(Dec. 4, 2014) One year after the formation of its Pedestrian Safety Committee, Berlin has a number of new safety measures in place and more on the way.
The committee was created shortly after Nov. 8, 2013 when Maryland State Police Trooper Nicolas Hanger struck 16-year-old Tymeir Dennis and his then 17-year-old brother Tyheim Bowen on Route 113 in Berlin. Dennis died in the crash and Bowen lost one of his legs because of injuries.
Town officials, including District 4 Councilmember Dean Burrell, District 2 Councilmember Lisa Hall and Town Administrator Laura Allen, joined community members Patricia Dufendach, Gabe Purnell and Roxie Dennis to form the committee.
Dufendach updated the mayor and council on their progress during a meeting on Monday, Nov. 24.
“Last year at this time, hundreds of people took the time to learn about the need to improve conditions for pedestrians and signed a petition,” she said. “The mayor and council listened and supported the formation of a committee, which included private individuals and town representatives.”
As a result, the council voted to reduce the speed limit on Route 113 through Berlin from 50 mph to 45 mph, and high visibility police cruisers and increased enforcement helped slow traffic through the town.
A crosswalk was added at Bay Street, and sidewalks were extended to provide safer crossing paths across the highway. The installation of a countdown crosswalk apparatus at Bay Street, featuring both visible and audible signals, is under way.
Bicycle paths were added to Route 113 between Old Ocean City Boulevard and Germantown Road and signs were placed there to notify drivers of changes.
“A lot of people are unfamiliar with our town,” Dufendach said. “We are, fortunately, a tourist attraction so you have a lot of people who are unfamiliar with what’s going on. As their hosts, we need to be ever-mindful of their needs as well as our own.”
Additional improvements planned include increased overhead lights on traffic signals at Bay Street and crosswalk signals that allow pedestrians to initiate light changes and crosswalk signal activation.
Hazard identification beacons are due on Route 113 through Berlin in spring, corresponding to speed limit reductions.
Funding for a study of the intersection of Route 113 and Route 346 was approved. The study will examine right-of-way and drainage issues with the intent of adding a pedestrian crossing. A “shared use” path along Route 113 from Route 376 to Route 346 is set tentatively for 2016-2017.
The committee also participated in the Walk Smart campaign and launched an information website, Berlinwalksmart.com, hosted by the town of Berlin.
Dufendach said the committee is also developing an education program aimed at early elementary school students and is seeking funding from the State Highway Administration.
“We think that young children are the best way to get the message to the whole family,” she said. “Everybody knows that smart-alecky 8-year-old that tells their mom, ‘Put your safety belt on, mom. Don’t pick up the telephone mom.’”
The committee is also collaborating with the Worcester County Health Department.
“We hope that these actions will provide a safer environment for all of us here in Berlin,” Dufendach said.
Hall reminded pedestrians to wear reflective clothing when walking at night.
“It is so dangerous,” she said. “The best thing that Patricia is telling us is that a lot [was] accomplished in one year, and the fact that the state has put the money in to do that design study right here at Old Ocean City Boulevard – they’re stepping up to the plate too. The state is just as on this as we are.
“I don’t think this committee is going anywhere until we make it safer and we get that sidewalk and that countdown at Old Ocean City Boulevard too,” Hall continued.
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said increases in citations have come with increased patrols and that reductions in speeds have meant overall reductions in accidents.
“I do see this as an ongoing effort,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “We want a walkable, bikeable community in every neighborhood.”
Burrell said the campaign was, “the right thing to do and the standard has been set.”
Purnell, for his part, said the community was still healing after the loss of 16-year-old Dennis. He hinted that the police report on the crash, concluded in September, left many questions as answers.
“Berlin is a community of talkers,” he said. “People are talking, and people are confused and conflicted about it.”
“It’s a small comfort for the family, but for the greater family of Berlin, I think we set a new standard of what we expect for the citizens, and that’s to care about everybody regardless of their motives, regardless of what neighborhood they live in, regardless of their racial background,” Williams said. “We can’t take on the world, but we can certainly take on Berlin.”
