BY REBECCA BENNETT — According to the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), the traffic signal modification project at Baltimore Avenue and Jefferson Street at the Shoppes across from the Arts District is scheduled to begin in Jan. 2016. This upgrade will add a left turn signal to the southbound lane of Baltimore Avenue turning into the shops. The work on the traffic signal is scheduled to be completed, weather permitting, by February 2016, SHA said.
There is also a crosswalk addition scheduled for the north side of the intersection, which SHA said will be done separately. According to SHA , this improvement requires additional right-of-way and has a longer design schedule. When this crosswalk is completed, there will be both crosswalks and pedestrian signals on all four parts of the intersection.
These changes came about after a 2014 letter writing campaign organized by Hyattsville resident Aimee Condayan. She said that on Aug. 27, her nine-year-old son was nearly struck while crossing Jefferson Street in the Arts District.
SHA also said they are pursuing the design and installation of a new crosswalk at Madison Street and Baltimore Avenue, which is near DeMatha Catholic High School. A schedule for that project is not available at this time, SHA said.
