Hyattsville Route 1 Parking Delayed
Hyattsville waiting on signs from State Highway Administration before parking plans can be implemented.
June has come and gone, and yet no new parking meters have sprouted along Hyattsville's downtown Route 1. Hyattsville officials now say that they are expecting the meters to be in by the end of August, but on street parking could come much sooner than that.
Back in March, the Hyattsville's Director of Community and Economic Development Jim Chandler said that metered, off-peak parking along Route 1 between Madison and Hamilton streets would begin by the end of June.
Coordination efforts between State Highway Administration and city officials has been slower than anticipated.
"SHA owes the City more signs to complete the process of identifying the areas where parking is now permitted during non-peak hours," said Communications Manager and Actig Director of Hyattsville's Recreation and Arts Department Abby Sandel in an email. "At this point, the City estimates we will have meters installed in early August, but parking will be possible as soon as SHA is able to get signage in place."
There will be no parking on Route 1 between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
The new on street parking will provide 61 extra parking spaces in downtown Hyattsville, but will also reduce the number of travel lanes during parking hours from four to two.
BigDan
5:42 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Seriously? Why is the city giving up funding from the government (the government pays Hyattsville to maintain Rt 1 so long as there is no parking on it) for a few crappy hipster businesses?
Good job Hyattsville! When the hipsters get tired of the faux Silver Spring (or is that wannabe Silver Spring?) and all that's left is assorted cell phone stores, hair dressers and other typical strip mall garbage shops you'll have a hard time finding money to fix the road (not that you ever did maintain it all that well before).
I thought Hyattsville branded itself as "A world within walking distance!" Having to have parking on RT 1 kinda shows that the city silently knows the streets of this town are in no way safe to walk.
Does the city realize how light the traffic has gotten on RT 1 lately? Getting through the city to places people actually want to go is a nightmare because of the way it backs up at E/W Hwy or at the bridge to go over the tracks. Do you really think drivers are going to flock to a congested corridor that will snarl traffic even more?
And do you really think people are going to actually park their cars on RT 1? I can't tell you how often I see drivers fly down Rt 1 driving in anger because of the traffic turning left onto the bridge over the train tracks and nearly rear end the parked cars further down the street. This is a horrible accident waiting to happen.
Michael Theis
6:19 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Hey BigDan. I'm not quite sure what you refer to by Hyattsville giving up money as a result of expanded Route 1 on-street parking. I've not heard any mention of such an effect, intended or otherwise.
Danny
7:33 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Hyattsville is not responsible for maintaining Route 1. The state of Maryland (SHA) is. And the state has paved or is currently paving many stretches of Route 1 between Beltsville and the DC line, so it's odd to say that the highway isn't being maintained.
Neighbor
1:22 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Why do you sound so angry? The Arts District is nothing like downtown Sliver Spring. It's a solid mid-sized mixed-use development. Parking IS an issue there and reducing the number of lanes during off-peak hours will hopefully slow motorists down, so that those who are walking around don't feel like they are on a highway.
I wouldn't exactly call the neighborhood a hipster hangout either. It seems like there are a lot of families with children who aren't following a trend but taking advantage of a nice place near their homes.
BigDan
4:39 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
@HCBB. I've got a friend who work as a landscape architect for a local company that Hyattsville "talked" with almost a decade ago. My friend has parents in the West Hyattsville area and he said the city's plans for that area were very reminscent of what dowtown Silver Spring did several years ago. The city ended up doing the Eya Eyesore thing to start with but they've got some grand schemes for the area around the WH metro station. As far as I know once they finish with RT 1 they'll be targeting that area next.
I have nothing against the folks who shop or work there. I have a problem with the politicians of this city ignoring the rest of the town. WSSC still sits vacant with troublemakers breaking in and squatting, vandalising or God knows what. They need to tear the thing down and either put up homes, or build a small park to supplement Magruder. Heck I'd even take them allowing the Top of the Park apartment folks park there...I mean they have 2 large unused lots right across from the front of the apartments on Gallatin that could be used!
Gina
4:57 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
This is the dumbest idea I have heard in a long time. There is on-street parking near Franklins but it is only after 8:00 a.m. However, most people who park there must not be able to tell time as I have seen cars parked there as early as 7:30 a.m. and I am not talking about holidays or weekends. The better option would have been to build a parking structure behind the Yes Market in the lot next to the tracks. Another good idea would be to install a left turn signal on the Southbound side (there is already one on the Northbound side). I have seen too many close calls since they put in the turn lane but neglected to put in a turn signal. This stupid idea of on-street parking on Route 1 just goes to show that Politics and intelligence do not reside in the same space.
BigDan
4:32 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
@Danny I don't think that's the case. Hyattsville likes to run independent on things like trash pickup, road maintence etc. I recall when they first removed the meters that were in front of Lustine and Banning the politicians were going on how the state give the city money to maintain that section of Rt 1 (this was to calm worries of lost revenue from the meter removal). Maybe that changed hands over the years and never got reported. But either way it's a bad idea. They need to either make the light coming off of jefferson longer green and also time the lights further down rt 1 better or forget this onsite parking. I've tried to get onto Rt 1 during off peak hours and because of backups due to mistimed lights and pedestrians crossing I've had to sit through several cycles...and that Red is long. (45 seconds each cycle at least) That "no turn on red" is getting ignored a lot more for folks going south because of this...and with the phone building blinding your view of oncoming traffic...there's going to be a fatality sooner or later.
