Fort McHenry Business Association

The Fort McHenry Business Association will be hosting a happy hour and tequila tasting on Wednesday, December 7 from 6 pm – 8 pm at Miguel’s Cocina y Cantina at 1200 Steuart St. Baltimore, 21230 in the Silo Point building (http://www.miguelsbaltimore.com/)

The cover charge will be $20, with 50% of that money going to BARCS Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter to support their homeless animals! (http://baltimoreanimalshelter.org/)

We hope to see you all there!

Attached are the minutes (including updates) from the September 6th Task Force meeting.  Please let me know if you have any edits to the minutes.  As requested, updates have been highlighted in the minutes and have also been listed below.

>> Download 9-6-11 Minutes

Updates:

• The contractor for the Fort Avenue Bridge project is American Infrastructure.
• The Department of Transportation closed the bridge on August 22, 2011.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained on one side of the bridge for the entire duration of the project.
• The Task Force would like to hold a community block party on September 17th to kickoff the project.
• DOT has bid the Fort Avenue Bridge project as a 12 month contract; however the Department has offered a significant incentive to prompt the contractor to complete the project in nine months (270 days).
• Those interested in emergency alerts and project information should be directed to the project’s website-www.fortavenuebridge.com.  The emergency alert notification system is now available.
• DOT has created a map that outlines changes that will occur during construction ie: variable message signs, contractor parking, construction staging area, resident parking and traffic signals.  That map has been posted on the fortavenuebridge.com website.
• The next meeting will be held on Monday, September 12th at Barracudas.  The Task Force will continue to meet on a weekly basis until the bridge celebration party is held.

>> Grand Prix Information

>> Grand Prix Traffic Map

Below are the minutes (including updates) from the August 15th Task Force meeting. As requested, updates have been highlighted in the minutes and have also been listed below. I have not received many responses regarding the next Task Force meeting. As a result, I suggest we communicate via email next week and meet on the 29th if the group decides that an in person meeting is necessary.

>> Download Minutes
>> Download Map
>> Download Traffic Advisory

Updates:

• The contractor for the Fort Avenue Bridge project is American Infrastructure.
• The Department of Transportation will close the bridge on August 22, 2011 at 7am, weather permitting.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained on one side of the bridge during the entire duration of the project.
• The Task Force would like to schedule monthly community block parties to occur in September, October and November, and then resume in March 2012 and occur monthly until the bridge is expected to open in June 2012. The first party would be in the street, where the road is closed, on September 17th or 24th.
• DOT has bid the Fort Avenue Bridge project as a 12 month contract; however the Department has offered a significant incentive to prompt the contractor to complete the project in nine months (270 days).
• Those interested in emergency alerts and project information should be directed to the project’s website-www.fortavenuebridge.com. The emergency alert notification system will be available on Saturday, August 20th after 12pm. I will send an email to the group letting you know that it is up and running.
• DOT has created a map that outlines changes that will occur during construction ie: variable message signs, contractor parking, construction staging area, resident parking and traffic signals. That map has been posted on the fortavenuebridge.com website and is also attached here.
• A bridge closure traffic advisory was sent to all media outlets on Friday, August 19th. I have attached the advisory here.
• A robocall will be sent on Sunday, August 21st reminding all Locust Point residents of the bridge closure.
• The Task Force will not meet on Monday, August 22nd but will communicate via email.

Below are the minutes (including updates) from the August 8th Task Force meeting.  The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 15th, 6:00 pm at Barracudas (1230 E. Fort Avenue).  As requested, updates have been highlighted in the minutes and have also been listed below.

>> Download the minutes here

Updates:

• The contractor for the Fort Avenue Bridge project is American Infrastructure.
• The Department of Transportation plans to close the bridge on or about August 22, 2011.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained on one side of the bridge during the entire duration of the project.
• The Task Force would like to schedule monthly community block parties to occur in September, October and November, and then resume in March 2012 and occur monthly until the bridge is expected to open in June 2012.  The first party would be in the street, where the road is closed, on September 17th or 24th.
• DOT has bid the Fort Avenue Bridge project as a 12 month contract; however the Department has offered a significant incentive to prompt the contractor to complete the project in nine months (270 days).
• Those interested in emergency alerts and project information should be directed to the project’s website-www.fortavenuebridge.com.  The emergency alert notification system will be available prior to the bridge closure.
• DOT will create a map that outlines changes that will occur during construction ie: variable message signs, contractor parking, construction staging area, resident parking and traffic signals.  That map will be posted to the fortavenuebridge.com website by August 17th.  Due to problems with software, DOT will not have a copy available at the August 15th Task Force meeting.