La Plata council authorizes letter supporting SHA Route 6 streetscape after EMS and business concerns

The La Plata Town Council voted June 23 to authorize Mayor James to sign a letter of support for the Maryland State Highway Administration's Route 6 (Charles Street) streetscape improvement project while emphasizing continued coordination with emergency responders and businesses.

Town Manager Chuck Stevens told the council the project advances pedestrian safety and corridor infrastructure—crosswalks, a 10-foot shared-use path, ADA-compliant sidewalks, lighting and culvert/stormwater upgrades—and that the corridor is state-funded. "Execution of a letter of support does not create a financial obligation for the town," Stevens said.

Several residents and stakeholders urged caution. Jamie Smith, chief of the Volunteer Emergency EMS Association, told the council that responders have repeatedly raised concerns about how design elements could affect fire apparatus access, ambulance maneuverability and response times. "Every design decision that limits access restricts maneuverability or delays emergency vehicles has the potential to impact outcomes for those people," Smith said, asking that public safety be fully evaluated before final Council support.

Mike Ann, a downtown business representative, said the project risks eliminating critical parking for customers and said earlier remarks attributing his views to 'wild enthusiasm' were incorrect. "I am not wildly enthusiastic about the project," he said, asking the council to note his opposition to the specific design as presented to businesses.

Council discussion balanced safety goals against emergency-response and business-impact concerns. Councilman McCormack and others cited county roadway-safety statistics and the benefit of state funding to avoid the town bearing full reconstruction costs. Councilman Sampson asked whether the letter commits the town to a specific design; staff and council repeatedly answered it does not. Council heard that SHA has held stakeholder meetings, including sessions with fire and EMS, and staff committed to follow up with SHA project staff on whether specific risk analyses (response-time or fiscal impact on businesses during construction) have been completed.

The Council adopted Resolution 26-39 authorizing the mayor to execute the letter of support by voice vote. Council and staff said the action is a statement of support for the project in principle, not for any specific design, and urged ongoing engagement between SHA, the town and emergency services.