Watchdog archive

Watchdog

Around Rash Field, nor any drop to drink

The problem Two water fountains at the Inner Harbor are broken.

Watchdog

Tracks to nowhere give drivers a headache

The problemUnused railroad tracks crossing Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills have led to deterioration of the road surface, slowing down traffic.

Watchdog

Traffic lights stay under wraps

The problemNew traffic signals at a Northwest Baltimore intersection have been covered in burlap for more than two years.

Watchdog

Bus stop benches unsuitable for sitting

The problem A wooden bench at a Towson bus stop has been broken for more than a year.

Watchdog

Untwisting the tangle on Lombard Street

The problem A lane closure on Lombard Street in downtown Baltimore is causing motorists to suddenly merge right into a busy lane of traffic to continue toward Greene Street.

Watchdog

Loading zone gets a load of complaints

THE PROBLEM // A Hampden resident says a nearby business doesn't get enough deliveries to warrant a truck-loading zone out front.

Watchdog

Cable power box hanging by a thread

THE PROBLEM // A utility pole damaged in a car accident remained in place with a cable power box dangling from it for more than a year, even though a utility company had installed a new pole nearby.

Watchdog

Drivers of city's vehicles stop where they please

THE PROBLEM // Some Baltimore parking enforcement vehicles routinely park in a "no-stopping" area.

Watchdog

Exposed cable wires seen as a hazard

THE PROBLEM Exposed Comcast cables spew out of broken metal cases meant to protect them from the elements.

Watchdog

Jury monitor is out, doesn't take messages

THE PROBLEM // No one answers the phone number that potential jurors are supposed to call to postpone their jury service.

Watchdog

Leaning tree troubles Rosedale residents

THE PROBLEM // A dead tree is leaning against two others and threatening to fall onto a Rosedale street.

Watchdog

Decrepit rowhouse poses a safety threat

THE PROBLEM // The cornice near the roof of an abandoned rowhouse was loose and threatening to fall off.

Watchdog

Damage mars 'little oasis' in Harbor East

THE PROBLEM // Two explanatory panels at the National Katyn Memorial have been damaged for months.

Watchdog: Low utility lines within children's reach

THE PROBLEM // Utility lines on an Anne Arundel County street are too close to the ground.

Watchdog

In stadium event area, sign of confusion leads to ticket

THE PROBLEM // Parking rules around Baltimore's stadiums are so confusing that even parking enforcement agents sometimes interpret them incorrectly.

Watchdog

Missing bus schedule leaves riders in dark

THE PROBLEM // A notice at a Hampden bus stop promises an updated schedule will be posted - in June 2007.

Watchdog

Garbled signs confuse Beltway motorists

THE PROBLEM // Some messages on electronic signs on the Baltimore Beltway appear garbled.

Watchdog

Lack of light poles keeps residents in dark

THE PROBLEM // Three street light poles are missing at Belair Road and Erdman Avenue.

Watchdog

Soccer players get left high and dry

THE PROBLEM // A Brooklyn soccer pavilion lacked running water.

Watchdog

Owings Mills manhole cover leaky for 3 years

THE PROBLEM // Water leaking from a manhole cover puddles and freezes in an Owings Mills intersection, despite numerous calls for repairs.

Watchdog

Detour causes headaches for residents

THE PROBLEM // A traffic detour around road construction in Overlea is too long, so motorists are instead using a neighborhood shortcut that is too narrow to handle the increased traffic.

Watchdog

Walk, at your own peril, at intersection

THE PROBLEM // A pedestrian crosswalk signal in downtown Baltimore has not been working for months.

Watchdog

The MTA straightens out a sign problem

THE PROBLEM // A signpost marking an Ellicott City bus stop was bent at a 45-degree angle.

Watchdog

Leaning light pole signals a hazard

THE PROBLEM // A pole supporting a traffic signal and street light at Greenspring Avenue and Druid Park Drive had been leaning since it was hit by a car about a year ago.

Watchdog

Curb cut across from Lyric is in disrepair

THE PROBLEM // Crumbling or nonexistent curb cuts at crosswalks near the Lyric Opera House

Watchdog

Flimsy fence may not ward off the curious

THE PROBLEM // A fence that has for years protected a city Public Works project on North Charles Street is unsightly, and in one spot might not offer enough protection.

