The State Highway Administration funds Georgia Avenue

Redevelopment
After years of delay, stretch between MD 192 and MD 390 will be revitalized
By: Zoe Abramson

SILVER SPRING -​ For about 7 years, the State Highway Administration (SHA) has planned to
decrease traffic and increase safety in the stretch of Georgia Avenue that runs through the
Montgomery Hills neighborhood, one of the most populated non-highway roads in the state.
Although there have been many plans for the area, 2017 marks the first time the SHA has put the
adequate funding into the project.

When asked about the Georgia Avenue traffic, Jill Harvieux Pitner, a resident in
Montgomery Hills said, “It is tremendous, there is quite a bit of congestion. The Congestion
usually starts around 7:30 am and continues till about 9:00 am.”

Currently when driving along Georgia Avenue there is lots of traffic. It can take a long
time to make the turn to get onto Georgia Avenue. Once you are on Georgia Avenue the traffic
doesn’t ease up. Even driving just a short distance can take a long time. It takes multiple light
changes to get across just one intersection. Many cars are so eager to cross an intersection that
they end up blocking the box, and slowing down traffic even more.

Harvieux Pitner says, “I think that part of the issue is that many cars … in the lane are
trying to get on the beltway, so because of the turn signals there are … back ups because the cars
are blocking the intersection even when they aren’t able to proceed.”

The amount of cars isn’t the only problem slowing down traffic. The traffic rules are
confusing. There is a two way lane that can create confusion for drivers that aren’t used to
driving in the area. There are also only certain times when cars can make a left turn. Sometimes
when someone has forgotten the specific times and is too exhausted to find a different way to get
were they are going, they just neglect the rules, and still make the left turn, throwing off the
whole traffic pattern. Even when a driver follows the rules and doesn’t make the left turn it adds
a lot of time to their trip. They can go through a few more intersections and attempt to make a
u-turn, but during rush hour that u-turn is hard to make.

“I think a study to increase the opportunities for making left turns would be another
issue” says Harvieux Pitner, “during the evening commute the people don’t have the opportunity
to make a left hand turns into their neighborhood.” Harvieux Pitner says that she makes sure she
only goes to the grocery store when she can make a left hand turn to get back into her
neighborhood. If she can’t make the left hand turn it can make her trip twice as long.

Although traffic is the main concern in the area, the safety for drivers, pedestrians, and
bikers can be improved. There are nearly no bike paths anywhere, and congested roads during
rush hour are almost impossible conditions for biking. The sidewalk space while walking along
Georgia Avenue is limited and even crossing on crosswalks can be dangerous for pedestrians.
Even though speeds are slow the congested condition, confusing traffic rules, and angry drivers
make driving conditions dangerous.
 Busses also contribute to the congestion on Georgia Avenue. The buses stop to pick up
the riders and hold up all of traffic behind them. The busses also get backed up and have
inconsistent times when picking up their riders.

To fix the problems in this area the SHA has proposed five different options that aim to
solve all of the problems in the specific corridor of Georgia Avenue.

Option one is to keep everything the same. This option is mainly used as a baseline for
comparison.

Option two involves a small amount of construction, and improvements for buses. The
plan has proposed to adjust the time of traffic lights to let buses pass through intersection without
delay. They would also make a short additional lane to let buses pass in front of traffic on a green
light. It will also limit the amount of entry points onto Georgia Avenue to limit conflicts with
traffic. The sidewalks will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will include a
buffer between the street and sidewalk when space allows. The outside lane will also be widened
to allow easier biking.

Option three aligns with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's
North and West Silver Spring Master Plan, adopted in 2000. According to the SHA the features
included would be,
- Raised median with left turn lanes; Columbia Boulevard closed at Seminary Road
intersection
- Corwin Drive closed to create additional parking
- Potential new traffic signal at Flora Lane
- Realigns Seminary Road at MD 97
- Wide sidewalks on both sides of Georgia Avenue compliant with Americans with
Disabilities Act standards
- Median refuge area at crosswalks
 - On-road bicycles directed to county road network

Option five also includes a raised median with left turn lanes. It involves, Columbia
Boulevard being closed at the Seminary Road intersection; Southbound 16th Street ramp would
be relocated to signalized intersection with northbound 16th Street; The sidewalks on both sides
of Georgia Avenue will be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and will
have a grass buffer where space allows; The median will have a refuge area at crosswalks;
Similar to option two there will be wide outside lanes to accommodate on-road bicycle use; and
southbound 16th Street ramp will close to become a bicycle and pedestrian path.

