I would agree with the woman who asserted that most of the 50 people at the meeting were not happy. Maybe 60% of those in attendance were annoyed, some of them vocally, and not particularly civilly either. The rest of us, who sat quietly observing, are glad to be getting such a positive addition to our neighborhood.

Let's not forget that there are a few thousand people in the area who didn't care enough to go to the meeting. The dissenters can only speak for the subset of the community that was fired up enough to go out of their way to air their grievances. It was a case of strength in volume, not strength in numbers.

Land is not readily available in Howard County. That parcel of land was going to be used for something. Very few developments are as innocuous as an elementary school. I'd rather a thoughtfully designed school than another trucking depot, another apartment complex, another scrap yard or another strip mall. I appreciated the time and patience of those presenting, and wish them luck with their aggressive construction schedule.

(For what it's worth, I agree that they're going to have to put a light at Ducketts and Rt 1 eventually. But there's no need to be shrill about it.)

Not fair. Some of us are stuck in traffic two hours every evening and can't attend. The potential for a loss of Bauman is a shock to be certain. Glad I wasn't there I'd still be a raving lunatic about it.

Bauman Drive will not be closing. A small ramp with a gate if approved by the Md. State Highway Association would be constructed for equipment to access the interstate in the area of the Montgomery Rd. overpass.

Good to know, thanks. Would you happen to have any information on how they plan on dealing with the intersection? I doubt it's even come up, but I've been relegated to going that way every day since they dug up Ducketts for the water pipe and it looks like it will be my only realistic way of leaving my house for the next year or so. Like the complaints about US1, Bauman and Montgomery is no picnic either for left-hand turns (but not quite suicidal like the left in question here). That whole intersection of Lawyer's Hill/Bauman/Rowanberry will need to be reworked now, it's going to be real hell when everyone else starts going that way too. Thanks again for the info Mike - the concept of losing the road completely was a bit much to deal with. I just hope the extra aggravation and impatience this will cause doesn't end up getting somebody killed at either intersection. Waiting 10 minutes behind a line of dump trucks at 7:30 in the morning every morning for months is going to be more than the already reckless drivers around here will be able to bear. I pray it's not anyone in my family coming the other way when it happens.

Yet another accident at Ducketts and US1 yesterday. Who's keeping count?

No one is keeping "count", they just throw around information that they pull from their head and try and make us all believe it! If you don't think we need a light at Ducketts and Route 1, you are ill advised and further more, of course the SHA doesn't think we need a light, they don't travel Ducketts daily, wait in traffic at 7am to leave the neighborhood or witness horrific accidents. Pull your heads out of your asses! You don't think we need a light b/c of your piss poor planning to put a light at Loudon Ave., which now doesn't need it as much as Ducketts will once there are 20 buses trying to get out of here. Mr. Roey... YES it a big deal for all of us to add 2 miles per trip to get out of our neighborhood, not to mention the time and gas that is added... this may have been a mute point if it were only for a month or two but 18 months.. of course its no big deal to you b/c you, your wife and rest of your family is not affected- Stupid Ass! Like I said before, I have 1/2 acre.. you want to build a high rise on it?? If you hold a seat in any office, know that there will be at least one vote against all of you, you did not stand for the residents of Elkridge!!

The accident yesterday at Ducketts was due to a driver turning onto ducketts lane and "cutting off" a driver going south bound on Rt. 1 - Drivers using Ducketts Lane need to relize that they DO NOT have the right to cut off cars anytime they feel like it.
I drive Rt1 everyday to work and at least 1 to 2 cars do not use the STOP sign at Ducketts Lane. Also the center lane is to get cars OFF of Rt. 1 not on to Rt. 1
As for the light at Loudon Ave which was NOT piss poor planning. I live in Harwood and have for 28 years. I have heard about how residents on Ducketts lane feel the light at Troy Hill should be moved to Ducketts land and now you question the light at Loudon Ave. We have to make left turns also.

