September 25-24/Tollgate Nightmare Begins

Maybe one of our smarter readers can explain another way to get into Constant Friendship. Our advice: don't go to Walmart/Target/BJs.
Here's the link that "explains" why this is going to help everyone!
Read it and weep here

Weapons of Mass Destruction Found in Abingdon

Or is it just the construction crew tearing down every last tree it can find? I don't blame them, they're just doing their jobs. But here at TAA in total naivete we believed that they would leave one tree, standing. Oh wait, they did leave one tree standing on the perimeter of Walmart. Or else they haven't gotten to it yet. (You can enlarge the photos if you click on them)
Those trees may not seem important to some readers. But in the summer they blocked the view of the highway, kept the traffic sounds to a minimum and just looked nice. It at least gave the illusion there wasn't a giant shopping center there. And for readers who will say we always complain about progress, blah blah blah, please stop reading, because it's only going to get worse.
Please be aware there are also lane restrictions and lots of construction workers running around in the road. Please be watchful.

I-95/MD 24 Meeting

The Maryland Transportation Authority is holding workshops to discuss the improvement project for I-95/MD 24. It says the project will begin this fall and continue through spring 2011. The workshops are from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Abingdon Fire Hall.
There will be no formal presentation but staff will be available to answer questions. Our first question would be, we thought a specific plan wasn't approved so how can construction be starting already?
For more info click here and then click on "Capital Projects."

1-95: Interchanges

If you've been wondering what that map is down at the right, it's the "visioning" by the Maryland department of transportation as to what our exit at 1-95 will look like in a few years.
I received a flier last week detailing the Section 200 (the name of the project) changes, and chuckled out loud at the description of the express toll lanes on 95 which will have sliding fees depending on traffic volume. This was the funny part: "Drivers would have the option of paying a toll to drive in the relatively congestion-free ETLs (express lanes) or in the GPLs as they do today."
My question, what if the majority of drivers decide to drive in the "relatively congestion-free" lanes? I'd pay a few dollars to get somewhere faster, and I imagine many drivers would. How can the MDTA promise that these lanes will be faster? I don't really understand. Will there be a rebate if you're stuck in traffic?
Of greater concern to me is the new exit configuration with 1-95/MD 24. I would describe what they're proposing for this section, but I don't think I could even paraphrase it. I do know that they've already started clearing trees on both sides of 24 (by WaWa and Wal-Mart), but nothing's happened in a few months.
There will be a public hearing from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 13 at William Paca Elementary where the public is invited to comment. The MDTA is also accepting written comment until Jan. 21, 2008.
I'm providing a link to maps of the project. If you can figure this out, please let us know.
Section 200 Project