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Community Liaison Council Meeting Minutes
June 19, 2008, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Visitor Information Center, Building 45 (Natcher Building)
Conference Room D
National Institutes of Health

ANNOUNCEMENTS—Dennis Coleman, Co-Chair; Ginny Miller, Co-Chair

  • On June 24, at 7:00 PM, a meeting will be held at the County's Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center to get input on the community's vision for Battery Lane Urban Park.

  • Garage 35 (on Woodmont Ave. between Battery Lane and Rugby) will be closed in phases, one floor at a time, for a year beginning July 14.

  • Today was the 3rd annual Dump-the-Pump Day sponsored by the American Public Transportation Assn. The purpose was to encourage transit & decrease gas demand

  • Installation of a new water line will close part of 1 west bound lane on Lincoln Dr. from 6/16 thru 7/1. Both lanes will be open during rush hour, and the gate will remain open during business hours.

  • The Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is looking for volunteers and is having a summer enrollment program. Training, excitement & community involvement are provided

  • The County's alert about water quality possibly being compromised by a pipe break was recalled as a result of satisfactory testing.

  • Montgomery County is holding a contest between now & August 20 to solicit the best photos of local community life. Cash prizes of up to $300 will be awarded. If you want to compete, Mr. Coleman can provide details.

  • On July 10, at 7:00 PM, at the County's Bethesda Chevy Chase Services Center, NIH will be holding a scoping meeting for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for bringing people accidentally exposed to infectious agents at Fort Detrick to Clinical Center isolation facilities for treatment. Since exposures could involve level-4 infectious agents, safety and risk analyses are likely to be required. At an EIS scoping meeting, community members can provide input on specific concerns related to the impacts they perceive.

  • For July 4th, Albert Einstein High School in Kensington is again the closest site to Bethesda for viewing authorized firework displays.

  • The State Highway Administration (SHA) has begun the construction phase of an extensive project to elevate Route 355 over Montrose & Randolph Roads. A community meeting will be held at Montrose Christian School, June 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM to discuss the implications.

  • The Navy has established a BRAC hotline (301-319-2722), which will be manned between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM and take recorded messages at all other times.

  • The Coalition of Military Medical Center neighbors had an organization meeting last week at Stone Ridge school. Ms. Michaels is a member & explained that the Coalition includes the 6 homeowners’ associations that now have seats on the County’s 25 mbr BRAC Implementation Cmte (BIC). The Coalition wants to expand & increase community awareness of & influence on BRAC activities & impacts, including plans to improve 4 local intersections (Old Georgetown Road & Cedar Lane, Rockville Pike & Jones Bridge Road, Jones Bridge Road & Connecticut Avenue, Rockville Pike & Cedar Lane). It also plans to communicate unresolved issues to elected officials. Ms. Michaels will e-mail the PowerPoint presentation to interested persons.

  • Last month at Bike-to-Work day, some 500 NIH employees rode bikes to work. Because BRAC will have a significant impact on local traffic safety and congestion, the NIH Bike Club has written to Dr. Zerhouni, asking him to fund development of a traffic model of the surrounding area, so cyclists and pedestrians know where the backups & safest routes are. Ms. Michaels noted that linking NIH bike paths to the county bike paths is part of the Master Plan.

  • On June 16, Congressman Van Hollen contacted DoD & endorsed the Navy's application for Defense Access Road (DAR) funding of certain BRAC mitigations. Senators Mikulski & Cardin recently conveyed similar endorsements.

  • Last month Dr. Ozarin reported her experience with NIH campus police when her car broke down just outside the NIH fence. She wrote a letter of thanks to Dr. Zerhouni, which was circulated to Mr. Coleman.

