Council Stresses Patience With Route 113 Safety Ideas

BERLIN — The town of Berlin is promising to be “active partners” with a community-led effort to improve pedestrian safety in the area, but the Mayor and Council is also stressing the need for patience and allowing time to find out exactly what is needed in Berlin.
The recent push for safety improvements in Berlin was sparked by a tragedy. Earlier this month, two teenage brothers were struck by a Maryland State Trooper while crossing US Route 113 in Berlin. One brother, Tymeir D. Dennis, was killed while the other, Tyheym D. Bowen, was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment.
The local community reacted immediately to the accident, organizing a Berlin Pedestrian Safety Committee and meeting last week to generate ideas on how to improve Route 113 for cyclists and those on foot. Dozens of ideas were brainstormed during the meeting, which had a strong turnout.
“It was so meaningful to our community to have everyone be there,” Committee Chair Patricia Dufendach told the council. “I wanted to let you know that our delegate, Norm Conway, was there, which really spoke volumes to everyone that was over at the multipurpose building.”
Dufendach shared the extensive list of residents’ ideas with the council Monday. Some of the most popular include increased signage, crosswalks, better lighting at intersections along Route 113, a lower speed limit and additional stoplights.
“There are a lot of ideas that people had about what we can do to improve safety,” said Dufendach.
All residents need to be kept in mind, she added, especially those with impairments that could make crossing Route 113 more difficult and more dangerous.
“Design pedestrian features, including crosswalk signals, with accessibility in mind,” noted Dufendach. “For instance, for visually impaired folks or people who are handicapped either having to use a wheelchair or using a walker.”
While most of the changes will be under the purview of SHA, there are actions citizens can take on their own in the meantime. Motorists are reminded to watch their speed and keep their attention on the road at all times. The Safety Committee is also looking into purchasing reflective wristbands in bulk to make pedestrians more visible at night while crossing Route 113.
“Anything that gets things moving more quickly is what people want to see in action,” Dufendach said.
Currently, the ideas from the Safety Committee are only in the early stages, she said.
“Sources of funding are needed. Obviously, we don’t have a budget at this time,” said Dufendach. “Grants or donations, I don’t know how we’re going to work that.”
Council members made it clear that they were behind the Safety Committee completely. Mayor Gee Williams told Dufendach that the town will support the community effort moving forward. Several members of the council are also on the committee.
“I’m sure the town will do everything it can to make sure funding is available in any way we can help,” the mayor said. “We’re willing to be active partners and not just folks saying, ‘give us this, give us that.’”
Williams also complimented the community group on targeting not just the small section of Route 113 where the recent accident occurred but all of the area that would encompass Berlin. Pedestrian safety, especially when crossing highways, is something that has occasionally flown under the radar. But for Berlin and “for other rural communities, [this] is real now,” according to Williams.
“I think it’s very important and very significant that you’re looking at the entire corridor from Germantown Road and South Main Street through Bay Street, and then all around to Md. 346. That is Berlin,” Williams said.
Germantown Road should see a special focus from the town, said Councilwoman Paula Lynch. She was in favor of SHA adding a light to the Germantown Road and Route 113 intersection, seeing it as a way to calm traffic heading down the line.
“When it comes to State Highway the key, to me, is to get a stoplight at Germantown Road. That is an Indianapolis speedway from Snow Hill forward,” said Lynch. “And when you look at the corridor, which you described, the first thing we have to do is slow it down with a stoplight.”
SHA is expected to check in with the town early next month. Williams suggested an additional meeting between the SHA and the Safety Committee so that the list of ideas generated by residents could be assessed. In December, the committee will also be turning in a petition that is currently circulating in Berlin. The petition calls for a lower speed limit on Route 113 as it cuts through town as well as the installation of countdown crosswalks.
“The reception has been overwhelming. I would say that it’s better than 95-percent of people who have been approached want to sign this, want to see this happen. I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said.