BGE commits to cleaner work in Southeast Baltimore
In response to complains about storing construction vehicles on city streets, the utility is looking for garage space for its equipment
Following a string of complaints from residents faced with dirty, machine-clogged streets, BGE has committed itself to addressing problems arising from its gas-line replacement project in Southeast Baltimore, says 46th District Del. Brooke Lierman.
Residents of Butchers Hill and Fells Prospect had previously filed a complaint with the Public Service Commission about the work and its impact on the community, and had met with BGE regarding many of the same issues last spring.
The utility has now agreed to give 72 hours notice when on-street parking will be restricted, Lierman said. Residents allege that this hasn’t regularly occurred in the past, leading to towing and parking fines.
Communication with residents has been another problem, according to Chrissy Anderson, Fells Prospect Residents Association president, who told The Brew homeowners didn’t know what work would be happening week to week or day to day.
Lierman said the utility has promised to be in touch with a community association leader every Thursday to confirm which streets will be worked on the following week.
New Foreman Pledges Cleanup
Messy streets and sidewalks, together with gravel, dust and blocked storm drains, have been a major concern for residents, who have taken it upon themselves to clean up the roads.
Chrissy Anderson and Will Granger stand before the accumulated debris at a storm drain in Fells Prospect. (Photo by Danielle Sweeney)
Acknowledging the mess, Lierman said the new foreman for contractor NPL has agreed “to regularly ride through the work areas” to make sure clean-up is done properly. (The former foreman was terminated two weeks ago.)
46th District Del. Luke Clippinger called the new foreman “responsive to the community” and said he is confident that BGE is committed to the “swift and efficient” completion of the much-delayed project.
Work Vehicles Parked Off-Street?
BGE is also in the process of leasing space for their work vehicles in a nearby parking garage, Lierman said.
An ongoing gripe by residents has been the “staging” of work vehicles and equipment on the streets for days and even weeks at a time – when work was not being performed – taking up limited parking spaces.
BGE spokesman Aaron Koos confirmed the utility is looking into parking the vehicles off-street. “We are trying to connect with the property [garage] owner to determine if this is a viable solution,” he said. “I don’t have any additional information on timing at this point.”
Commenting on utility vehicles being parked off the street, Lierman said, “I’m glad they are taking action. This should have been done a year ago.”