Purpose:
The purpose of the proposed action is to address capacity and safety needs on Section 100 and thereby improve access, mobility, and safety for local, regional, and inter-regional traffic, including passenger, freight, and transit vehicles.
Need:
The proposed action is intended to address the following capacity and safety needs on Section 100:
Capacity - Section 100 is the most congested section of I-95 in Maryland north of Baltimore City. Currently, Section 100, south of MD 43, operates at Level of Service F during the morning and evening rush hours. If capacity needs are not addressed, congestion is expected to increase by the planning horizon year of 2025. By 2025, Section 100, south of MD 43, is also expected to operate at Levels of Service E and F during weekend peak periods. Unchecked, increased congestion levels will extend the existing peak hour into a peak period of several hours duration and increase the level of diversion to alternative routes, such as the community-oriented arterials US 1, US 40, and MD 7.
Safety - The accident rate on section 100 currently is lower than the statewide average rate for comparable urban interstates within Maryland. However, the total number of accidents on Section 100 is increasing, especially in the vicinity of the urban I-895, I-695, and MD 43 interchanges, where large volumes of merging, diverging, and weaving movements occur. At some locations, left-hand exit and entrance treatments, limited auxiliary lane lengths and restricted sight distances may increase the potential for accidents to occur. The majority of the reported accidents in Section 100 are of the types normally identified as congestion-related, such as rear-end and sideswipe. If the anticipated congestion levels in Section 100 are not addressed, an increase in the number and severity of congestion-related accidents would likely occur.
Click here to view the additional support data for the Section 100 Purpose and Need Statement.