There is also a second version of option five with a bike path. The bike path will separate
car traffic from bike traffic. The lanes would be four feet wide in both directions with a three feet
buffer from the motorized traffic. At the southbound 16th street ramp the bike path would end,
and would turn into a on road lane on both sides of Georgia Avenue, and would end at
northbound 16th street.

Option 5B includes four lanes going south bound and three to four lanes going north. It
also includes a new traffic signal on Flora Lane. It has the same features as option five in
addition to Flora Lane being shifted to intersect with shopping center entrance, Left turns being
allowed onto Flora Lane, and the new intersection would include a crosswalk.

Each option provides its own set of positives and negatives. Some of the plans add better
biking and walking conditions while other plans improve the ability to make left hand turns.
Option 2 limits traffic that buses cause and get stuck in. Option 3 provides additional parking, a
median, and ideally a smother traffic flow. Option 5 is a different way of trying to make the
traffic run smoother, and adds better pedestrian and biking conditions. Option 5B focuses on
making left turns easier. Option 5 with the bike path puts the emphasis on making good and
accessible bike paths. Different people are looking for different improvement to come out of the
redevelopment of the area. For example resident Anne Mutti doesn’t think that having bike paths
would make sense.

“I myself don’t need the bike lanes down to Georgia it’s just too busy to actually have a
bike lane” says Mutti, “Sidewalks could be improved but I think if the traffic is still really busy it
doesn’t make sense.”

The SHA has been planning to redevelop the Georgia Avenue corridor since 2011 when
they first did a study of the traffic patterns in the area. The SHA has previously planned to
redevelop the area, but they never put enough money into the redevelopment until now. This
project started to get funding in 2017 and is currently in the design phase.

After talking with the community and assessing the cost the SHA is expected to make a
decision on what option they will build, and then go ahead and complete the plan after approval
from Federal Highway Administration.
Eating Disorders in Sports

SILVER SPRING-- Eating disorders are a large issue in all parts of our society, but sports are

one area where the issue is escalated.

One-third of female division one college athletes are at risk for anorexia nervosa, a type

of eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorder Association.

Although women are at a higher risk of eating disorders male athletes are also at risk

especially in sports that have weight requirements and put an emphasis on appearance.

“Eating disorders occur in all sports, but sports with the greatest risk for eating disorders

include those referred to as ‘lean’ sports.” said Dr. Ron Thompson, a consultant psychologist for

Indiana University.

Some ‘lean’ sports include crew, cycling and running. Other types of sports that have a

high rate of eating disorders are those with a certain weight that competitors have to meet like

wrestling and horseback riding.

Rowing, or crew, is one sport where eating disorders are especially prevalent. Normally

people row in teams on one boat. The heavier the boat is the harder it is for the team to move it

fast.

This puts a lot of pressure on many of the rowers to make sure that they aren’t weighing

the rest of the boar down and making it harder for the team.

“They emphasis wanting to be light in multiple areas, first of all you want to be a

lightweight, and also its easiest to pull your weight if your lighter,” said Uma Gupta, a member

of the Blair High School crew team.

 "I just didn't want to get to that point when I was adding more stress to my boat, where I

was the coxswain who weighed 100 pounds and not 90." said K​ayleigh Durm who was part of

her high schools crew team.

Anorexia and other eating disorders cause many health issues other than just having

an unhealthy weight. Patients with anorexia tend to lack the necessary nutrients. Normally

patients with anorexia have low bone density due to their lack of calcium.

Patients with anorexia also tend to have low blood pressure and low heart rates because

of their low calorie intake.

Patients with eating disorders also have an especially high risk for suicide. The mortality

rates from anorexia are the highest for any mental illness according to the National Eating

Disorder Association.

Although eating disorders can cause many physical and mental ailments There are some

treatments. “The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is some form of

psychotherapy or psychological counseling, coupled with careful attention to medical and

nutritional needs,” said Chelsea Kronengold, a psychologist and a program associate for the

National Eating Disorder Association.

Trying to treat someone for an eating disorder is much more than just gaining or losing

weight. Treating an eating disorder also involves helping the patient with the mental side as well.

For athletes that means making sure they except their body image as well as understand that

eating properly is the best way for them to compete at a high level.
SILVER SPRING-- The Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association

(WNBA) start their season on Sunday, May 20 against the Indiana Fever.

Last season the Mystics lost in the semifinals to the Minnesota Lynx, who went on to win

the championship against the Los Angeles Sparks.