BigDan
4:41 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
ok...I have no idea why this comment appeared down here...it should have been with the others above. D'oh! Sorry everyone!
Danny
7:10 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
U.S. route 1 is maintained by the state, not by the county and definitely not by the city. the state highway administration has resurfaced route 1 through hyattsville in several phases over the past couple of years, the last phase (near what you repeatedly and laughably call the "EYA eyesore") completed within the past couple of weeks. so, again, i don't understand why you say that route 1 is not being maintained.
your comment that the city should "put up homes" on the WSSC site, coupled with your comments about maintenance of a U.S. highway, indicates a feeble understanding of city government.
BigDan
9:11 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Awwwwww you must me one of the pathetic business owners or a lapdog of the council in the city. The eya project was a piss poor idea. I seriously do not understand why ANYONE would pay 300k+ for a townhome by a set or traintracks when they can live in a much better area like Howard County.
Hyattsville is a ghetto or will soon be one. I wonder how long until they try to trick people into moving here by adding a "park" or "hills" to the end of the name like other citys have had to do like Riverdale "Park".
Call my nicknames laughable and feeble all you want but it doesn't change the fact Hyattsville is a crap city with crappy residents. This city is crime plagued (oh and come back with your BS "But but! Crime is slightly down!" argument)
You are nothing more than a Hyattsville fanboy. Once you grow up and realize how shitty this city and the people in this town are, then I'll let you talk to me Troll
Neighbor
10:40 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
You're completely wrong about Hyattsville, it's an awesome small town alcove with affordable housing located mere miles from the capital and Marylands best public university. From Hyattsville, I can get to Alexandria, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Arlington and DC without ever getting in a car. We have less than 30K people but we have 2 metro stops and a regional bus depot. We have our own mall, movie theater, parks and a large assortment of restaurants. Hyattsville is also home to the National Center for Health Statistics, part of PG community college and Prince George's District Court. We have our own police department, fire department and a historic post office. It may not be the shiniest place in this region but it's a functional little sanctuary that we love. Personally, I've found that the most amazing thing about this tiny city is that I never have to leave. Everything I need is less than a five minute drive from my house. Hyattsville is not a highway that you can just drive through going 60 miles per hour. The city has the right to use route 1 for parking, so if you don't like it, please, stay out of our city. EYA Arts district was named 2012's top economic development project in the state by the Maryland Economic Development Association, so calling it a "piss poor idea" just shows how ignorant you are to the facts.
Danny
2:12 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
OK, so you hate hyattsville. that's cool. i myself am not a huge fan of, say, dale city, and i don't live, work, shop, or otherwise spend time there. how about not spending any time in hyattsville? (although when you draw parallels between hyattsville and columbia, i imagine you don't know all that much about either place.) why would you choose to waste your time commenting on hyattsville-related matters? it's obvious you're ignorant of how municipal government works and are unable to back up your opinions with anything other than "hyattsville sucks, and you're an idiot," so your comments aren't actually advancing the dialogue. like a spoiled child, you're simply calling attention to yourself until the moderator inevitably chastises and/or blocks you, fueling your desire for attention.
feel free not to reply if you don't think i'm worthy of talking to you.
Danny
2:28 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
@HyattsvilleCouldBeBetter -- don't mind "bigdan." he's just pulling the whole "XXX is a horrible idea because it doesn't appeal to me personally" argument. you know, "EYA's an eyesore because i personally don't want to buy a house there." or, "whole foods will fail because i personally can't afford to, or just plain don't want to, shop there." or, "that dominican hair salon is ruining our community because i don't speak spanish."
Neighbor
2:47 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Well, in BigDan's defense, in addition to providing a counter argument to stimulate conversation, he stated, "I have nothing against the folks who shop or work there. I have a problem with the politicians of this city ignoring the rest of the town." Implying that his real qualm was the lack of development in West Hyattsville, and the cities focus on "downtown" Hyattsville. There was a map of all of the cities infrastructure enhancements approved this year, and almost all of them were over on route 1 and Hamilton st. That area used to be the downtown when there was a Marc station that is now nothing more than a pile of rubble. I would say that the new downtown is clearly UTC. The counsel voted against the Landy properties proposal to build a pair of 16 story tall buildings there. Despite the university towers building being even taller and despite the fact that the newly proposed and approved structure is lower than the zoning minimum which is 6 stories. Why would the city only want one tall building? Why not promote a collection of tall buildings. The remaining closed off parking lots in UTC are a saddening waste of space too.
Danny
2:52 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
@HyattsvilleCouldBeBetter -- um, i am replying to a comment where he wrote, "Hyattsville is a crap city with crappy residents" and "realize how shitty this city and the people in this town are."
sorry, but i fail to see this as defensible.
Neighbor
3:06 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
lol. Yeah. I have this cute little guinea pig at home, and sometimes he starts running around jumping and knocking things over. It seems kind of scary, like he's having a violent rage fit, but when I looked online I discovered it meant that he was happy. Sometimes animals are just weird.