The committee was created shortly after Nov. 8, 2013 when Maryland State Police Trooper Nicolas Hanger struck 16-year-old Tymeir Dennis and his then 17-year-old brother Tyheim Bowen on Route 113 in Berlin. Dennis died in the crash and Bowen lost one of his legs because of injuries.
Town officials, including District 4 Councilmember Dean Burrell, District 2 Councilmember Lisa Hall and Town Administrator Laura Allen, joined community members Patricia Dufendach, Gabe Purnell and Roxie Dennis to form the committee.
Dufendach updated the mayor and council on their progress during a meeting on Monday, Nov. 24.
“Last year at this time, hundreds of people took the time to learn about the need to improve conditions for pedestrians and signed a petition,” she said. “The mayor and council listened and supported the formation of a committee, which included private individuals and town representatives.”
As a result, the council voted to reduce the speed limit on Route 113 through Berlin from 50 mph to 45 mph, and high visibility police cruisers and increased enforcement helped slow traffic through the town.
A crosswalk was added at Bay Street, and sidewalks were extended to provide safer crossing paths across the highway. The installation of a countdown crosswalk apparatus at Bay Street, featuring both visible and audible signals, is under way.
Bicycle paths were added to Route 113 between Old Ocean City Boulevard and Germantown Road and signs were placed there to notify drivers of changes.
“A lot of people are unfamiliar with our town,” Dufendach said. “We are, fortunately, a tourist attraction so you have a lot of people who are unfamiliar with what’s going on. As their hosts, we need to be ever-mindful of their needs as well as our own.”
Additional improvements planned include increased overhead lights on traffic signals at Bay Street and crosswalk signals that allow pedestrians to initiate light changes and crosswalk signal activation.
Hazard identification beacons are due on Route 113 through Berlin in spring, corresponding to speed limit reductions.
Funding for a study of the intersection of Route 113 and Route 346 was approved. The study will examine right-of-way and drainage issues with the intent of adding a pedestrian crossing. A “shared use” path along Route 113 from Route 376 to Route 346 is set tentatively for 2016-2017.
The committee also participated in the Walk Smart campaign and launched an information website, Berlinwalksmart.com, hosted by the town of Berlin.
Dufendach said the committee is also developing an education program aimed at early elementary school students and is seeking funding from the State Highway Administration.
“We think that young children are the best way to get the message to the whole family,” she said. “Everybody knows that smart-alecky 8-year-old that tells their mom, ‘Put your safety belt on, mom. Don’t pick up the telephone mom.’”
The committee is also collaborating with the Worcester County Health Department.
“We hope that these actions will provide a safer environment for all of us here in Berlin,” Dufendach said.
Hall reminded pedestrians to wear reflective clothing when walking at night.
“It is so dangerous,” she said. “The best thing that Patricia is telling us is that a lot [was] accomplished in one year, and the fact that the state has put the money in to do that design study right here at Old Ocean City Boulevard – they’re stepping up to the plate too. The state is just as on this as we are.
“I don’t think this committee is going anywhere until we make it safer and we get that sidewalk and that countdown at Old Ocean City Boulevard too,” Hall continued.
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said increases in citations have come with increased patrols and that reductions in speeds have meant overall reductions in accidents.
“I do see this as an ongoing effort,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “We want a walkable, bikeable community in every neighborhood.”
Burrell said the campaign was, “the right thing to do and the standard has been set.”
Purnell, for his part, said the community was still healing after the loss of 16-year-old Dennis. He hinted that the police report on the crash, concluded in September, left many questions as answers.
“Berlin is a community of talkers,” he said. “People are talking, and people are confused and conflicted about it.”
“It’s a small comfort for the family, but for the greater family of Berlin, I think we set a new standard of what we expect for the citizens, and that’s to care about everybody regardless of their motives, regardless of what neighborhood they live in, regardless of their racial background,” Williams said. “We can’t take on the world, but we can certainly take on Berlin.”