They got off to a slow start mainly because of the adjustment period from the previous

seasons. The Mystics had six new players on their team including All-Star forward and former

MVP Elena Delle Donne.

“[I am] much more comfortable, last year we were on our first date,” Delle Donne said in

her media day interview.

This year the team is looking forward to having most of their key players returning with

the exception of All-Star, and second leading scorer Emma Meesseman.

Meesseman is resting this WNBA season, after playing year round for six consecutive

seasons to get prepared to play for the Belgian National team.

With Meesseman gone Delle Donne will get to play the four position, her normal

position. “This year I’m kinda going back to my comfort zone a little bit,” said Delle Donne.

Even with Delle Donne going back to her normal position Meesseman’s 14.1 points per

game will be a hard on to replace, but they have added a few new players and the team's third

leading scorer from last year is coming back from an ACL tear.

Taylor Hill, who got injured mid-season, was off to a great start last year averaging 13.3

points per game. The Mystics will hope that Hill can help make up for the absence of

Meesseman.
 The other player that the Mystics will look to to fill the gap left by Messamen is veteran

Monique Currie. Currie is returning to the mystics after time with the Phoenix Mercury and San

Antonio Stars.

“I’m excited to get started back in D.C…. I’m mostly looking forward to being back

around family and being able to hang out with friends and definitely being back playing in

Washington,” said Currie.

The Mystics have also added a few new rookies to their team this year. With the seventh

pick in the draft the Mystics selected Ariel Atkins from Texas who they hope will give them

production in lots of areas.

The other rookie that could possibly have an impact is Myisha Hines-Allen from

Louisville. If she makes the team she should provide the Mystics with rebounding help.

If role players like Kristi Toliver, Natasha Cloud, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Tiana

Hawkins and others can step up the Mystics should be able to compete for a championship.

Some other teams that will hope to contend are the Lynx and Sparks who have met in the

finals the past two years.

The Lynx are returning their core of players that include four olympians, but they have

lost some key bench players.

The Sparks haven’t made any big offseason moves so they will have to rely on some of

their younger players improving to try to win the championship.

Why are the Washington Spirit So Bad?

SILVER SPRING-- The Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)

have gotten off to a slow start despite making many high profile changes to their roster during

the off season.

The Spirit have a record of 2-7-3 and are in second to last place in their league, a

disappointing start for a team that has many capped U.S. national team players.

The Washington Spirit have five players that have had experience playing for the U.S.

team, the top team in the world according to FIFA rankings. They also have players that have

played for Canada, Chile, Argentina and Nigeria.

Two seasons ago the Spirit finished runners-up to the Western New York Flash in the

finals, but last year they started to rebuild their team with young talent after getting Mallory

Pugh when she decided to skip playing in college.

Pugh is only 20 years old and has already made 35 appearances for the National Team

including some during the Olympics.

This offseason the Washington Spirit traded the rights to Crystal Dunn, who at the time

was playing in England, for Taylor Smith, who has made 10 appearances with the national team,

and the 2017 rookie of the year Ashley Hatch.

The Washington Spirit had the first and third picks in the college draft as well as the first

pick in the dispersal draft. The Spirit selected U.S. internationals Andi Sullivan and Rose Lavelle

with two of those picks and Canadian international Rebecca Quinn with the other pick.

All of these additions to the Spirit are under 25 years old and hopefully still improving,

but they are yet to have delivered for the team who have only won two games.
 Although Lavelle has struggled with injuries, the rest of these players should be able to

deliver more than two wins.

Smith, Sullivan, and Hatch have all played so poorly that they didn’t even earn a spot on

the national team roster for the friendlies against China.

While the Spirit has many international players in attacking positions the only

international player that they have in the back line is Smith, who plays outside back and

occasionally Quinn will play center back, though her best position is in the midfield.

This defense is the leading cause of the Washington Spirit struggles. The defense isn’t

able to consistently win the ball and allow their high profile players to get lots of touches on the

ball, instead they have forced Goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe to make save after save.

“The relationship with the six and and those two lines and the goalkeeper with those lines

and those things can take games and experience to develop,” said coach Jim Gabarra after a

recent win where the defence was playing better and more like a unit than individuals.

Bledsoe leads the league in saves with 57, 23 more than the second place goalkeeper, but

these saves haven’t equalled wins.

“I feel like I put in a lot of work defensively,” said Sullivan after a rare win, showing that

when they focus on defense they have a chance of winning.

Even with their struggles the Spirit are only six points out of a playoff spot. But if they

want any chance of winning, they will need to sure up their defense and have their stars start

playing like stars.