Councilman Marks: State Recommends Light at Klausmier Road

I am announcing today that the Maryland State Highway Administration has recommended a traffic light at Belair and Klausmier Roads.

The recommendations comes after our office convened a task force to look at traffic improvements in this area, and after months of study by the professional engineers at the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Earlier this year, I created a task force of concerned citizens who identified possible ways to improve mobility along Klausmier Road. I am glad that the Maryland State Highway Administration has fully evaluated the need for a traffic signal at Belair and Klausmier Roads, where southbound drivers often have difficulty making turns onto Belair Road.

The signal will still need to be funded, and I have already reached out to the Maryland Department of Transportation for support. A traffic signal can cost at least $200,000.

As I talk to residents in the densely-populated area west of Belair Road, they consistently tell me about problems turning from Klausmier onto Belair Road.

The letter from the Maryland State Highway Administration follows.

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Dear Councilman Marks:

We are writing to follow up on our earlier email regarding a request to consider either installing a traffic signal or left turn restrictions along US 1 (Belair Road) at Klausmier Road in Baltimore County. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) investigation is complete and we would like to share our findings with you.

Left turn restrictions are not recommended at this time; however, you will be happy to know that signalization is warranted and has been approved at this intersection, pending funding. A traffic signal will enhance overall traffic operations and safety for this location. We are requesting funding to install a traffic signal, and an installation date will be determined once funding is available.

Thank you for your interest in safe traffic operations at US 1 and Klausmier Road. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Ms. Erin Kuhn, Assistant District Engineer for Traffic. Ms. Kuhn may be reached at 410-229-2380 or by email at ekuhn@sha.state.md.us.

Sincerely,

Wendy Wolcott, P.L.A.

Metropolitan District Engineer
MDOT State Highway Administration
District 4 - Baltimore and Harford Counties
320 West Warren Road
Hunt Valley MD 21030