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The Rockville Mayor and Council gave the green light Monday night for the Traffic and Transportation Division to begin implementing the recommendations a pedestrian safety study.

The study, which began in the fall of 2008, inventoried the safety features at intersections with traffic lights.

Dr. Emad Elshafei, chief of the city's Traffic and Transportation Division, said safety features at all 110 signalized intersections in the city and 52 uncontrolled crosswalks, such as those in school zones, at metro stations and parks, were documented, compiled into spreadsheets and graded based on safety.

Intersections needing the most safety improvements were labeled high priority. Of the 50 high priority intersections, nine are city maintained and 41 are county maintained. There were 59 medium priority intersections, 38 of which are city maintained and 21 are county maintained.

There were 48 low priority intersections that are city maintained, while the county maintains six.

Four capital projects, funded by revenue from speed cameras, will go toward repainting crosswalks, leveling ramps, widening sidewalks and installing other safety features, Elshafei said.

All-America city

Rockville will spend up to $38,500 to send about 30 community members, elected officials and city staff to Tampa, Fla., this week as the city competes for the title of All-America City.

Rockville is among 32 finalists for the National Civic League's All-America City Award this year.

The Denver, Colo.-based group awards 10 cities each year for "outstanding civic accomplishments," including creating jobs, revitalizing downtowns and reducing crime.

City officials submitted their application for the award documenting their work with the Rockville Town Center revitalization, Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in the King Farm neighborhood and the Youth Recreation Fund, which offers financial assistance for Rockville's youth to participate in recreation programs.

City officials said about 18 community members plan to attend the meeting today through Friday and the rest are city officials, including Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann and Councilwoman Anne M. Robbins.

Jo Ann Grbach, a spokeswoman for the city, said less than half of the community members would be getting some form of financial assistance for the trip.

City Manager Scott Ullery said both he and the Mayor and Council approved the $38,500 budget for the trip.

Councilwoman Phyllis R. Marcuccio, who originally planned to attend the event but later reversed course, abstained from the vote, calling it an "extravagance."

The award is considered the oldest and "most prestigious community recognition award" in the country, according to the NCL Web site.

The city has won the award four times, most recently in 1978. Rockville was last a finalist in 1990.

Rockville begins

marketing campaign

Rockville officials hope a new branding campaign will draw more visitors to the city.

The council approved a $75,000 budget for the Department of Communications to begin work on the marketing campaign, which will include creation of a logo and slogan.

Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann, and Councilmen Piotr Gajewski and John Britton voted in favor of the project, while Councilwoman Phyllis Marcuccio voted against it.

Marcuccio said she thought the project was "fluffy" and such an expenditure could be viewed as fiscally irresponsible at this time in light of the down economy.

Gajewski disagreed, saying now is the perfect time for a branding campaign because the city would get the most value for its dollar. Britton called the campaign an "investment," and a worthwhile project. Councilwoman Anne Robbins abstained, saying she saw both sides.

City spokeswoman Marylou Berg said Rockville residents will be surveyed by the company hired to do the branding to get their impressions of the city.

Paver problems headed to court

A breach of contract lawsuit the Rockville Mayor and Council filed against a civil engineering firm they say improperly installed pavers in Town Center will go to trial later this year after the two sides failed to agree on a settlement by last week.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Joseph A. Dugan Jr. on Thursday set a trial date of Nov. 30.

The city is seeking $2 million from Macris, Hendricks & Glascock, the Montgomery Village-based engineering firm the city is holding responsible for the failed pavers. The lawsuit, filed in June 2008, aims to recover the costs incurred to repair the pavers.

The brick-like pavers, which line the roads and plaza within Town Square, buckled late in the winter of 2007 when the gravel underneath them failed to hold up under the weight of vehicles combined with rain.

The city replaced the pavers and poured a new concrete base in January 2008 at a cost of $1.5 million.

Terrence M. McShane, the attorney representing Macris, Hendricks & Glascock, said he always hopes cases can be "resolved reasonably," but his client is "prepared to proceed to trial if the city will not resolve this reasonably."

He added, "It's unfortunate [Macris, Hendricks & Glascock have] gotten dragged into this suit. My client believes they rendered the work properly, and the paver problems were created by another responsible party."

Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann declined to comment, citing the ongoing lawsuit.

Paul T. Glasgow, the lawyer representing the City of Rockville, said the city is prepared to go to trial, but declined further comment.

Courthouse construction progresses

Seven months after construction began on the new Rockville District Court across Route 28 from the current courthouse, passersby can now catch a glimpse of what's going on behind those safety walls.

More steel girders and beams rise into the sky each day, with the contoured shape that mirrors the curve of the street becoming noticeable. The construction is expected to last two years.

Excavation work, caisson placement and underground utility work for the $59.9 million project is now complete, Maryland Department of General Services officials said. Now workers are beginning to piece together the skeleton of the six-story, 167,072-square-foot structure.

The building will be the largest District courthouse in Maryland. It will contain nine court rooms, four hearing rooms, holding areas and a myriad of offices and administrative spaces.