Remington Wal-Mart/Lowes 129X Area Traffic Increase - UPDATED

So the developer-funded May 2010 Draft of the Traffic Impact Study (TIS) for the Remington/Charles Village 25st Station has been released by the Baltimore City Department of Transportation. And already its findings are very controversial.

Exit 6 has a pretty decent analysis of the findings, pointing out a lot of problems and inconsistencies and asking several good questions.

But the most shocking thing to The Shank is the very dramatic traffic increase in the neighborhood.

According to the TIS, the 25th Street Station will see weekday traffic increase in Remington 16.5 TIMES its current rate from an average of 595 weekday trips to 9,828 estimated weekday trips.

Weekends are even worse. The neighborhood will see an increase of weekend traffic increase roughly 129 TIMES its current rate from an average of 120 weekend trips to an estimated 15,522 trips.

This is even AFTER the TIS reduced its estimated rate by 25% to account for the 25% of Baltimoreans who bike, walk and use mass transit to get to work. Although we're not sure why that number should be reduced by 25% unless they reduced current traffic estimates by 25% as well.

Also, it's highly questionable that 25% of Lowes and Wal-Mart shoppers will be trying to bike home after buying all that inexpensive sheetrock and mountains of cheap underwear and socks they seem to need.

Comments

[Incy]

Quick- Whats 129 times the zero times I normally visit Remington?

[Rusty Chompers]

And we are all the poorer for your absence.

[AngryMob]

16.5 or even 129 times an insignificant trickle is no big deal

[Rusty Chompers]

What street do you live on?

[AngryMob]

noneofyourbusiness avenue, remington

[Rusty Chompers]

Well then, we're practically neighbors. I live over on Up Yours St., Remington.

And as a neighbor who bought a house here years ago, I don't want to see traffic on my street increase 129x. I'm glad you're okay with it, but I'm not.

And I'd hardly call 15,000+ new car trips through my neighborhood an "insignificant trickle" or "no big deal" my disingenuous, blindly pro-development "neighbor".

But hey, maybe you can talk to your friends involved with the development and get them to route all that "insignificant trickle of traffic" down your street instead of mine.

[AngryMob]

Hello my knee-jerk reacting neighbor! As a property owner in the neighborhood I'll gladly give a smug 'told you so' to all the Chicken-Little forecasters of doom when this development proves to be a benefit.

[Rusty Chompers]

Well, "AngryMob" (as opposed to "RationalIndividual" I reckon?), I'm not sure what makes me "smug" except for things like having access to "facts", but okay. Sure thing. Go ahead and try to insult anyone who would dare raise questions about a $60 million dollar development being forced into a neighborhood that didn't ask for it, and, according to a Baltimore Sun poll, doesn't want it. I know that's all ya got. It's ok.

And I'll keep an eye out for those "told ya so's", but I'd feel a whole lot better if you could maybe do something for every currently existing, local, independent business this development will kill. I'm sure them giving an "AngryMob" an "I told you so" will be little comfort when they're shuttering up their decimated businesses that've been serving our community for years and trying to sell their now-worthless properties because of this large corporate development of out-of-state interests you so blindly and glibly support.

But who knows, maybe they'll find comfort in it.

Maybe you personally could back every tax dollar that will eventually go into this development?

But we're getting off topic, aren't we? We were talking about traffic. And you think 15,000+ trips are "insignificant" in a neighborhood that regularly sees 120 at that same time.

You really haven't much of an argument there except what, "I want that traffic in my neighborhood!"? Well good for you. I don't. So it seems we're at an impasse.

[girlwithcurls]

I think I love you Rusty Chompers

[Amboy Dukes]

"But hey, maybe you can talk to your friends involved with the development and get them to route all that 'insignificant trickle of traffic' down your street instead of mine."

Rusty - I just want to point out that traffic doesn't work that way. Traffic goes where traffic wants to go, regardless of direction. Think of it more like water than cattle.

So even if it's directed down one or two major neighborhood arteries, the whole neighborhood will most likely be flooded with all these new vehicles coming in.

[redmder]

this is just typical liberal crap always thinking about yourself and whineing about traffic in your back yard. what about the needs of your neighborhood? do you commies ever think of anyone besides yourselfs? remingtone needs this walmart! you can put up with the traffic for the good of remingtone.

[AngryMob]

"And I'll keep an eye out for those "told ya so's", but I'd feel a whole lot better if you could maybe do something for every currently existing, local, independent business this development will kill."

