BERLIN – A year after the accident that claimed the life of a local teenager, the Berlin Pedestrian Safety Committee continues its efforts to make the town a safer place for those on foot.
Patricia Dufendach, chair of the committee, told the Berlin Mayor and Council Monday that thanks to the cooperation of Maryland’s State Highway Administration, significant strides had been taken toward making the town safer for pedestrians. She said the effort will continue into the future.
“We’re not going to go away,” Dufendach said. “We want to be sure your children are safe.”
Dufendach and like-minded citizens formed the committee last year after 16-year-old Tymeir Dennis was killed crossing Route 113. The group has spent the past year working with SHA officials to make Route 113 safer for pedestrians. The group’s efforts helped get the speed limit lowered to 45 mph on the portion of the highway in Berlin. An increased police presence has been targeting speeders in the area. Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said his officers warned speeders for about a month after the limit was decreased but ever since have been giving tickets to drivers exceeding the speed limit.
Dufendach said that in spite of the lower speed limit, she encouraged locals to take their time on area roads.
“You can slow down in our town,” she said.
In the spring of 2015, hazard identification beacons, similar to those on Route 50 as drivers approach Easton, will be installed outside Berlin. Dufendach expects that to be a big help in getting motorists to slow down.
“They’ll know to expect a neighborhood,” she said.
To further aid pedestrians trying to cross Route 113, a countdown crosswalk is being installed at the highway’s intersection with Bay Street. Once it’s complete, pedestrians trying to cross the street will be able to push a button to initiate a traffic light change. The countdown clock will give pedestrians visible and audible notification of how long they have to safely cross the street.
Two lights will also be installed at the intersection, according to Dufendach, so pedestrians will be more visible to drivers.
While safety improvement efforts at the moment are concentrated on the Bay Street intersection, near where Dennis was killed, Dufendach says SHA would be starting a concept study a little further north at the highway’s intersection with Old Ocean City Boulevard to determine what modifications were needed there.
“We’re very happy they want to do all these good things for our town,” Dufendach said.
She said her committee would continue its work to increase pedestrian safety through awareness. The group is seeking funding for educational materials and is developing a program to be presented to elementary school students. It already has a website, www.berlinwalksmart.com.
Councilmember Lisa Hall agreed that increasing awareness both among drivers and pedestrians was vital. She said driving down Route 113 one night earlier this week she nearly missed seeing two pedestrians trying to cross the dark highway.
“It’s so dangerous,” she said, adding that pedestrians concerned for their safety should consider wearing reflective clothing.
Mayor Gee Williams complimented Dufendach’s committee on the significant amount of work it had gotten done in a short time.
“This is one of those times the community came together,” he said. “I think we set a new standard in what we expect from citizens — to care about everybody.”