On Tuesday the drive through St.Michaels’ main street at 10:30 am was stopped for a time, then moved slowly; bumper to bumper. It was stop and go traffic all the way through town. Upon reaching the far end of St. Michaels, finally, I saw that the opposing traffic was sitting at Seymour and that cars were wasting gas all the way down the road to Lincoln. The culprits for the standstill? Sidewalk repair and replacement. An entire lane had been blocked off. After shopping at Grauls, of course the gruesome situation replayed itself in the other direction. Traffic is getting worse at the best of times, but the thought of enduring this sidewalk repair for who knows how long would test even the most patient of us.
After returning home with soup that once was ice cream, I asked, via email, the St. Michael Town Council and the Talbot County Council what could be done about this traffic. What could these vaunted members do to help their fellow constituents. I waited eagerly, for a response. No response; nothing, from any member of either council but for Pete Lesher, who suggested that the State Highway Administration could often be persuaded to schedule work that caused traffic disruption for off-peak times. Heartened by his response, I forwarded his missive to, again, the entire St. Michael Town Council and the Talbot County Council. And again, no response. Not a peep. Not a word. Not a smoke signal. Where are these all-caring members of our community. Is this not a problem that these council members could actually fix? Who was responsible for the sidewalk repair contract. Is it a town contract or a county contract. Could the members of these various entities not work together on this matter and fix it.
Did I not watch these peoples’ kumbaya videos talking about bringing their community together by working together. All manner of wonderful things would take place if a vote was received in their favor. I practically heard the Triumphal March from Aida while watching these videos and yet my first request has been met with no response. Absolutely no response whatsoever. Where are these elected officials who were going to make life better for their town folk. What has become of them. Are their goals so lofty, so high minded and exalted, that they have no time to help the mere mortals who live next door. Is there not one single member among these hallowed people who has the ability to step up and take charge? Is anyone willing to take charge or will finger pointing ensue?
Sadly, I am left to my friends, all my many friends, with whom I am only able to commiserate, about yet another promise not kept by a council member. I am only one voter. Granted, I have no standing, no voice, only one vote. I am a mere lone she-wolf crying in the wilderness while her gas money goes up in smoke; still wondering why there was no response from anyone who was willing and able and could actually do something to move this situation forward. I see only more disappointments and more bumper to bumper traffic ahead. Alas.
Linda Dus Hamilton
St. Michaels
John Garland says
See the Oct 21 Press Release (with links) on the state highway website (below) as well as the numerous announcements made over the last 12 months about this state (not county or town) highway project (several of which were/are also on the Town website). All plans, timelines, and updates may be found at the link below. A simple google search could have alleviated and answered most if not all your questions.
https://www.roads.maryland.gov/mdotsha/pages/pressreleasedetails.aspx?PageId=818&newsId=4059
Steve Shimko says
While I appreciate the link, it does not explain why the SHA decided to allow their contractors to work on Saturday. This was not an emergency (like a road wash out) that required immediate attention. Heck, it took the contractors over 3 weeks to do the the couple of hundred feet of pavement leading up to that new section, during which time pedestrians were forced to use the street. Maybe they’re on a time and material (T&M) contract?
Contrary to the statement on the SHA website, there were no pedestrian detours established for the sidewalk work that has been completed (in from of the Bay Hundred pool).
While I am not privy to the details of the contract, weekend work is usually done at a premium ( double time). So to reiterate, why the weekend work?
Alfred R. Mercier says
Steve. Hopefully I will have these answers once the state gets back to me. You must have been referring to a past weekend. I went down there today. I did not see any contractors. I will keep you apprised once I find out. Thanks! Al
Steve Shimko says
“Work on Saturday” – that was my bad. I thought Ms. Hamilton referenced Saturday work in her original post, but I must have mis-read that. I have not personally seen weekend work being done on the sidewalks.
Alfred R. Mercier says
Fortunately Linda and I were able to connect today by phone. Regrettable I was not able to have a discussion with her prior to this article being published for I was awaiting a response from the Maryland Dept of Transportation State Highway Administration (“MDOT HA”). (This will not happen again) As noted, this is not a St Michaels contract it is a St of MD contract. I was able to connect with a person on Friday at the MDOT HA and she disclosed that this contract was in place for some time, and they normally do not work during the evening hours unless it is deemed an emergency. Even when they work during the evening hours they have just as many complaints as during the daytime due to the need to use high intensity lighting, especially in a residential neighborhood. In addition their ultimate goal is the safety of all individuals hence the reason at times to have only one way traffic with one side being closed down. That is something that they might address, but I would need to make a formal complaint. As a group we did acknowledge the complaint and spoke to it at our Legislative Meeting this past Wednesday. Unfortunately Linda was not at the meeting and did not hear what was said. I was able to file a formal complaint with MDOT HA and outlined our concerns and if any remedy can be reached so that we can address possible solutions to our neighbors in town as well as those that pass through St Michaels on their way to the the Tilghman Island area. Stay tuned for more information from MDOT HA. In addition, John Garland posted critical information regarding the actual project in his comments, please have a look. Respectfully yours, Al Mercier Commissioner of St. Michaels
William R Poe says
You think it’s bad now wait until after we welcome the “Dirty Dan Hilton” to Saint Michaels.