The told ya so's will flow like wine after the boost in revenue for existing businesses in the area as they're exposed to a greater amount of traffic and potential customers.

[Virgil Caine]

I don't know...

We do live in a city, so sometimes there's traffic. Admittedly, when it gets onto residential streets, it sucks.

I think people who are against it aren't gonna change their minds nor are those in support.

I see both sides. I think it will be good for the city, but if the traffic is really that bad or if it drives smaller businesses out, it isn't worth it.

There's always the potential that it could help the area. I'll still go to falkenhans or any smaller business for everything I can, but If I have to go to Lowe's, that one would sure as shit beat going to cockesville!

[CRemington]

RemingtonE? I don't know where Remingtone is, but what they want or need is as much beside the point as all the other people not from here who feel like piping in. Ironic how it's always NIMBY when somebody else is doing it.

[anotherHampdenite]

So with this traffic study, highly suspect notwithstanding, is there any plan to improve the roads or traffic direction? I mean, is there any chance that this study will lead to positive changes in the development plan? And also, has the traffic study taken into account for the construction of the project? Where will trailors, backhoes, front-end loaders, etc. be parked? Where will the construction people and contractors park their cars during the long dusty construction of this thing?

[AngryMob's neighbor]

C'mon... "Where will trailors, backhoes, front-end loaders, etc. be parked?" Seriously? That's pretty nitpicky. I bet... just bet... they'll park it on the 11 acre site?

I was at a meeting a few weeks ago about the development. The developers say they'll foot the bill for some road improvements around the center. I'm sure there will be tax dollars that go into infrastructure improvements, but that'd happen whether this was a Walmart, Wholefoods, Trader Joe's, or a local place. And anyway, the city needs to make improvements to streets around Remington anyway. It's too bad that it takes a new shopping center to get those asshole bureaucrats to spend money on needed improvements.

I have to agree a little with AngryMob. As a homeowner in Remington, I'm glad to have this. It will most likely increase property values, and hopefully get a few new homeowners in the neighborhood to bring up the livability factor a little bit more. We have a nice neighborhood already -- low crime, affordable housing, etc. -- and the missing piece is quality shopping within walking distance of the area. This shopping center will truly set the neighborhood apart in the city.

[Amboy Dukes]

Wow. Facts and reality don't really seem to be a concern for the pro-parasitic development crowd and Wal-Mart lovers.

All evidence, data and history indicates that:
1. Despite AngryMob's claim that his development will boost "revenue for existing businesses in the area as they're exposed to a greater amount of traffic and potential customers" - that developments like this actually kill all other area business. Wal-mart kills mainstreets, downtowns, independent business and there is a mountain of data to suggest this. So AngryMob is either intentionally lying or simply lives in a weird bizarre parallel reality. I'm betting on the former.

2. Virgil says "I'll still go to falkenhans or any smaller business for everything I can, but If I have to go to Lowe's, that one would sure as shit beat going to cockesville!" The problem is you won't get to do both. If the Lowes opens, it will kill Falkenhans. And most likely Sirkus, Belle, Ace and 5 other area hardware stores. Right now you have a choice. You can go to a Lowes or any of these other businesses. When the Lowes opens, within 2 years, you will only be able to go to the Lowes. So the real choice is, do you want to only have a Lowes, or do you want the option of going out to a Lowes or still shopping these other locally-owned stores that have served us for years?

3. And of course, there's AngryMob's neighbor who is not surprisingly as either dishonest or uninformed as AngryMob. "It will most likely increase property values, and hopefully get a few new homeowners in the neighborhood to bring up the livability factor a little bit more. We have a nice neighborhood already -- low crime, affordable housing, etc. -- and the missing piece is quality shopping within walking distance of the area." Walmart is "quality shopping?" It is? That's sad and insulting. Also, mountains of data show that when a Wal-mart opens in your community, your property values go down. Know what else comes with Wal-marts? More crime. Christ, the parking lots alone (and this development has no plans to do anything but provide the bare minimum by way of security) are a dangerzone.

So please, stop lying.

If you want a Wal-Mart, fine. You want a Wal-Mart. Just be honest about it. But it's not rational. It's emotional. All of the reasons why you cite as Wal-mart being good for Remington are false. They're the complete opposite of what study after study after study reveals.

I have to wonder why you're spreading demonstrably false information, AngryMob 1 & 2. Curious.