New Signs Direct Through Traffic on York Road away from Downtown Towson to support Baltimore County’s Walkable Towson Plan          
          
(May 8, 2008) -- The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) and Baltimore County’s Department of Public Works recently installed 12 “trailblazer” signs in Towson to guide motorists around downtown Towson and help minimize the volume of through traffic on York Road (MD 45). This effort to direct through traffic away from York Road in downtown Towson is a key component of a community-based comprehensive plan known as the Walkable Towson Plan. The plan’s goal is to strengthen Towson’s retail and restaurant district by improving pedestrian access to businesses and government services.           
          
Towson’s commercial and civic organizations have worked with area officials, local residents and business leaders to transform the business, financial and government quarter into a more vibrant destination. During the past two years, the groups have worked with professional planners and have been closely engaged in the writing of two reports – the 2006 Urban Design Assistance Team (UDAT) report and the Walkable Towson Plan, released in January 2008.          
          
The new trailblazer signs are the first phase of the plan, which also includes the return this June of daytime parking along a three-block section of York Road between south of the Roundabout and Towsontown Boulevard, as well as alterations to the Towson Roundabout itself. These changes will bring several benefits to the commercial district: patrons of shops and restaurants along York Road will have easier access to parking near those shops; parked cars will serve as a buffer between traffic and pedestrians on sidewalks; and reducing the number of lanes along York Road during the day will reduce vehicle traffic speeds through Towson.           
          
Alternative routes to York Road through Towson include Burke Avenue to Bosley Avenue via the bypass, currently used by motorists approaching Towson from the south. Towsontown Boulevard is another alternative route providing access to points from the south to the east and north. When approaching Towson from the north, alternatives to York Road include Bosley Avenue, Fairmount Avenue and Washington Avenue.           
          
In late June, after Baltimore County schools close, SHA contractors will alter the traffic patterns on the Towson Roundabout to delineate turn lanes and narrow the roundabout to one lane between southbound York Road and eastbound Joppa Road (between Souris’ Saloon and Barnes and Noble Bookstore). The exit from the roundabout to eastbound Joppa Road will also be narrowed to a single lane.           
          
New pavement markings, signs and ground-mounted flexible posts will direct motorists through the new traffic pattern. Parking will be permitted on York Road during daytime business hours, which will reduce York Road to one lane in each direction between the Roundabout and Towsontown Boulevard. Visitors to Towson will now be able to park for one hour between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.           
          
For more information and diagrams of the new roundabout traffic pattern, log on to: www.baltimorecountymd.gov/go/walkabletowson www.baltimorecountymd.gov/go/yorkroadparking.           
          
Participating Business and Civic Organizations include: Tomorrow’s Towson, The Greater Towson Council of Community Associations, The Greater Towson Committee, The Towson Chamber of Commerce and The Towson Retail & Restaurant Association.           
          
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Editor’s Note: Towson community contacts:           
          
Rhoda Dorsey, president, Tomorrow’s Towson: 410-828-6161          
Mark Counselman, Tomorrow’s Towson: 410-769-6480           
Ed Kilcullen, Greater Towson Council of Community Associations: 410-583-1438           
Mike Ertel, Greater Towson Council of Community Associations: 410-995-6611           
Nancy Hafford, Towson Chamber of Commerce: 410-825-1144          
Harvey Brooks, Greater Towson Committee: 410-583-0110           
Cindy Bledsoe, Greater Towson Committee: 410-825-2549          
          
          
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