FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: State Highway Administration Office of Communications 410-545-0303 SHAmedia@mdot.maryland.govTemporary Demonstration Project Will Convert Turning Lane Into Multi-use Path for Pedestrians, BicyclistsLAUREL, MD (August 12, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is partnering with Howard County to install a temporary demonstration Complete Streets project along southbound US 1 (Washington Boulevard) in the Laurel area between Davis Avenue to North Laurel Road. The temporary changes, designed to improve safety for pedestrians and all roadway users, will repurpose the southbound right turn lane to create a multi-use path for people to safely walk, bike and roll, with crosswalks connecting the path to existing sidewalks.These temporary improvements will improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists while maintaining access to businesses. Implementation is taking place this week, and the features will remain in place through November as data is collected.The initiative is part of the State Highway Administration's partnership with local agencies and the nonprofit Smart Growth America to deploy demonstration projects this summer in areas with a known history of crashes. As efforts are made to make highways safer for multimodal use, the projects will help identify methods to control speed and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and all other users.The Howard County Office of Transportation and Department of Public Works received technical assistance and a $22,000 grant for this “quick build" project with a focus on addressing known safety issues and collecting data to help to advance innovative solutions to accommodate all modes and improve safety for everyone.Howard County developed the project through the Smart Growth America Complete Streets Leadership Academy, which provides workshops and other resources. Other areas deploying quick build projects through the academy partnership include the City of Hagerstown in Washington County and the Town of Bel Air in Harford County. Learn more here.This initiative advances Maryland's new Complete Streets policy, a program of the Moore-Miller Administration dedicated to reducing traffic crashes and fatalities by creating a safe environment for all road users.For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, visit Project Portal or the homepage at roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.