FACILITIES

Pedestrian Safety Improvement—John Ritch, Community Policing Coordinator, ORS
In February, Ms. Volz reported a pedestrian safety issue at Cedar Lane & Route 355. This is the northernmost entrance to the campus and has earned the name "Speeders Drive" since the angle of entry does not require commuters to slow down very much from 355. Mr. Coleman showed an aerial view of the driveway & a flyer that Officer Ritch had passed out one morning to remind commuters to slow down before getting to the pedestrian cross walk.

While handing out flyers, Officer Ritch spoke to various driveway users (drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists) and asked what they thought NIH should do to increase safety. Input included the measures already identified such as signs, speed bumps, lights & enforcement. The problem is that the speed limit on Route 355 (where the driveway starts) is 35 mph (meaning some drivers are going faster if they can), but the speed limit upon entering North Drive is 5 mph & many drivers don't realize it.

NIH is exploring various methods to slow the traffic down. Narrowing the driveway seems to work, at least as a temporary solution. From 6:00 to 10:00 AM (after which the driveway is closed), the right lane to the crosswalk has been closed with orange barrels that make the crosswalk hard to ignore. This gives drivers only one lane by which to enter, but backups on Rockville Pike have not been observed. Officer Ritch showed before-and-after photos of the cones and barrels. If this fix continues to be effective, these could be replaced in the future with something more permanent (e.g. Jersey barriers).

As another option, Officer Ritch showed a drawing of a proposed 2-part "hump and bump" solution. The bump proposed near Route 355 caused concern about traffic traveling at 35 mph & hitting the bump at a diagonal. A 6-foot-long hump closer to the crosswalk is another possibility.

Officer Ritch also observed that lighting in this area is inadequate in winter, so that is another possible safety improvement. NIH has so far added a yellow flashing beacon on the barrels on the roadway, but those are relatively invisible during day light hours. A permanent amber flashing light on either side of the crosswalk could be installed for winter operation. Signage is another issue that may be changed and can address pedestrians and bicyclists, in addition to drivers.

Mr. Schofer, citing his long experience as a traffic engineer, reiterated that the intersection is poorly designed and in fact, looks like a high-speed pit stop at a race track. He argued against speed bumps because drivers are going too fast. Also, if you add distance to their trip by moving the crosswalk farther from 355, bicyclists and pedestrians will take shortcuts. Officer Ritch agreed that already a path has been worn at the point of shortest distance. Boulders were installed to discourage that behavior, but they are not intended to be a wall, so pedestrians walk around them. Moving the crosswalk nearer the security booth was being considered, but pedestrians might ignore the crosswalk even more. Mr. Schofer thought the entry should be redesigned to require a 90 degree turn off 355. He has observed traffic back-ups on Route 355 at the commercial vehicle inspection facility (CVIF). How conditions change in 2 weeks when the Gateway Visitors’ Center opens remains to be seen.

Ms. Michaels, who walks around the campus for exercise, observed that what the Police Department is doing seems to be working, and that a pedestrian can cross one lane easily, whereas 2 lanes are a challenge when the driveway is full of commuters. Ms. Voltz read a note from one of her neighbors, who had nearly been hit last year. The neighbor appreciates the double lane closure idea since cars now move more slowly through the crosswalk and some even stop for the pedestrians.

Progress on Speeders' Drive highlights another issue at Lincoln Drive & Old Georgetown Road, where commuters going south on OGR turn left into the campus w/o giving pedestrians the right of way. In addition, Ms. Miller reported the problem of drivers leaving NIH & going straight onto Lincoln, whereas they are supposed to use other roads to enter the subdivisions around Suburban Hospital.

Mr. Coleman said that he would ask Officer Ritch to evaluate those issues & if warranted, determine what if any options are available to remedy them.

ENVIRONMENT—Kenny Floyd, DEP Director, ORF

Mr. Floyd will attend the July CLC meeting to report on noise reduction.

