LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – There has been mounting frustration about traffic surrounding the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Base (PAX) in the past few weeks. It has led to speculation, aggressive driving, and critiques of how the base is handling this issue.
After speaking with Patrick Gordon, the NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Officer, he made it clear that while the base is highly aware of this issue, it all comes down to security.
Amidst Iran and Iraq tensions overseas, orders were sent down the line for PAX (among other bases) to re-evaluate security via the FEP.
FEP is a Commander, Naval Installations Command (CNIC) tri-annual certification event assessing the command, control, communications, and Naval Security Forces (NSF) on all U.S. Navy installations. The exercise is designed to assess NSF’s ability to meet all core competencies, covering the daily operations of the base and its ability to respond to an emergency.
Training to respond to antiterrorism threats is an all-hands effort that involves federal and local emergency personnel working in tandem to react to simulated threats to the installation. Drills during the FEP assessment included gate protests, suspicious packages, and active shooter scenarios.
Due to passing this process, personnel are conducting tests while changing out gate guards as needed. However, it has been hard to navigate with the number of personnel and the obvious human element of being out sick, vacation days, and emergencies that we all face. Still, the process is of utmost importance.
As part of passing FEP, all three gate entries/ exits must ID every single person coming and going. That’s three gates and approximately 20,000 people passing through in the morning and at night. People living on base along with employees and active military are all doing their best at this time to adjust to these procedures.
Notably, the traffic is monitored daily and PAX is assessing how to ease the traffic as soon as possible; however, security takes precedence over traffic congestion. PAX is asking for the community’s patience and understanding with this process.
They also released this statement on Facebook:
“We hear you, and understand your frustration with traffic at NAS Patuxent River. The installation works diligently every day to maintain the safety and security of the base, its personnel, and residents. We do this in accordance with regulations from CNIC and other higher headquarters in a manner that most effectively utilizes our available security resources personnel without degradation of our security posture.
That being said, we are currently looking at ways in which to modify our base entry procedures in a way that mitigates traffic impacts without jeopardizing security.
We also encourage drivers to also use gates 2 and 3 during peak traffic hours (6 a.m.-9 a.m.), in order to balance traffic across all three gates and ease access into the base.
We appreciate the patience of you and the rest of the base population while we work these best practices to find a balance between convenience and safety.”
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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with the correct security information provided by NAS Patuxent River.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
If only there were more gates to open….
Seems like a good argument to have folks telework.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Gate 3 was open till 1800 Monday-Friday instead of 0600-0900. Can’t say it’s to lack of manning, since now there are plenty of base police setting speed traps on base to enforce the 25mph speed limit on most roads.
What speed enforcement?! Since they implemented the lower speeds, I have seen maybe 20 instances that they have been out running speed enforcement. They are barely enforcing what was/what is the speed limit.
Most offices open at 0600 or at the very least shift change, this is frankly unacceptable. By only opening gate 1 they are inadvertently encouraging employees to enter earlier and earlier causing a cascading effect. Only making traffic worse earlier and earlier.
How about you idiots who sit in the intersections so non base employees get stuck waiting through 3 or 4 light cycles. Stop complaining!
Stop hating from outside of the club 🤣
It would probably help if gate 2 would open on time. It should be open and ready to go by 0600 including the 3rd lane… not 5, or 10-15 minutes after. Every minute after 0600 helps causing some of these backups. The people blocking the intersections when there’s no room to pull in also are contributing to these issues.
While traffic sucks, people forget that there is no county without Pax River NAS. Welcome to the real world. Security is the most important thing for the base and the Fleet we serve. Get up earlier or skip Starbucks an deal with it!
I’m sorry about your commute onto or past a military base which is there to protect you privileged complaints. Nobody should be blocking the intersections for through traffic. PAX is doing their job to protect the nation and our community to the best capabilities possible.
If something catastrophic were to happen on base all of you would be complaining about how lax security is.
Always gotta say something no matter which side of the fence you are on.
The whole base is becoming run down. Easy to see just by driving around. Buildings, roads, runways. Not sure if they just have no budget or don’t care anymore but command seems to be ruining the place.
Stop blocking the road and wait your turn. Gate 2 is horrible. We need a police officer to direct traffic there.
First problem is majority of people on base start work at 6am and some earlier.
At 6am and before there is only 1 gate open. Your traffic is backing up into the streets before 6am and from there only gets worse as next wave of traffic comes in to already backed up gates!
Majority of people are backing up at gate 1 before 6am. Mainly because it’s the only gate open at that time. While others are sitting in line at gates 2 & 3 waiting for them to open. 2 & 3 are backed up before they even open!!
Open gates 2 & 3 earlier like 5 am!!. You will see much better results when traffic when the gates open earlier and are not backed up before they even open.