They will learn their lesson when a school bus filled with children is T-boned trying to make that left turn on to Duckett's Lane. If my children were to go to that school, I would learn the bus route and if that left is on the route, I would be driving my kids to school every day! They are such idiots about this school. They could save so much money in busing if the kids in the area went to that school and walked.I know that no one wants to move their children from familiar schools, but a school should be about the community in which it is built.

Another light at 1/Ducketts is in order; no matter how many there are in that stretch of Rt. 1.... All they need to do is time them correctly.

Ok I have a question. Will the children who live on Ducketts Lane attend the new school being built there??

Putting a light at duckets would be ridiculous there are already enough lights on rt 1 people need to learn how to drive if you don't like it then go to the light at the library and go threw the back!!

As a parent of two small children who go to the library often, I don't want people cutting through the library to get to the light at Rowanberry. As a former resident of Ducketts lane, I think they need a light there. But they need to plan before the install, it may mean removing another light on 1 or timing things right. It is not an issue of learning how to drive. I know how to drive, I'm just not stupid enough to try making a left onto a four lane road with a speed limit of 45 (meaning cars may be going 60) with limited visibility. Also as parent, if my children were attending the school at Ducketts I would want a light there because I wouldn't want everyone in the neighborhood taking the back way during rush hour while my children are walking to school.

For those of us that live on Ducketts Lane, this project is a very big deal. It is not a project that we asked for and it thrust upon us. Had the Patch not posted about this back in the summer of 2011, this may have happened without any community knowledge. We will have to endure the many trucks coming in and out of our neighborhood for the next 18 months. While they told us during the meeting that the shift would be 7-7pm only during the grading stage, I doubt this is the case. Look at the schedule. If you’ve ever been involved with a construction project of this magnitude, you will realize that this is a VERY AGGRESSIVE schedule and delay is not an option. Therefore I suspect, the residents will endure double shifts during much of this time. Enjoy your sleep now!

Please understand that this school is NOT about our children. This school represents the county’s ability to open up Elkridge to new building. Because the schools were overcrowded accoring to APFO, few building permits could be executed. This proves a dilema for the county because they look at building as one of their primary economic stabilizers. Within a week of announcing the final sale of this land to HOCO, the County Council approved 140 building permits (http://elkridge.patch.com/articles/county-council-opens-route-1-for-development ). By adopting a new APFO chart due to the building of Ducketts Lane, the County Council now will allow 3,326 units to be built in Howard County in 2014. Another 340 permits were approved in March (http://elkridge.patch.com/articles/more-apartments-coming-to-elkridge ). This ensures that the cycle of overcrowded schools will continue. Where do you think the majority of the 3300 units will be placed – Northeastern Howard County (Elkridge, Jessup, Laurel, Columbia and Ellicott City)? What happens when there is no more land to build schools? When is enough enough?

No BK
The county will take land from what's left of large land owners here, like my father for example 77 years old all he wanted was his home to live out his years in peace without a condo or town stuck up his butt, but now we have that no to mention folks think our land is some kind of park to trespass on because the county didn't leave any green space or parkland for them to have a little recreational place. Then top that off with increasing the property taxes that a retired person on a fixed income has to pay. I know the county's answer he would be better off in a home. Imminent domain is the answer.

I refer a lot of articles about Elkridge to Howardpubliced. You people have got a lot of attention but you need to organize. You should form a citizens group and fight together. You are fighting business, money and politicians. It is sad to see American values under attack by some of the scum in the county. I wish you all well.

Citizens of Duckett's Lane: I feel your pain, I have no doubt in the future the "Man" will get the idea to raze and erect new structures for Norbel School and the Firehouse,(probably at the same time), and this will cause us pain on Old Washington Blvd. I have the same feelings for you in your community. No matter how hard you voice your opinions the "Man" is going to tell you you are getting this great thing, so grin and bear it. As for your lack of traffic light, I pledge to you that if you do not have one by the time the new school opens we will get all 40,000 Elkridge Citizens to shut RT 1 down until Director of Public Works JIm Irvin himself personally digs the hole for the light poles and turns on the switch for a new light! There is no way HC is going to make the buses filled with Elementary Students stack up every morning trying to make a left turn from Rt 1 to get on Duckett's lane every school day.