Alfred R. Mercier says
Steve. As a follow up these questions should be answered once I hear back from the State. I did take a ride down there today and no contractors were working. I am assuming it was a past weekend. I will keep you apprised as soon as I hear. Al
Paul Rybon says
Ms. Hamilton has yet to understand that St. Michaels’ roaring success has come from an understanding among the shopkeepers about the nature of tourism..the more, the merrier. Most of the traffic is composed of those who want to get THROUGH it. A bypass has been discussed several times, but history has shown that historic towns with bypasses tend to die. So, in a roundabout way of thinking, I believe that town planners ARE looking out for the town.
Maggie says
I’m confused. The sidewalk project is a SHA project. It has nothing to do with the Talbot County Council or the town. There is a project office next to Sam’s Restaurant. Did you try speaking with them? This project has been ongoing for 8 months. It has been discussed for several years with public hearings taking place as well. I would be more upset that the road is being closed on a holiday weekend for a poorly attended car parade than a scheduled improvement.
Alan Boisvert says
Who cares about little St. Michaels when you got the Bay Bridge wasting millions of gallon of fuel and depositing unwanted carbon into the air each year. We needed a new bridge 30 years ago. For Maryland being a rich state, we sure have a lousy transportation system. It is shameful and embarassing.
DANNA MURPHY MURDEN says
Thank you Paul Rybon I agree with you. I used to (BUT THAT IS USED TO LIKE IN ALONG TIME AGO) leave my house and be anywhere I wanted to be within 15 to 20 minutes in Easton—- now I allow an 60 minutes so I am not late for an appointment.
And yes it was well posted about the state going to do this SideWalk Project.
But I do know that the State can be made to do this at night—-call the Governor they work under him.
Bill Aiken says
I’ve been passing through town several times a week amd have endured some delays, but my experience is not nearly so bad as the writer stated.
Any public work entails some pain and inconvenience, and I for one appreciate the new sidewalks, amd im willing to put up with some delay for it
Michael Estrella says
For the record, the town of St. Michaels doesn’t have a Council, it has a Commission. Talbot county does indeed have a council, but like the town of St. Michaels, it doesn’t control what happens on Talbot Street, aka Route 33, because that is a STATE HIGHWAY! Many folks seem to want to blame Tuesday morning traffic backups on tourists but thar traffic actually hits much later in the week and is normally gone by Sunday evening. Those same folks forget that there are hundreds of homes north of town between Martingham and Tilghman and hundreds of homes south of here between Rio Vista and the Easton bypass. Many of those folks you are sitting in traffic with are you neighbors, friends, and relatives! As for that good old BYPASS solution….that was dead and buried more than two decades ago, get over it. On the bright side, the project us scheduled to slow and stop shortly…..but, on the down side, it is scheduled to pick back up later in the year. Lessons learned from all of this….
– calling the town or county about what the state is doing can be a waste of time.
– calling the state about what the state is doing can be a waste of time.
– St. Michaeks doesn’t have a council.
– tourists don’t normally come to St. Michaels en mass on Tuesdays (or Wednesdays either).
– the long admired and dreamed about Bypass ain’t gonna happen folks!
And finally…
– it’s a really good thing that St. Michaels us a small town…just thing, if we were twice the size, you would have to put up with all this a heck of a lot longer!
My best advice is to find a classic rock station on you car radio and enjoy a stroll down memory lane!
Mike Estrella
Deborah M Colborn says
I think many of us are accustomed to waiting in traffic to get through St. Michaels. It is not just that construction; it happens frequently. One can just roll with it, take time to breathe and look at the shops and shoppers, or one can get in a dither and swear up and down. I am always impressed by how few horns are blaring. I tend to roll with it all.
John Garland says
For those opposed to the project, I’m curious why you don’t support “The two-year, $2 million project to improve pedestrian access and safety that includes sidewalk repair and replacement, ramps and crosswalks built to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.”
This project benefits everyone- residents, businesses, and tourists. The current broken sidewalks with utility poles in the middle of them are being corrected and made more accessible and safe especially for people with disabilities and those with mobility issues. How on earth can anyone complain about that? (that’s a rhetorical question as I know people with complain about anything before knowing all the facts these days. And don’t say, “well, it’s the timing” or question SHA’s methods as those are explained in the documents at the link I shared earlier.) I think a little short term inconvenience for what will likely be a generation’s worth of improvements for our town is a good thing for the entire community.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Linda, I know the delays very well. I can offer no comfort.
St. Michaels is heavily marketed and advertised. This is not Oxford or Chestertown. This is the magical, life altering Hamlet of St. Michaels. We are a victim of our own greed. As the Eagles said in a song; ” call someplace Paradise, kiss it goodbye”