Community Corner
LETTER: State Highway Administration Grants Bel Air Walmart Route 924 Access
Access is a 'benefit to overall roadway network, by both reducing Plumtree Road and Bel Air South Parkway traffic,' officials say.
The State Highway Administration made a recent ruling on Walmart’s request to use MD 924 as an access point for its proposed store in Bel Air, off MD 924 at Plumtree Road.
The full text of the letter outlining its decision is below, courtesy of the State Highway Administration (SHA).
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The SHA has determined that a channelized right-in/right-out only access could be granted on MD924. The access must be designed in a manner to prohibit left turns to/from the Walmart without restricting the turning movements for Bright Oaks Drive. The Walmart team will develop the engineering details and plans for this restricted access with review by Harford County and SHA. The SHA will require the developer to install the following improvements to accommodate right-in/right-out access onto MD-924: The roadway improvements that the County will require as part of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance are in addition to these items.
- A deceleration lane on MD924 southbound extending from Plumtree Road to the proposed access point across from Bright Oaks Drive.
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- An extension of the existing right turn lane from MD924 southbound onto Bel Air South Parkway to the proposed right-out access point across from Bright Oaks Drive.
The following information will provide background information supporting our decision to allow a restricted access:
The traffic impact study prepared by the Walmart team identified numerous traffic impacts to the County and State roadway network. The County and SHA worked together during the review process to identify the traffic impacts and roadway improvements that would mitigate those impacts. As part of the County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), the developer is required to provide roadway improvements that mitigate traffic impacts and the County approves the development through the APFO process. The traffic study revealed that a traffic signal is required at the MD924 intersection with Bright Oaks Drive with and/or without an access on MD924 for Walmart. In the review of multiple iterations of the studies, the traffic impacts were nearly the same in terms of the roadway improvements required for Walmart, regardless of whether access to MD924 was granted. The primary difference was the traffic impacts on MD924 at the signalized intersections with Plumtree Road, Bright Oaks Drive, and Bel Air South Parkway with a full movement access for Walmart allowed.
The decision for access on MD 924 to the proposed development provides a transportation benefit to the overall roadway network, by both reducing vehicular traffic entering the site from Plumtree Road and reducing vehicular traffic exiting the site onto Bel Air South Parkway. The SHA respects and considered the input of Harford County Planning and Zoning and Harford County Council Resolution 26-12 in reaching this conclusion.
Based on our review, the SHA determined that right-in/right-out access on MD924 could be granted for the proposed development. In our decision to allow a right-in/right-out access, SHA considered the advantages of the right-in and/or right-out movements. These restricted movements provide redundancy in the roadway network. The right-in movement is expected to help balance the southbound MD924 traffic destined for Walmart. Without the right-in movement, all southbound traffic has to turn right on Plumtree Road and then turn left at the traffic signal at Blue Spruce Drive. The left turn queues could at different times approach the MD924 intersection. With the right-in movement, traffic has two options that are expected to help the roadway network operate in a safe and more efficient manner.
Similarly, the right-out movement provides a like benefit for traffic destined for southbound MD924 from Walmart. Without the right-out movement, all southbound traffic has to turn left at the traffic signal at Blue Spruce Drive and Bel South Parkway and then turn right at the MD924 traffic signal. The traffic signal operation at Blue Spruce Drive is anticipated to affect the MD24 and MD924 traffic signals with Bel Air South Parkway. The addition of a right-out movement allows two options for southbound traffic. This redundant movement provides two options that are expected to help the roadway network operate in a safe and more efficient manner.
All of the access and roadway improvements in the SHA right of way will require an access permit and be subject to the normal SHA process for the Pre-Permit Engineering Plan Review Phase and the Permit Issuance Phase. All of the work by the developer also requires review and other approvals by the County. During the County process, the SHA will provide comments as a review agency following the normal process.
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