Contact: Anna Levendusky, MVA's Highway Safety Office alevendusky@mdot.maryland.gov30 Agencies, Organizations Awarded Grants for Efforts to Make Roadways Safer for Vulnerable UsersGLEN BURNIE, MD (June 26, 2024) – The Moore-Miller Administration today announced the award of more than $1.5 million in state highway safety grants to 30 organizations and law enforcement agencies for initiatives focusing on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Funds will be distributed by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration's (MVA) Highway Safety Office as part of the state's efforts to prevent motor vehicle crashes and eliminate roadway fatalities.“Whether Marylanders travel by car, bus, rail, bicycle or on foot, we're laser focused on protecting all users of our transportation systems," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “As we continue working to improve infrastructure and mobility across the state, we also must promote safety on our roadways and leave no community behind. We look forward to partnering with grantees and community groups to advance our shared goals and work to end roadway fatalities once and for all."In 2023, 621 people were killed on Maryland roadways, including 158 pedestrians and 15 bicyclists. This was a significant increase from 2022 when the state had 566 fatalities including 129 pedestrians and 12 bicyclists.Earlier this month, Secretary Wiedefeld signed a new department-wide Complete Streets Policy, which will make roads safer for all users by requiring the addition of safety features such as bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, thereby prioritizing accessible and sustainable travel across all modes. Updated for the first time in more than a decade, the Complete Streets policy will ensure MDOT's multi-billion-dollar capital program funds safe, complete streets for all Marylanders.“We each have the responsibility to share the road so we can all get to our destination safely," said Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Moore's Highway Safety Representative. “Pedestrians and bicyclists are among the most vulnerable road users. It is the responsibility of every roadway user to follow the rules of the road and look out for each other, so everyone can make it home safely."In 2019, Maryland adopted Vision Zero, a traffic safety strategy that sets a goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. This goal will guide grant recipients as they implement safety programs. Vision Zero served as a blueprint in the development of Maryland's, a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on roadways across the state focused on the Four Es: education, engineering, enforcement and emergency medical services. Funds awarded through the highway safety grants can only be used for traffic safety initiatives and are allocated based on crash data for each county and/or organization applications. The funding is for Fiscal Year 2025, which runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Projects being funded by the grants include:BYKE Collective BYKE Collective program aims to prioritize the safety of young residents by providing reflective streetwear apparel and increasing access to resources about bike safety to youth ages 8 to 24 in Baltimore City. BYKE Collective is a community-based program in Baltimore City serving youth in disinvested communities. The BYKE program has partnerships with community centers, Baltimore City Public Schools and other local organizations. Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland will use the grant funding to conduct a pilot program to supplement and enhance Howard County's existing bicycle safety education program. Free Bikes 4 Kidz and their partners will give elementary school children bicycle safety training within schools and, with parental permission, a safe, roadworthy and a bicycle and/or helmet to children who do not own a bike and/or a helmet. Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization geared toward helping all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood by providing bikes and helmets to those most in need.Maryland Highway Safety Office The Maryland Highway Safety Office's Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program will continue to implement media campaigns, outreach educational activities and other projects statewide to change behaviors of drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists and reduce the number of traffic collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The Be The SHARE THE ROAD Driver campaign aims to remind drivers that pedestrians and bicyclists are among the most vulnerable road users and extra caution should be used to ensure the safety of all road users.Talbot Thrive Bike rodeos will be implemented across communities in Talbot County, reaching 100 to 200 children ages two years and older. These rodeos are designed to teach bike safety skills to youth participants who are learning to ride a bike or graduating to ride without training wheels in a fun and engaging manner. The goal is to promote safe cycling practices, enhance bike-riding skills, and raise awareness about the importance of bicycle safety. Partners will include local elementary schools and community nonprofits such as Critchlow Atkins Child Development Centers, Building African American Minds and the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center. All events will be open to public registration.Prince George's Department of Public Works and Transportation Education and awareness of traffic safety are two key components of Prince George's County's Vision Zero Two-Year Action Plan. Through grant funding, the Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation will use the established Street Smart Testimonial Wall Display, an eight-foot tall exhibit that tells the stories of crash victims in our region, and the Virtual Reality Challenge, a learning tool that simulates high risk driving scenarios in areas with pedestrians present, at high traffic community events.Washington Area Bicyclist Association With continued support from the Maryland Highway Safety Office, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association will host the second Youth Vision Zero Institute, comprised of six students selected from Prince George's County Public Schools. Through the program, the students learn about Vision Zero, safe driving behavior, infrastructure development and how prioritizing public transportation, biking and pedestrian infrastructure leads to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. The goal of the institute is to develop leaders in sustainable transportation networks for the future.Below is a breakdown of the highway safety grant amounts:AgencyObligated AmountAberdeen Police Department$477.28Anne Arundel County Police Department$8,000.00Baltimore County Police Department$35,000.00Bel Air Police Department$1,991.36BYKE Collective$39,720.31Calvert County Sheriff's Office$3,000.00Carroll County Sheriff's Office$2,500.00Cecil County Sheriff's Office$1,500.00Charles County Sheriff's Office$10,000.00Children's Safety Village$4,950.00City of Bowie$1,500.00City of Hyattsville Police Department$1,000.00Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland$10,782.50Havre de Grace Police Department$700.00Howard County Department of Police$7,500.00Maryland Highway Safety Office$997,176.17Maryland State Highway Administration$59,077.45Maryland State Police - Statewide$12,000.00Mount Airy Police Department$1,000.00Neighborhood Design Center$129,230.64Ocean City Police Department$20,000.00Ocean Pines Police Department$4,672.00Office of Transportation$25,482.80Prince George's County - Department of Public Works and Transportation$31,000.00Prince George's County Police Department$20,000.00Princess Anne Police Department$1,995.00Riverdale Park Police Department$1,000.00Talbot Thrive$16,107.35University of Maryland Department of Public Safety$3,000.00Washington Area Bicyclist Association$100,131.47TOTAL:$1,550,494.33Learn more about the Motor Vehicle Administration's Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.