Square Corner Takes Shape
An initiative to upgrade the intersection of Market and Patrick Streets in downtown Frederick met with an enthusiastic response from a standing-room only crowd at a public meeting held at the Delaplaine Art Center on August 2. Three design concepts for Frederick Square Corner had been prepared by architects, Mahan Rykiel and engineering firm RK& K, at the direction of the Ausherman Family Foundation. [Photo above from public presentation here.]
“This intersection is not in keeping with the rest of downtown,” Kara Norman, executive director of Downtown Frederick said. “We are being given the opportunity to raise the streetscape to another level.” A team from the architectural and engineering firms presented the three design concepts.
Concept A provides more real estate for pedestrians. It maintains the same grade level but features a raised intersection as a traffic calming method. It also narrows the roadway to a twenty foot radius for turning vehicles and separates pedestrians and traffic with the use of bollards. Both road and sidewalks utilize brick surfaces and the intersection incorporates shade trees that do not mask building architecture.
Concept B follows along the same lines with brick roadway and sidewalks but utilizes granite curbs plus ADA ramps to separate traffic from pedestrian areas. Traffic signals require relocation. Concept C maintains the asphalt roadway but incorporates brick crosswalks and sidewalks. The reallocation of roadway to sidewalk is on Patrick Street only.
Costs were estimated for each of the three concepts, ranging from $609,000 to $935,000 for utilities, with a total estimate range for Concept A of $1.38 million to $1.46 million, $1.58 million to $1.66 million for Concept B, and $1.11 million to $1.44 million for Concept C.
Public input included an overall concern for pedestrian safety. Other issues raised included the elimination for four parking spaces, bike parking, long term maintenance of brick or pavers, utility upgrades, and concern that a twenty foot turn radius was insufficient for delivery vehicles. Several creative design alternatives were also suggested. A construction timeline was estimated at from four to six months.
“Our next step is to incorporate these public input suggestions into a single draft concept to present to the Mayor and Board at a workshop on September 6th,” Norman says.
