Traffic Engineering Information

See below for information on Street Lights, the Community Speed Control Program, and School Zones.

Traffic Engineering Capital Improvement Projects

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T-7106 Old Montgomery Road at Tamar Drive Full Roundabout

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Full roundabout at the intersection of Old Montgomery Road and Tamar Drive.  Public meeting held July 21, 2021.  Click to view the project presentation and the frequently asked questions.

The Howard County Department of Public Works – Bureau of Highways Capital Project T-7106, Tamar Drive and Old Montgomery Road Roundabout, is scheduled to begin roadway construction on or about September 12th, 2022.  The roadway construction is anticipated to be completed over a duration of 10 to 12 weeks, weather pending. Please feel free to contact our office at (410) 313-2430 for further information. We thank you for your continued patience.

Information & Resources

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Street Lights

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BGE is responsible for all street light outages and maintenance (lights that are knocked down, bulb out, or on in daylight). Contact BGE Customer Service at 800-685-0123, or online at www.BGE.com.

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Community Speed Control Program

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Traffic impacts in residential communities remain an issue in Howard County. These impacts are principally related to excessive vehicular speed within communities. To address these problems, the Police and Public Works departments have implemented a comprehensive community speed control program. The program incorporates three necessary elements to combat excessive vehicular speed: traffic safety education, vehicular law enforcement, and, when needed, the appropriate level of engineering retrofit of roadway conditions.

Because this program is young and its long-term effectiveness is uncertain, the Howard County staff considers it an interim effort. The program will be closely monitored and necessary changes will be made as results are collected. 

Many, if not most, of the communities in the County have requested that action be taken to provide additional speed control in their areas. In order to prioritize the backlog of requests, the Department will rank requests as top priority (school walking routes), second priority (connector or through streets), and third priority (remaining cul-de-sacs or isolated road system communities). 

Plan Approval Process - In order to obtain an accurate evaluation of the plan, a community vote will be required. The Department will identify all of the affected properties on the road proposed for traffic calming and streets that connect with it. In order for the plan to be implemented, two-thirds of all affected property holders must vote for the plan. The governing community association will conduct and validate the vote and forward a confirming letter to the Director, Department of Public Works, within 30 days of the tally.

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Law Enforcement

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The Howard County Department of Police recognizes that excessive speed and other traffic violations in residential areas are a source of concern to the community. The Department will take an active role in enforcing applicable laws, educating the public and making suggestions for road engineering improvements. Law is the principal means of speed control.

  • It is the responsibility of each patrol officer to enforce motor vehicle laws, particularly those involving excessive speed. Radar training and equipment will be provided to as many Patrol Division officers as possible to assist them in this effort during the normal course of their patrols. Supervisors who become aware of speed problems in specific communities will direct their officers to conduct speed enforcement in those areas. 
  • Specific speeding complaints in residential areas will be directed to the Traffic Enforcement Section, which will keep a file of all such complaints.  
  • A Radar Road List will be published each month to direct the enforcement efforts of patrol officers assigned radar or other speed measuring devices. Each road will require a minimum amount of enforcement time. The Supervisor of the Traffic Enforcement Section will approve roads for inclusion on the list based on the number of complaints received, past enforcement history on the road, and analysis of any speed surveys conducted by the Department of Police or Traffic Engineering. 
  • In addition to the monthly Radar Road List, the Traffic Enforcement Section will identify roadways for officer enforcement, including roads on which speeding persists or is of such a nature that it requires immediate and sustained enforcement. These may also include roads in which the use of unmarked vehicles or special equipment is necessary. 
  • At the beginning of each school year, the Department of Police will institute a special speed enforcement program on the roadways surrounding the County’s schools. This presence will serve to cite violators and to remind drivers that school is back in session and conformance to the speed limits is critical for student safety. This program will be accompanied by news releases.
  • Rev 10/31/2013
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Engineering Retrofit

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Retrofitting existing residential streets to reduce vehicular speeds is an option when problems persist in a community. Each community’s problems need to be reviewed individually by the Department and with a solution custom designed to fit the particular situation. The community will be encouraged to provide input regarding the development of a final solution.  

