Five Things You Need to Know About South Rolling Road Traffic Improvements

For the past few months, Catonsville residents have been meeting with representatives from the State Highway Administration to look more closely at possible traffic and safety improvements along South Rolling Road.

The task force grew out of a public meeting that was held in September to address speeding, pedestrian safety and access to South Rolling Road from side roads such as Newburg Avenue. Since this portion of South Rolling Road is a state road, the improvements would be funded through SHA.

Here's what you need to know about proposed improvements to the roadway:

1. Sidewalks are unlikely in the near future because SHA does not have money earmarked, but sidewalks are an option in the long term. SHA officials have  prepared a study looking at what installing sidewalks would look like.

2. To curb speeding, Baltimore County Police have been staffing officers to patrol the road and issue citations. In total, 222 citations and 146 warnings were issued over the last year since officers were designated to the road. But officers with the First Precinct have downgraded the staffing to the road in the last month, so officers could go back to patroling in other areas.

3. Baltimore County is expected to install a speed camera on South Rolling Road, now that has been approved by the Baltimore County Council. There are currently no speed cameras in Catonsville.

4. Crosswalk upgrades will come soon, including brick walkways and brighter paint. Other landscaping will be done by SHA this summer. Taskforce members reviewed the designs for these at recent meetings.

5. Another public meeting will be held in the middle of May to review the options for the road. To see all of the documents tied to the project, go to SHA's website and scroll down to District 4 documents. A date and location have not been set.