The goal for this column has always been to provide a place for those who can’t get their questions answered by the “customer service” departments at various state and local agencies as well as to be a sounding board for ideas and complaints. It would be nice if we could print a few more compliments for jobs well done by bus and rail operators or the traffic cops downtown. Commuting to and from our jobs can be a lot of work and it’s usually not too much fun and I realize that many of the things that go on out there aren’t all that funny.

Road improvements

If you drive on Interstate 295, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, you might be interested in this: The state is looking to make some improvements between I-195 and Route 100. One of the things to be discussed is a possible new interchange. A public hearing will be held in Linthicum on Sept. 25. You can get the details at marylandroads.com.

It’s not a huge project but it’s one that might cause a little heartburn: the intersection of Owings Mills Boulevard and Dolfield Road is getting some improvements, including new lanes. This project will last until the spring.

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BALTIMORESE

Here is an interesting note from Al in response to expanding on the Liberty Road “bell” icon concept: “Your notion of combining Carole Lombard’s picture with Lombard Street signage brought to mind my Baltimore grade school education in the 1950s. Our first grade teacher asked, to a show of just a few hands, Who had heard of Carole Lombard? She then explained that she was a famous actress who our mommies and daddies would know. We were then taught that we must be careful not to say the name of the street the same way, because the street was named after one of the city’s founding fathers, who pronounced it ‘lumbered’. Nowadays, of course, the historically correct pronunciation is dismissed by more recent comers as Baltimorese.”

I haven’t heard that one but, like I said above, I learn something new every day. Thanks, Al.