Options for retrofit include: 

  • Roadway Striping - In many cases, a center line stripe can effectively channel traffic and thereby reduce speeds. Other specialized striping techniques can be used to draw attention to lane markings. 
  • Edge Line Markings - These are used to delineate lane widths. Reducing a lane width has the potential for reducing speeds. The area between the edge of the road and the lane marking can then be used for parking in selected situations or as a bike lane. 
  • Traffic Circles - Generally, these are installed in intersections. Vehicle speeds are reduced as motorists circle the center island. The modern roundabout design is effective for regulating speeds at intersections. 
  • Speed Humps -  
  • Redesign of Streets - In limited instances, residential streets will be subject to reconstruction primarily through the Capital Budget. In these circumstances, there will be opportunity to modify the geometry to reduce vehicular speeds. 
  • Other Traffic Calming Devices - There are some other potential traffic calming concepts that could be used to reduce vehicle speeds. Examples include streetscape additions and landscaping. These options will be reviewed on a selective basis.

In order to implement the retrofit program, the following guidelines will apply: 

  • Low Volume Local Roads - For these roadways, which do not have through movements, an education strategy is recommended. Enhanced law enforcement and engineering retrofit would not be used in these locations. Low volume roads would show less than 1,000 ADT (average daily traffic count of 1,000 vehicles). 
  • Local Roads and Minor Collectors - For these roadways, which are through streets or streets showing ADTs greater than 1,200 vehicles, all of the traffic calming strategies can be employed.

For an engineering retrofit to be considered, the prevailing speed (85th percentile) shall be measured in excess of 10 mph over the posted speed limit. When this determination is made, the Department will do an analysis and present a plan of action to the community. The plan may consist of one or more of the retrofit options. After citizen review and community association approval of the plan, the Director will authorize implementation of the plan consistent with the available budget resources. 

Major Collector Roads - The primary emphasis for speed control will be enforcement and education. In circumstances where problems continue, retrofits will be considered. Edge markings, roundabouts, chokers, intersection modifications, roadway medians and striping are the principal options for consideration. In unusual circumstances, other options can be considered. The Department will present a plan for citizen review and community association approval. After review and approval by the community, the Director will authorize implementation of the plan consistent with available budget resources. 

Arterial Roads - Due to the nature and function of these roadways, traffic enforcement will be the primary method for speed control. However, in some cases traffic calming may still be needed. In these situations, retrofits will be done as a Capital Project.

Extremely Limited Situations 

  • School Zones -  The Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation (Senate Bill 277, Chapter 500) that will allow Howard County to use cameras to catch speeders.  Cameras are the only device to be used in School Zones. 

FAQs - Traffic Calming

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How can I get stop signs installed to control the speed on my street?

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The Institute of Transportation Engineers- Traffic Engineering Council presents tips on stop signs. Contact the Bureau of Highways- Traffic Engineering Division for more information at 410-313-2430. The Traffic Division can assess the need for traffic calming and determine how stop signs will affect the flow of traffic.

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Is an all-way stop a good solution for my neighborhood?

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The Traffic Engineering Division can conduct a study and determine the most efficient stopping mechanism at a particular intersection, to see if a four-way stop would be the best fit. Contact the Traffic Engineering Division for more information at 410-313-2430.

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What are the requirements for traffic signal installation?

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The Traffic Signal Warrants list summarizes the basis for new signal installation. Please contact the Traffic Division at 410-313-2430 if you believe an intersection would be eligible for signal installation. The Traffic Division will want to determine the most efficient and safe way to keep the driving public moving.

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Can the speed limit in my neighborhood be lowered?

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Speed limits are carefully studied for safety, and are set as they are for a reason. However, in the event that an area needs to be reassessed, the Bureau of Highways can help. The Traffic Division can analyze a neighborhood for safe speeds, depending on a variety of factors including traffic volume, road designation (Arterial Roads vs Major Collector Roads), prevailing speed (85th percentile), and proximity to schools. If you would like your neighborhood assessed for traffic calming/speed reduction, please contact the Traffic Division at 410-313-2430.

School Zones

Maryland law defines a school zone as a roadway within a half-mile radius of a school where State Highway Administration or the local authority may set maximum speed limits. Established school zones are marked with street signs indicating the zone boundaries and applicable speed limits. Howard County's automated speed enforcement positions "speed cameras" on roadways that either front schools or border school properties or roadways along student walking routes that are designated school zones. Each school zone is clearly marked as a school zone and as an automated speed enforcement (ASE) location. Links to school zone maps are provided below.

Howard County Police Automated Speed Enforcement

(Choose "Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in School Zones" from drop-down menu.)

School Zone Maps

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Private School Zones

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County Council Bill No. 57-2022

Pursuant to Howard County Council Bill No. 57-2022, the Department of Public Works (DPW) shall conduct an infrastructure review when certain fatalities and specified non motorist serious injuries occur on a County road or at an intersection of a County road at another road.  “Serious injury” pertaining to non-motorists is as defined in accordance with criteria established for Suspected Serious Injury in the Model Uniform Crash Criteria published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This review is not offered to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.

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