The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Hi,

I wanted to inquire about the new traffic pattern implemented at the corner of Laurelwood Avenue and County line Road. I feel it was a hastily planned and not well thought out solution to what has become a somewhat problematic intersection.

I understand the need to improve safety where there have been some dangerous incidents, however, it cannot be at the expense of reasonable traffic flow.

I have lived right off of County line for just about 15 years now, and up until yesterday when they restriped this intersection, there has never been a traffic back up westbound on County line Road. Immediately after this was done yesterday county line Road was backed up until at least Pinemere Avenue.

Please have this project reconsidered as much of County Line Rd., West was one of our last remaining free flowing arteries and there must be a better solution than clogging up this road as well.

I also understand that it is a county route, but I can imagine the county unilaterally without the townships consent

Thank you

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thank you for writing. We received several inquiries about this subject. I have asked our engineer to get in contact with the county and see if they can make some change to alleviate the condition.

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Please thank whoever is trying to make this area safer. We now have a new problem. The traffic going westbound is all backed up due to the 2 lanes having to merge to one. EASY SOLUTION. County line is a single lane for miles going westbound starting from Lanes Mills Road to Heathwood Avenue. Then it opens to 2 lanes for a measly 4 small blocks to Laurelwood to change back to a single lane. KEEP IT A SINGLE LANE FOR THOSE FOUR BLOCKS AND YOU WON’T HAVE THIS NEW MERGING BACKUP. and use the other lane for left turns like you are now doing by Laurelwood. It’s a no brainer!

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning. Thanks for reaching out. We are still trying to get the county to make major improvements to County Line. I will send your email to their engineer and see if they agree with you.

Keep the suggestions coming. I always say, the folks who drive on and live by these roads sometimes have a better understanding of what will work than the engineers who design them.

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Thank you for giving us this forum to reach out and discuss our concerns. I drive my two year old with Downs Syndrome to the Special Children’s Center on prospect Street every morning. Firstly, the paving of Frances Blvd has been a major upgrade, making our trip so much smoother and more pleasant. Thank you to all those involved. I drive through Frances and turn down Wood Ave to make a left onto Prospect St. I’m assuming that I’m allowed to turn into the center turning lane? From there I make the next left onto Lowden, which is the entrance to Special children’s centers parking lot. The issue is that during the school year Prospect Street is full of traffic and there are too many people speeding down the center turning lane as if it is a second lane (heading from cross towards route 9) to avoid sitting in the traffic. I can’t even count the amount of near head on collisions I’ve experienced. Even worse, when I’m waiting to make my left into the centers parking lot there are drivers who switch out of the center turning lane and INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC!!! I’ve had that experience multiple times and it frightens me terribly. I called the police department after a particularly scary incident and spoke to someone who promised to look into the matter but the new year started and nothings been done. Is it possible to put out patrol and ticket these smart alerts for a couple of weeks? Or possibly put traffic cones in areas where it’s not possible to be making a left when coming from cross street? For example, I highly doubt people are turning into the self storage lot at 9am. The earliest left would be into the lot of Peekaboo day care and Summer Ave. I don’t need a physical response but rather actual action done before we have a serious accident in the area.

Thanks for your time,

A Frightened Resident of the Hearthstone neighborhood

Response from Mayor Coles:

I have already reached out to the chief and asked him to prioritize enforcement there for this issue.

Thank you for letting me know

Ray

Question:

Hi,

Thank you for all your efforts! There has been a tremendous increase in traffic on W County Line Rd. in the mornings around the Hope Chapel area. Many cars try to take an alternate route via Country club Ln to country club drive.

Recently, the Golf course staff have been blocking the road with their golf carts to prevent cars from driving through. They use the excuse of saying the road is undergoing roadwork to prevent cars from driving through.

Is this legal? Is it a public road that can be used as needed or do they have the right to deny cars entry? If it is not okay, what can an individual do when they are blocking the road.

Thank you!

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

This section of the road is private, and they have closed it until they get it repaired to avoid anyone getting their vehicle damaged.

Ray

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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]