A few spare comments:
1) If, when construction starts or the school opens, this traffic nightmare is realized they can still put a light in. Not getting a light today does not mean we won't get it tomorrow when it is proven that we need it.

2) I take the left from Loudon to Rt 1 before going to my house on Ducketts every day. That light is 2:00 long if you catch it at the wrong time. I have never in my 3.5 years on Ducketts had to wait for 2:00 to make a left turn onto Rt 1 from Ducketts. Two minutes is forever - stare at your watch for two minutes, it's an eternity. A light will make the intersection safer. It will not make it faster.

3) I still have no idea how they're going to handle the ABF entrance if they stick a light at Ducketts. ABF trucks will not be able to make a right if traffic is stopped at the light.

4) I'm concerned about the dump trucks queuing in that little tiny left turn lane from Rt 1 to Ducketts. Three of them there will back up travel lanes.

5) I wish there was some way for me to bet against them finishing construction in August 2013, with like 2 weeks of slack before the start of school built into the schedule. Good luck to em...

I am all for a light at Ducketts that operates during the am and pm bus times. The rest of the time it can be a blinking yellow light.

To tammy and mike- try pulling out of elkridge mobile home park or hunt club everyday! Those are the ones that are a pain in the ass and a hell of a lot worse than duckets but do you see me complaining about that

I live on Hunt Club and have no issues! I never feel the need to rush out into traffic. If I am in a hurry I go out of the other end and go to Montgomery Rd to the light.

When the school opens a light WILL be needed at Rt1 and Ducketts, as will a widening and lengthening of the turn lane from North Bound Rt1. The Board of Ed will need to pay the State for the installation and this should be a cost added to the construction of the school.

BK, Legally I do not think the county can put the light there it has to be the State. The County could pay for it however, and the State install it.

Mike- I live behind elkridge apartments but Iam in and out of hunt club daily and have to shoot across to get to south Hanover road and it's a pain. I wasn't trying to make any one mad about saying duckets doesnt need a light I guess Iam just tired I sitting at traffic lights :( I guess when the school is built there they will need a light but I also think the entrance should be changed a little

Agreed

They are going to have to do something. The county and state have ignore the needs of the community infrastructure and will continue. It is amazing that Jim Irvin who is appointed the director of public works and has been reappointed by every Howard County Executive for years and makes $175,000 per year cannot figure out the problem nor can another appointed official Marsha MacLaughlin, Director of Planning and Zoning. Do you understand about the back door deals that have been going on for years and continue to do so at the expense of the residents. The land on Ducketts Lane was owned by the county then sold to a developer, Liparini. who in turn sold it back to the county for the new school after making a profit close to 300%. The county owned lots of land that in the past sold to developers and now it has no land for schools. From what I understand there is land being considered on Montevideo Rd for a future school, but alas there is still the possibility of the intermodal site. The county is corrupt not sticking to the data. There is land and the county should force developers like Blue Stream which is going to develop thousands of units to give up some land for a school(s) like in other counties. The problem with the Route 1 revitalization plan of pro development never forced accountability for the infrastructure. APFA (Adequate Public Facilities Act) does not address the issues.

The developers can build after 4 years whether or not the schools can accommodate the students or the roads can handle the traffic. The scope of traffic studies are very limited. I wonder how the traffic to the slots at the mall and blue stream development is going to increase traffic as people look for a cut through. Unfortunately, there is no accountability, if our government does not do their job. No one will get fired. As far as the road and people driving better. Be realistic. Everybody makes mistakes driving. Likely, all drivers were taught defensive driving... and that what we must use unless the county/state takes the responsibility in making our roads safe! Where are all these smart people, we have working for Howard County. The planners are afraid to say anything because they can lose their jobs. I hope you add your voice to our community organization, GECA(Greater Elkridge Community Association) who fights hard for what we as citzens want. GECA has been fighting issues for years. Please have your voice heard and email the county council,board of ed, Ken Ulman and other county employees who jobs are dependent on our taxes. Remember they work for US!!!!