In April 2024, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) presented proposed options for redesigning the Matthewstown Road corridor from Black Dog Alley to Route 50 (https://mdot-sha-md328-us50-
Easton’s eastern entrance via Matthewstown Road offers a unique opportunity to create a welcoming and safe environment for residents and visitors alike. Our rural communities often lack essential infrastructure like sidewalks, public transportation, and multi-use paths. This project could serve as a forward-thinking model prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist needs over car traffic. Instead, the current plan continues to favor vehicle movement, missing the chance to address the broader needs of our growing community.
We advocate for a redesign that transforms this route into a true community street:
- The entry into Easton should be marked by a roundabout at Black Dog Alley and a planted median, signaling slower speeds and increased driver attentiveness.
- Roundabouts at each new housing development along the corridor would ensure safe and convenient access while slowing traffic.
- Referring to the Global Street Design Guide, we emphasize that street design should manage speeds through physical and perceptual cues, rather than relying solely on posted speed limits. This proactive approach results in safer streets for all users.
Concerns about potential delays for commuters due to comprehensive road design changes are understandable but often exaggerated. Evidence from transportation engineering studies shows that reallocating road space for pedestrians and cyclists typically does not lead to significant increases in travel times. In fact, redesigned streets can maintain comparable traffic volumes while enhancing safety and promoting active transportation.
Specifically, we recommend eliminating center and designated turn lanes in favor of continuous pedestrian and bicycle facilities extending to the Route 50 interchange. Roundabouts should replace traditional intersections wherever feasible, as they offer smoother traffic flow and greater safety compared to traffic lights. Research demonstrates that road reallocations can increase bicyclist activity and economic benefits without major disruptions to vehicle travel times. In addition, a road redesign that prioritizes pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure over vehicle traffic can reduce carbon emissions, promote cleaner air, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
In conclusion, as Easton expands and new developments are approved, it is crucial to anticipate increased usage of Matthewstown Road by all types of users. The SHA must consider the broader implications of their redesign, prioritizing the safety and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists. By adopting a Complete Streets approach, we can create a more inclusive and equitable transportation corridor that serves the needs of our entire community.
For a full account of Talbot Thrive’s commentary, please visit:
https://talbotthrive.org/
Sincerely,
Heather Grant, Executive Director, Talbot Thrive
Board Members:
Richard Marks
Suzanne Sullivan
Cameron Mactavish
Ted Bautz
Dina Daly
David Mansfield
David Fike
Glenn Baker says
I applaud your effort however may I suggest you present your ideas to the Town Council, the County Council and the Annapolis Representatives. With support from them you may influence the State DOT staff who create these short sighted plans.
Jerry McConnell says
It would be nice to know the number of cyclists and pedestrians who currently use Rt 328 to come into Easton; and, what the increase in the volume of that traffic would be if the intersections were made more attractive and efficient by reconfiguration with roundabouts (or, “traffic circles”, as they’re known in most places).
Both Rt 328 and Rt 331 are arteries into Easton for shoppers and workers from the hinterlands of Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester counties and from southern Delaware. Actually, they’re better described as arteries to WalMart, Giant and Aldi, but they do feed a lot of people across Rt 50 and into town. Not a lot of these folks are on foot or on a bicycle, however.
Roundabouts are a very good idea. There should be a lot more of them, especially at certain intersections in Easton, and they are safe and functional if you’re used to them [which might take some folks a bit of time, but it’d be worth it.] Closing off left turn lanes at busy intersections is also a good idea and is becoming much more commonplace.
Bottom line of all this, though, is the question…. how is making the Matthewstown Road entrance to town more attractive and accommodating to pedestrians and cyclists going to generate the people to utilize it? Talbot Thrives obviously believes that there’s a lot of people who really want to walk or bike across Rt 50, and then a half mile or so to downtown/ shopping/ medical /other destinations, that aren’t doing so because of current traffic issues.
No matter how many landscaped roundabouts there are on Rt 328, they will still have to cross Rt 50…on which there will never be a traffic circle. It takes a good bit of bravado to cross that six lane highway on foot. Or, on a bike. Not to mention that the idea of a grandiose gateway is not very impactful on commuters who use it frequently, if not every day.
Talbot Thrives might want to share a common sense response to these issues with us.