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The Glenn Dale, Seabrook and Lanham communities could be getting more sidewalks and improvements to roads and intersections to make transportation safer for drivers and pedestrians.

In a meeting Aug. 28, members of the Glenn Dale, Seabrook and Lanham Community Advisory Group told the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission they want the M-NCPPC to address a lack of striping in double left turn lanes, the need for more stop lights, foliage blocking the sight of drivers making turns onto main roads and lack of sidewalks.

During the meeting, the third of nine joint meetings, CAG members made suggestions and expressed concerns about the transportation portion of the communities' master plan. The M-NCPPC and CAG will meet again tonight at 6:30 p.m. to discuss environmental issues in the community for development of the master plan.

The CAG is made up of 13 residents from Glenn Dale, Lanham and Seabrook. They provide feedback on development and zoning guidelines, weighing in on the new vicinity master transportation plan, which the M-NCPPC is developing. The plan is expected to be released to the public in January. A public hearing will follow and the plan will go the County Council and Planning Board by December 2009, said Rex Hodgson, M-NCPPC planner coordinator for the county's north division.

Henry Wixon, a Glenn Dale resident on the CAG, said the community needs more sidewalks.

"Unless a developer puts sidewalks in [the plans] with a project, we don't have sidewalks," Wixon said. "In this case, we need to decide where we really need sidewalks for safety."

CAG members have said the lack of sidewalks may force people walk on the street, which many feel is unsafe.

Glen Burton, M-NCPPC planner coordinator with the transportation planning section of the countywide planning division, spoke about current transportation studies that will be part of the new Master Plan of Transportation.

CAG members also supported installing more stop lights.

"[Stop] lights where they don't belong can make it unsafe and make the situation worse than it was before the light," Burton said.

Traffic studies can be conducted to determine the level of need for stop lights, he said.

Fred Shaffer, M-NCPPC senior planner with the transportation planning section of the countywide planning division, spoke about trails, including bicycles, pedestrian and equestrian trail facilities; access on roads such as Routes 450, 704 and 193, Forbes Boulevard and Good Luck Road; and sidewalks.

"[Route] 193 needs bicycle and pedestrian enhancements," Shaffer said. "A big emphasis will be on a walkable community. You shouldn't have to drive in a car to walk on a trail. It should all tie up."

Bill Walmsley, a Seabrook resident on the CAG, likes the idea of biking to the MARC station. This is possible if an overpass connector or side paths are built.

"Usage [on Lanham-Severn Road, for example] changes over time, and new issues have to be addressed," Walsmley said. "I have realistic expectations and understand the financial constraints. You can't do everything you want to do. But, it's important that we get something done."

In addition to planners from the M-NCPPC, representatives from the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the State Highway Administration were present.

P. Peter Campanides, a SHA team leader for District Three traffic, said it would be evaluating the intersection concerns.

Erma Anderson, a Lanham resident CAG member, wants the group's suggestions to benefit more than just her community.

"I want to make sure that a lot of things are done to help the most people in the county, not small groups," Anderson said. "We need more strategically placed stop lights, better roads and stretches of roads, trails and sidewalks. The county [M-NCPPC] has done a good job of listening."

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.