left turn from northbound Route 32 onto Amberwoods Way and was struck from behind by a van, knocking his car across the double line where it was hit by an oncoming pickup truck.

Nick Triska, a five-year resident of the Amberwoods community, said in an interview prior to Thursday night’s meeting that SHA officials acted quickly in the days following the collision.

“I’m actually very impressed,” Triska said. “It’s not a solution, but it’s certainly a demonstration of the commitment of the political leadership.”

Sykesville residents for months have decried safety issues on the stretch of roadway.

A meeting with state and local officials in July was prompted by a June 23 crash at the intersection of Route 32 and River Road that killed 13-year-old Vincent Dasung Woodward and his mother, Kyong Hae “Jennifer” Kim.
The latest fatality only added to their sense of urgency.

Jay Zumbrun, a community organizer affiliated with the Web site www.makeroute32safe.com, told state officials Thursday night that he was pleased with the short-term solutions but wanted work to continue.

“We’re satisfied with a short-term fix, but we’re looking for long-term improvements that will guarantee our safety,” he said.

Zumbrun added that many residents who live along the two-lane portion of Route 32 believe the road should be widened. “We all agree that we need to widen the road,” he said. “Human lives are at stake here.”

Dels. Gail Bates and Warren Miller, Republicans from western Howard County, also said they support widening Route 32 to four lanes.

While not committing to details or a time frame, SHA officials said they plan to widen Route 32.

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user comments (2)

user vmail says...

All of these fixes are in Howard County, what about Carroll County? Any fix should include MD-32 north to MD-26.

Posted 8:24 AM, 09.20.09

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user srenovetz says...

We want to remind all of you who travel on this section of Route 32 that it is not only your quickest way to work, but it is also our neighborhood. Our school bus stops, driveways, and mailboxes line this section of what has become a dangerous highway. We hope you are noticing the changes that are taking place on Route 32. We hope to see much more done, including dedicated turn lanes. But we need your help. We need you to pay attention! "� Obey the posted speed limit. "� Maintain safe following distance. "� Watch for left-turning vehicles slowing to enter side streets and driveways. "� Watch for vehicles looking to emerge from the neighborhoods and the church. "� Follow traffic laws regarding school buses. "� Do not illegally cross the solid white lines on the side of the highway to go around cars on the right. I try to keep the residents along Route 32 near Liberty Road in mind when I run errands in Eldersburg. Please keep me and my family in mind when you pass through my neighborhood. www.makeroute32safe.com

Posted 5:59 PM, 09.30.09

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