At-grade crossing of the Northwest (NW) Branch Trail and 38th Avenue.

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SITE DESCRIPTION:

Northwest Branch trail is a popular and heavily used regional trail that links with the Bladensburg Waterfront Park and the Sligo Creek trail. The trail's 8-foot width is paved. The trail also provides access to the West Hyattsville Metro rail station and is popular for weekend recreational users as well as weekday commuters. This section of the trail is also part of the American Discovery Trail and the East Coast Greenway.

The intersection of the NW Branch Trail and 38th Avenue (Wards 1 and 5) near the bridge is dangerous. Approaching the intersection northbound on 38th there are poor sight lines for drivers and trail users as the road crests over the bridge. Also, the dip in the road after the bridge makes it hard for cars to stop when another car has already stopped for bikers. The southbound approach is down an incline which increases auto travel speeds.

Cars often do not yield for trail users at this intersection. There are two yellow diamond "bike" signs approaching the crossing from each direction on 38th. The southbound sign is located at the bottom of the slope near the alley where the stream valley flattens out. The northbound sign is located just south of the bridge. There is one "watch for peds / bikes" sign with an arrow pointing to the trail at the intersection on the southbound approach. The crossing itself is marked on the road's surface with a white-striped painted pattern.

There is a playground area with tennis courts on the upstream side of the crossing and a sports field on the downstream side of the trail crossing. There are several mature trees around the crossing but these do not obstruct sight lines around the intersection. No other vegetation blocks sight lines at the intersection.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

At the NW Branch Trail intersection:

Small scale:

• Improve signage, especially on northbound 38th warning of the crossing before cars reach bridge.
• Add speed hump / pavement noise-making grooves or bumps on either side of trail to encourage cars to slow down.
• Complete the sidewalk from Hamilton to the Northwest Branch along 38th.

Large scale:

• Reroute the bike trail under the bridge, or put the trail and the road on different grades (perhaps by extending roadway's bridge elevation northward so trail can underpass the road, north of the bridge abutment).

JURISDICTIONS:

38th Avenue (south of Hamilton is Rte. 208) - Maryland State Highway Administration
Northwest Branch trail - MNCPPC
Bridge/stream - Army Corps of Engineers
Wards - This intersection lies in Hyattsville Wards 1 & 5

HISTORY:

Recently, the City Administrator met with SHA who discussed a possible joint project to complete the sidewalk from Hamilton to the Northwest Branch along 38th. This could require some City funding.

ACCIDENTS:

According to Maryland State Highway Administration, from 2001 to 2005, within 0.2 mile of intersection:

38th Avenue at the Northwest Branch trail - no police reported pedestrian or bike accidents

Primary authors: Cynthia Way and Nathaniel V. Kelso