Speak Out: Should the City Maintain the Overgrown Grass Medians on State Roads?

Bowie residents may have noticed that the grass in the medians along Rt. 197 and Rt. 214 got a little—well, a lot—long this summer. 

City staff noticed at well, and they were not pleased, reported the Gazette. 

Earlier this month, the city sent a letter to the Maryland State Highway Association—the agency responsible for maintaing Rt. 197 and Rt. 214—complaining about the lack of grass maintenance. In some areas, swaths of grass grew to more than three feet tall.

SHA told the Gazette that due to heavy rainfall causing grass to grow more quickly, the agency has "cut back" on grass cutting in areas deemed non critical, though they generally maintain a cutting schedule of four to six weeks. Bowie maintains a weekly grass cutting scheduled on all city maintained roads.

The excessive grass growth and reduced state cutting scheduled this summer have caused city staff to consider taking over maintenance of some state road medians, though cost is a concern, according to the Gazette.

Would you support the city taking over maintenance of state roads to keep the medians from becoming overgrown? Tell patch in the comments.