Town of Kensington, Maryland
The Town of Kensington convened a 2-day Technical Assistance Panel to study the proposed Summit Avenue Extension project and associated development opportunities/challenges. One of the main goals of the 2012 Kensington Sector Plan was the creation of a Town Center by diverting traffic flows via the Summit Avenue Extension project. Projected to be completed in FY32, the Summit Avenue Extension project would extend Summit Avenue past its current terminus at Plyers Mill Road, and connect Summit Avenue to Connecticut Avenue, via Farragut Avenue.
The project was proposed for its potential traffic alleviation, but could also create opportunities for developable frontage, along with multimodal infrastructure. However, the project also creates new challenges, mostly pertaining to pedestrian and bicycle safety, as the new Summit Avenue terminus at Connecticut Avenue, near the University Boulevard split, presents challenges for pedestrian movement and safety. The Panel cautioned against using the extended Summit Avenue as a traffic mitigation strategy, and instead proposed using the new road as a residential bridge between the historically Black Ken-Gar community and the Town of Kensington. In addition, the Panel recommended the Town consider co-location of uses at the current (or future) site of the Kensington Fire Station.
Report Summary: The Town of Kensington convened a 2-day Technical Assistance Panel to study the proposed Summit Avenue Extension project and associated development opportunities/challenges. One of the main goals of the 2012 Kensington Sector Plan was the creation of a Town Center by diverting traffic flows via the Summit Avenue Extension project. Projected to be completed in FY32, the Summit Avenue Extension project would extend Summit Avenue past its current terminus at Plyers Mill Road, and connect Summit Avenue to Connecticut Avenue, via Farragut Avenue.
The project was proposed for its potential traffic alleviation, but could also create opportunities for developable frontage, along with multimodal infrastructure. However, the project also creates new challenges, mostly pertaining to pedestrian and bicycle safety, as the new Summit Avenue terminus at Connecticut Avenue, near the University Boulevard split, presents challenges for pedestrian movement and safety. The Panel cautioned against using the extended Summit Avenue as a traffic mitigation strategy, and instead proposed using the new road as a residential bridge between the historically Black Ken-Gar community and the Town of Kensington. In addition, the Panel recommended the Town consider co-location of uses at the current (or future) site of the Kensington Fire Station.