TRANSPORTATION—Dennis Coleman, OCL Director, CLC Co-Chair [for Tom Hayden, Director, Amenities & Transportation Division, ORS]

Restoration Status of Buffer Facilities
In March, CLC members asked when the buffer area around the NIH campus would be restored. Rather than guess what the problem is, Mr. Hayden distributed a 2006 aerial photo of the campus for members to mark up with their specific concerns. In May, Mr. Coleman and Ms. Miller agreed that since the master plan clearly limits facilities in the buffer, the best approach to remove any confusion is to mark all the NIH facilities that occupied buffer space in the 2006 photo (there are 13) and ask Mr. Hayden to explain each of them. CLC mbrs already realize that some facilities are grandfathered (e.g., Children’s Inn, CVIF), and some no longer exist (e.g. Bldg 33 staging area). A new aerial photo was taken last month, and this will be obtained by OCL & shown to the CLC.

Ms. Blackburn reported that she and Mr. Hayden were working on a response, which will include photographs of what is currently in the buffer. Mr. Hayden is reviewing the Master Plan to identify what is specifically said about the buffer. Ms. Miller approves of using the master plan as a reference since she wants documented details & commitments, not off the cuff PR statements. Mr. Coleman showed the 2006 aerial photo with the buffer location overlaid based on a master plan drawing.

SPECIAL PROJECTS—Dennis Coleman, OCL Director and Co-Chair (for Tony Clifford)

South Lawn Drainage
Since 2003, the community has been concerned about the wet condition of the South Lawn, particularly after heavy storms. Some suggested running an underground pipe to transport the water off NIH property, but environmentalists disliked the idea of piping >30 acres of urban runoff somewhere else w/o allowing plants or ground filtration to cleanse it. ORF Director Dan Wheeland is a registered professional engineer who broke the impasse with a perforated pipe idea. For normal storms, water would filter into the ground under South Lawn. For heavy storms, it would get to the County drains.

Mr. Clifford made a proposal to the County for a cooperative solution. NIH would install and pay for a 24-inch, underground, perforated pipe between North Brook Lane and Mapleridge Avenue. The County would pay for connecting the perforated pipe to their drainage facilities. He sent this proposal to Bruce Johnson, head of the County Capital Project group. Mr. Johnson has replied, indicating County interest in a cooperative approach. Mr. Clifford, encouraged by this response after several iterations with the County, wants to convene a design team to layout this 470-foot, perforated pipe. They will likely use the same contractor who installed the currently overtaxed 8 inch underground drain pipe.

Mr. Sawicki thought any plan must be a comprehensive solution and include addressing the swales in the buffer, and the community’s input and recommendations. Mr. Clifford agreed, but first he has to get out into the field after the consultant is on board. He has no problem starting engineering studies now that he knows they will be used; he just didn’t want to spend money on studies of solutions that would never be funded. The real and significant problems remain stagnant water and erosion.

Dr. Ozarin was concerned about mosquitoes breeding in the permanent pond about 20 feet from the exit; Mr. Clifford said that is essentially Mr. Sawicki’s point. The force of storm water is enough to dislodge whatever was installed to drain the pond, but the proposed solution will take care of that by getting the water off the field. Ms. Hildebrand, also concerned about mosquitoes, asked if something could be put in the water for the next few weeks. Mr. Schofer recommended putting a cup of motor oil in it. Mr. Clifford will have people check the low spot in front of the County's pipe, and will tell the county that the community is concerned about the stagnant water. Mr. Sawicki agreed, but in focusing on the big picture, we should remember that some animals may use that water & should not be harmed.

Mr. Coleman noted that originally there had been some internal conflict over the pipe solution, since the environmental staff did not like the idea of transporting dirty runoff water somewhere else. It helped that Mr. Wheeland is a registered engineer because he thought of perforating the underground pipe so as to only transport water when flow was too great to allow percolation back into the soil.

