ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today highlighted the successful implementation of an innovative “quick build” Complete Streets project on US 1 in North Laurel. Launched in partnership between Howard County’s Office of Transportation and Department of Public Works, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA), and Smart Growth America (SGA), this project was lauded in SGA’s recently released “Maryland Complete Streets Leadership Academy” report.
Ensuring that our streets and roads are safe for all users requires innovative and new approaches to road design that promote safety, mobility, and accessibility. Through great partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation and Smart Growth America, we are continuing to demonstrate that our roads can be made safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers across Howard County.
In August 2024, the County, MDOT, and SGA implemented this innovative “quick build” demonstration project along US 1 from Davis Avenue to North Laurel Road to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Made possible through SGA’s Complete Streets Leadership Academies program, this project repurposed the outside auxiliary lane on southbound US 1 into a protected space for pedestrians and cyclists using flexible delineators, extensive roadway markings, and signage.
Data collected during the project’s implantation, from August to November 2024, showed a reduction in crashes and vehicular speeds and an increased sense of safety amongst pedestrians. MDOT’s SHA will utilize these findings to inform its upcoming Pedestrian Safety Action Plan project to comprehensively improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists along US 1 from Gorman Road in Howard County to the City of Laurel.
This project was a great example of what is possible through partnership and collaboration. By working closely with Howard County and Smart Growth America, we provided significant safety improvements in a very short period. This success will help us with our upcoming Pedestrian Safety Action Plan improvements along Route 1 in Howard County.
“This project used an innovative ‘quick build’ approach to address long standing safety issues along US 1 and overcome some of the typical challenges such as right of way and utility conflicts,” said Clarence Dickerson, III, Administrator, Office of Transportation. “The data and feedback collected will be useful in implementing more projects like this in Howard County.”
“Smart Growth America was inspired by Howard County Government's commitment to the Complete Streets Leadership Academy,” said Heidi Simon, SGA’s Thriving Communities Director. “Their passion and hard work resulted in a project that not only provided immediate benefits to community members but contributed to long-term change on US 1.”
This successful effort builds upon the County’s nationally-recognized Complete Streets Policy, which received a perfect score of 100 in SGA’s “Best Complete Streets Policies 2023” report. In earning this accolade, Howard County became the first jurisdiction in the country to receive a perfect score on its Complete Streets Policy.
SGA’s report provides details of the planning, design, installation, community engagement, and data collection phases of the project. The report and additional information can be found on SGA’s “New Report: Maryland Complete Streets Leadership Academy” webpage.