Jones Falls Expressway – Sandy Rosenberg

Defining the Issue

February 28, 2024 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

Amendments are the order of the week.

They are the compromise needed to get your bill a favorable report.

A subcommittee will make it clear that your bill will move forward only if it’s modified.

You want to draft the amendment.

You always want to work off of your document.

My bill addressing unpaid speeding tickets on the Jones Falls Expressway did not have the votes to pass the Baltimore City delegation last Friday.

After sharing my amendments with my colleagues on the House floor this morning, it now does.

House Bill 128 would make it a crime, in part, to “harm another…[or] threaten to harm another” participating in a legislative proceeding.

The Criminal Law Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee is considering how “harm” should be defined.

I asked the Attorney General’s Office for advice.

Have the Maryland appellate courts defined “harm” in the context of the existing law criminalizing interference with a judicial proceeding? Have the courts done so in any other context?

If there is no judicial definition, would it be appropriate to use a dictionary definition?

On my seat, getting across the street

March 14, 2023 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

Sometimes I do my best thinking on my seat.

I had testified on my bill to broaden the permitted uses of the money from speeding tickets on the Jones Falls Expressway.

One of my objectives with House Bill 512 is to fund a pedestrian bridge over Cold Spring Lane for the hundreds of Poly and Western students who now cross the street on foot – to and from the light rail stop.

This revenue could be used to “enhance pedestrian safety at intersections” near exit ramps.

I was still at the witness table. answering questions from committee members.

The last one was from the committee char.

Delegate Barve made the point that when the committee authorized the speed cameras on the JFX, it wanted the money generated to be used for the roadway.

Enhancing pedestrian safety would be outside that standard.

I responded, “If the committee amends the bill to apply only to the Poly-Western students, I would not object.”

High Speed Improvements

December 9, 2022 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

When you’re driving on the Jones Falls Expressway, I hope you’re obeying the speed limit.

For your own safety and that of other drivers, myself included.

But people who are ticketed are expected to generate $34.7 million annually.

Under existing law, that money would go towards road and safety improvements to I-83, eligible activities under the State Highway Administration’s Safe Routes to School Program, or improvements consistent with the Complete Streets Program.

The interchanges for the JFX need improvements.

There’s an entrance or exit to the highway in five of the six legislative districts in the City.

Two are in the 41st District.

Upgrades will begin at the bottleneck at Northern Parkway and Falls Road after the affected neighborhood groups, myself, and my colleagues secured a commitment from the City Department of Transportation last winter.

More work still needs to be done at that intersection.

Hundreds of students at Poly and Western must cross Cold Spring Lane during rush hour. A pedestrian bridge would be a major improvement.

No doubt there are also pressing needs at the other interchanges.

Perhaps we should set aside a certain percentage of the estimated $34.7 million from speeding tickets for these projects.

I’ve begun the discussion.