INFORMATION FORUM—Dennis Coleman, OCL Director, CLC Co-Chair

Regulatory Survey of Urban EMS Helicopter Operations—Part 1
About a year ago, community members noticed an increase in local EMS (emergency medical services) helicopter flights and the associated safety & noise impacts. The same is true for NIH staff who use the contemplative areas of the campus to think about their research. In short, both the campus and adjacent residential areas are not zoned for industrial or commercial uses. Therefore, it is relevant for both staff & neighbors to better understand helicopter impacts, operational rules, and whom to contact with questions or problem reports.

In response to a request from the CLC Agenda Cmte, the Community Liaison Office has researched the issue & prepared an extensive report which will eventually be provided to CLC mbrs & NIH staff. Part 1 will be presented today and provides background on the issues, operators and equipment involved with emergency medical transport services.

Helicopter size, capacity, engine characteristics, altitude, speed & maneuvers all play a role in the noise & safety impacts. Out of hundreds of helicopters models used today, there are 14 modes that fly in and out of Suburban Hospital and the Navy Base. The cover of the upcoming report shows each of these drawn to scale. The 4 most common models were identified.

Regulation of helicopter operations is a complicated issue, especially when densely developed urban areas like Bethesda are impacted. This complexity has engendered a whole cottage industry of consultants who work on helicopter & associated facility issues and who would have been happy to prepare a report for around $200,000. By sticking to the basics, OCL prepared its report for about a tenth of that. Ms. Miller and Mr. Clifford commented that an NIH building once designed with a helipad was never built, which is the main reason why no helicopters currently land at NIH.

Mr. Coleman showed aerial photos of both Suburban Hospital and Navy base helipads. The BRAC EIS reports that the Navy base now hosts about 120 flights per year and, when Walter Reed patients arrive, that number will increase by about 24 flights per year. That number strikes many CLC mbrs as low, so it may refer only to military helicopters. OCL research revealed that the military prefers to contract out helicopter flights to commercial operators, 3 of which are licensed to operate in MD.

Cindy Bartolomo, who manages Security at Suburban Hospital, reported that they have 400 to 450 flights per year. A map showing the landing and take-off areas illustrated that the 4000 foot approach/departure surface for Suburban Hospital overlaps that of the Navy base and is centered directly over the NIH campus. Ms. Miller noted that many of the state police and military helicopters are relatively large compared to private carriers. Ms. Michaels added that there are also news helicopters circling over the beltway, not to mention occasional police helicopters. Mr. Sawicki reported that he has also seen Park Police helicopters land at Suburban.

Mr. Coleman reported that air transport has in fact become the standard for time critical relocation of patients & accident victims. He stressed that no CLC or NIH staff member has questioned the necessity or benefits of medevac. Affected people just want to know the impacts & regulatory standards and who enforces them. Mr. Schofer added that patients at hospitals with helicopter operations are also impacted.

Mr. Coleman showed a list of terms and definitions, including the dimensions of a heliport, which are based on length of the helicopter and the diameter of its rotors. The approach/departure air space however is the most important impact on people because it covers such a large area. That surface extends outward from the helipad for 4000 feet. At the outer edge, it is 500 feet above the helipad level and at the center it is of course at helipad level.

Mr. Coleman explained further that the blades are wings (not fans), so they generate both lift & thrust. Rotational torque is countered by the tail rotor. The revolutions per minute of the main rotor are actually quite slow (a few hundred rpm) compared to a propeller, which is what produces the thump-thump sound (aka impulsive pressure waves) generated by a helicopter. For example, the record speed for a helicopter is only ~250 mph (~10% that of an airplane). If it flew faster, the rotor would fall apart since the tip speed would exceed the speed of sound.

The standard helicopter engine, invented in the 1950s, is a gas turbine, in effect a jet engine that produces shaft power instead of thrust. Precision machining and exotic, heat resistant materials (e.g. titanium) allow a 220 lb gas turbine to produce 1200 horsepower without spark plugs, liquid coolant or lubrication. While the blades produce lift, their inclination can be changed by the pilot to produce forward, backward and neutral thrust.

