HANOVER, MD (June 20, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is partnering with Smart Growth America and local jurisdictions to deploy Complete Streets demonstration projects on some state-owned roadways this summer, amid efforts to improve road safety in communities across the state. The program will help to advance the implementation of MDOT's new Complete Streets policy, a priority initiative for the Moore-Miller Administration that seeks to make roads safer for all users.
“Whether you're walking, biking, riding the bus or driving, Marylanders deserve a high-quality trip that gets them safely to their destination," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This partnership supports MDOT's efforts to prioritize accessible and sustainable travel across all modes of transportation. It will help to rapidly make our streets safer for everyone while providing an opportunity to test safety measures and apply lessons learned across our state network."
Through the Smart Growth America Complete Streets Leadership Academy, the Maryland State Highway Administration and community partners will have access to a series of workshops and other resources to guide in the installation of temporary safety measures in Howard County, the City of Hagerstown and the Town of Bel Air. The projects will target dangerous intersections or corridors with a known history of traffic fatalities or crashes.
As part of the program, each jurisdiction will engage a cohort of about 10 city or county staff, engineers, planners, public health practitioners, community advocates and other professionals to participate in workshops and help plan their demonstration projects. The Secretary's Office at MDOT and State Highway staff will work closely with the cohorts to design and implement the quick-build projects.
“The State Highway Administration's partnership with Smart Growth America provides yet another opportunity to explore and innovate transportation solutions that improve safety and mobility for everyone," said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “Through the Complete Streets Leadership Academy, we will work closely with residents and officials in Bel Air, Hagerstown and Howard County to create tangible, quick-build pilot projects that enhance our communities and protect pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and all roadway users."
Project installation will occur this summer with the goal to have all projects completed through the fall. The temporary projects are intended for demonstration purposes only and will be removed by the end of the year. The SGA partnerships in other states have led to projects that include construction of mid-block crossings, pedestrian refuges, temporary cycle tracks and reconfiguration of traffic lanes. For example, in Pittsburgh, Pa., a team of state and local officials worked with the community to add crosswalks with protected pedestrian refuges in a school zone, ensuring children reached schools more safely.
The program will help the State Highway Administration identify barriers to implementing safety measures and develop strategies to advance road safety efforts across the state. The goal is to use lessons learned from the pilot projects to inform future collaboration with the community, safety interventions and the implementation of MDOT's Complete Streets policy.
Earlier this month, Secretary Wiedefeld launched a state-wide Complete Streets policy that supports rapidly reducing traffic fatalities by creating a safe environment for all road users, requiring additions of safety features such as bike lanes and pedestrian crossings in road projects within MDOT's right-of-way. The policy seeks to ensure that MDOT's multi-billion-dollar annual capital program funds safe, complete streets for all Marylanders.
The Complete Streets policy, which went into effect June 1, is applicable to all agencies, including the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration and the Maryland Transportation Authority. The agencies are
developing implementation plans to operationalize the policy. To learn more about the new policy, visit the MDOT's Complete Streets page.
This is the first year MDOT has participated in the SGA program which aims to facilitate work between states and local jurisdictions for safety projects. Each of the selected communities will host a workshop focusing on building skills to transform their streets into safer and healthier places. The trainings focus on identifying the location, design for each of the quick-build projects, inclusive community engagement and tools to increase local road safety. The communities will then apply these skills by implementing temporary, on-the-ground demonstration projects with support from Smart Growth America and the State Highway Administration. Each community will receive a grant of $20,000 to $25,000 to implement the project.