Watchdog

Driver in the dark about flashing signal

THE PROBLEM // A flashing yellow light on Greenspring Avenue near Brooklandville seems to work erratically.

Watchdog

Backward sign rubs drivers the wrong way

THE PROBLEM // A parking sign on a dead-end street in Bolton Hill is facing the wrong direction.

Watchdog

Citation without information is annoying

THE PROBLEM // Lack of information about parking fines and violations.

Watchdog

Filthy park bench sullies Baltimore's slogan

THE PROBLEM // Trash littering the side of a busy Baltimore intersection.

Watchdog

Burned-out turn light needed complainant

THE PROBLEM // A left-turn light on a traffic signal in Baltimore County didn't work for more than a year, according to a reader.

Watchdog

Man stumps for withering tree's removal

THE PROBLEM // An old tree is dying and in danger of falling.

Watchdog

Big trucks' city-street shortcuts rile residents

THE PROBLEM // Large trucks use Bonaparte Avenue in East Baltimore even though doing so is prohibited.

Watchdog

Scofflaw parkers clutter police headquarters

THE PROBLEM // Cars parked illegally along Fayette Street in front of city police headquarters.

Watchdog

To turn or not to turn? That is the question

THE PROBLEM // Baltimore transportation officials changed the traffic pattern on a major downtown road but left old street markings in place.

Watchdog

Stoplight at vacant lot turns reader's head

THE PROBLEM // A traffic light on Key Highway in South Baltimore appears to serve no purpose.

Watchdog

They towed his car; did agent toe the line?

THE PROBLEM // Concerns published in August about the new Easy Park machines prompted numerous letters and e-mails. While this column can't be used for a running back-and-forth over parking disputes (we'd be here forever and never satisfy anyone), at least one letter stood out as worthy of follow-up.

Watchdog

Many fixes, others pending

The fix is in.

Watchdog

Catching bus is like navigating a minefield

THE PROBLEM // Commuters using a Maryland Transit Administration bus in Southeast Baltimore have to climb over a guardrail to reach their ride.

Watchdog

Missing turn sign may be a danger signal

THE PROBLEM // Missing "left turn only" sign at a Baltimore County intersection.

Watchdog

Corn in city, dirt in drain

THE PROBLEM // Cornstalks growing in Highlandtown.

Watchdog

Hole lot of danger near airport footpath

THE PROBLEM // A large hole is hidden by tall weeds near the BWI Trail in Anne Arundel County.

Watchdog

Loose manhole cover clanked for a year

THE PROBLEM // An ill-fitting and noisy manhole cover on Harford Road in Northeast Baltimore has aggravated a homeowner for more than a year.

Watchdog

'Easy Park' units difficult in some on-street parking

THE PROBLEM // The "Easy Park" machines that are slowly replacing the city's coin-fed parking meters accept money even when parking is not allowed.

Watchdog

Walker Avenue speed humps raise ire

THE PROBLEM \\ Three speed humps on Walker Avenue in North Baltimore appear too high for cars to safely traverse, even at slow seeds.

Watchdog

Sidewalk 'upgrade' a letdown in capital

THE PROBLEM \\ Navigating the narrow sidewalks on the south side of West Street between Linden and Locust avenues in Annapolis is like riding an amusement park roller-coaster, and one that is in not very good shape.

Watchdog

Construction puts the squeeze on drivers

THE PROBLEM // Construction crews working on Baltimore School for the Arts on Cathedral Street in Mount Vernon sometimes use up more road space than allowed.

Watchdog

'Putrid green' pole has resident seeing red

THE PROBLEM // An old utility pole that doesn't appear to be used for anything stands in front of a house on Edmondson Avenue.

Watchdog

Unlicensed sign left hanging for a while

THE PROBLEM // A billboard advertising apartments in the Mid-Town Belvedere area does not have a permit, according to city officials, but getting it taken down has proven difficult.

Watchdog

Bromo Seltzer Tower clocks are out of sync

THE PROBLEM // One of the clock faces on the Bromo Seltzer Tower shows the wrong time.

Watchdog

Buses scheduled in twilight zone

THE PROBLEM // Bus arrival times listed at a Maryland Transit Administration stop in Baltimore County do not make sense.