The altitude flown and maneuvers undertaken also affect noise impact. Mr. Coleman concluded this section with a one-page summary of physical characteristics of the 14 helicopter models used in this area. These were categorized as small, medium, and large based on weight, engine power & capacity. For each of the 14 models, the report includes a photo of the outside appearance & interior based on information obtained from industry sources & manufacturers. The one exception is that no interior photo was available for Marine 1.

The interior photos show how EMS helicopters are equipped like miniature hospital emergency rooms. The rear section is occupied by a long drive shaft for the tail rotor, so the passenger section is actually quite small and easily crowded, as shown by a sample photo of an EMS helicopter with 2 patients on board. Mr. Coleman commented that riding in an EMS helicopter might be the only time when the number of patients is exceeded by the number of nurses (aka EMTs or Emergency Medical Technicians). The ambulance version of the military’s Blackhawk helicopter was shown to have room for up to 6 patients.

There are 3 licensed EMS private operators in the state of Maryland, and each has a Web site. These web sites were one source for identifying the EMS equipment seen in MD. A military contact to whom OCL was referred by staff at the Washington Council of Governments identified the 3 machines that occasionally fly in and out of the Navy Base.

Mr. Sawicki recalled that Park Police helicopters would fly about 200 feet above the trees in his neighborhood. When he called about that, he found that the route taken is the pilot’s decision. Many preferred to simply overfly NIH to avoid the neighborhood and that decision is also weather dependent.

CLC members thanked Mr. Coleman for compiling such an interesting and useful report about a relevant subject that has never been covered. Part 2, focusing on regulations—a balance of interests between patients and the residents—will be presented next month.

ROUND ROBIN—Ginny Miller, CLC Co-Chair

Comments and Concerns

  • Ms. Blackburn asked whether there are any shuttle issues that need to be addressed at the next meeting. None were reported, which indicates adequate operation.

  • Ms. Miller noted that the Gateway Visitors’ Center is to open in July and expressed doubt that the traffic circulation plan will work. Mr. Coleman said that the traditional CLC tour of a new NIH facility will be arranged soon after the facility opens (i.e. once more or less stable operations are established). [Editor's note: Gateway Center opening has been postponed.]

  • Specific concern was expressed that (1) there is no way for northbound Rt 355 traffic to enter Gateway Center without making a U-turn, and (2) there is no way for cars exiting Gateway Center to go north on 355 w/o making another U-turn. This is bound to create more congestion on Rt 355, and the effect of BRAC and pond construction might make the situation totally unmanageable.

  • Ms. Michaels added that at the BIC meeting last week, Mr. Yoder (representing SHA) said that what NIH perceives as a no-left turn intersection in front of the CVIF is, in fact, not the case, and, contrary to what NIH staff has asserted, SHA has no plans to block that off. Therefore the U-turn needed for northbound traffic to enter Gateway Center may in fact be made in front of the CVIF instead of at Cedar Lane. Mr. Coleman said that Mr. Hayden was going to ask someone from the SHA to discuss the circulation plan and what options are available if it doesn't work.

  • Mr. Coleman added that Jan Clark (who attended the April CLC meeting) representing USUHS (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences), has invited the CLC to tour the facility.

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Next meeting: July 17, 2008

PARTICIPANTS

CLC Members
Marian Bradford, Camelot Mews
Harvey Eisen, Edgewood Glenwood
Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace
Marilyn Mazuzan, Oakmont
Deborah Michaels, Glenbrook Village
Ginny Miller, Wyngate
Steve Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood
Lucy Ozarin, MD, Whitehall
Ralph Schofer, Maplewood
Beth Volz, Locust Hill

NIH Staff
Amy Blackburn, ORF
Anthony Clifford, ORF
Dennis Coleman, OCL
John Ritch, ORS
Sharon Robinson, OCL

Liaison Representatives
Joan Kleinman, Rep. Van Hollen’s Office

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