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Town seeks automated enforcement at Columbia Park Road as police report heavy traffic violations
Summary
After a July 3 site visit with SHA and a recent enforcement push, town leaders said State Highway Administration engineers support adding a left-turn lane and red-light cameras at Columbia Park Road; police reported heavy complaint volumes and discussed a target installation date for automated speed enforcement.
Town officials told the Cheverly Town Council on July 11 they are working with the State Highway Administration (SHA) and county partners on traffic changes at Columbia Park Road and the Metro entrance and are pursuing automated enforcement to curb frequent violations.
Mr. Galloway summarized a July 3 site visit by SHA District 5 that explored adding a left-turn lane to reduce backups that block through traffic. He said the district engineer "has shown support" for the change and that coordination with the county and SHA is required for design and permitting.
Police leaders described heightened enforcement this summer. Chief Morris said the Columbia Park initiative generated "over 158 traffic complaints" in the town and that enforcement actions during a recent period included stops and citations: "that resulted in...36 stops, 27 citations," according to his remarks. Later in the meeting another police representative confirmed the town posted the automated-enforcement notice required by statute and said the town had requested an installation timeline from its contractor with a target to go live "no later than Monday, July 29," to provide the required 15-day warning.
Assistant chief and other police leaders emphasized that daily manual enforcement is not sustainable. As one enforcement official put it: "We cannot sustain that level of enforcement," and staff noted that automated technology and coordination with SHA on red-light cameras were the most viable long-term options.
Council members discussed next steps: collecting data for permit applications to SHA, coordinating with the county, and inviting traffic engineers and police to walk the streets with residents before a work-session discussion. The council did not take a formal vote on cameras or lane changes at the meeting; staff said additional technical review, permitting and public hearings will be required before any installation or road reconfiguration.
