Aug. 15 – Temporary safety improvements are being made this week for pedestrians and cyclists using the southern Route 1 corridor in North Laurel, which officials consider one of the most dangerous roads in Howard County.
The county has partnered with the state as part of a program that will test new ideas and street designs along Route 1 (Washington Boulevard) south from Davis Avenue to North Laurel Road, according to a county news release.
The temporary changes are part of Smart Growth America’s Complete Streets Leadership Academies and are intended to improve safety by transforming the outside lane into a protected area for cyclists and pedestrians. Currently, no such area exists along that section of the highway that is safe for cyclists and pedestrians.
The region’s Office of Transportation and Department of Public Works are partnering with Smart Growth America and the State Highway Administration to implement the project.
“Improving safety and multimodal transportation options in Howard County, and specifically along our U.S. 1 Corridor, is one of our highest transportation priorities for our community,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in the county’s press release. “Through this exciting partnership with SGA and SHA, we are taking the necessary steps to implement innovative practices and changes that will make our roads safer for everyone who works, lives and travels on them.”
“This builds on Smart Growth America’s recognition as the nation’s best Complete Streets company and reflects our commitment to safer, more accessible streets for everyone,” Ball said.
Smart Growth America is a nonprofit organization that works to address climate change, advance racial equity, and create safe and healthy communities.
The nonprofit launched the Complete Streets Leadership Academies in 2022 to effectively implement community-led, rapid construction projects on state roads.
The State Highway Administration said in its press release that it will begin temporary improvements to Route 1 this week. The improvements will remain in effect through November.
“The Howard County Office of Transportation and the Department of Public Works received technical assistance and a $22,000 grant for this ‘rapid construction’ project, with a focus on addressing known safety concerns and collecting data to develop innovative solutions across all modes of transportation and improving safety for all,” the state’s news release said.
The U.S. 1 corridor is considered one of the most dangerous roads by county officials. The corridor is part of the county’s “High Injury Network,” which includes stretches of road with the highest concentrations of injuries and fatalities.
Since 2018, there have been more than 22 deaths and more than 900 injuries in motor vehicle crashes along the corridor, the county’s news release said. During the same period, the stretch of road accounted for nearly 20 percent of all fatal crashes in the county.
“We are proud to partner with Smart Growth America, along with the Department of Public Works and the State Highway Administration to advance the Complete Streets Leadership Academies demonstration project in North Laurel,” said Clarence Dickerson, the county’s transportation administrator. “This collaboration is a demonstration of our shared commitment to achieving our Complete Streets goal: creating a safe, comprehensive, integrated and connected transportation system where people of all backgrounds can live and travel freely, safely and comfortably.”
Yosef Kebede, director of the province’s Public Works Department, agreed.
“We are excited to partner with Smart Growth America, the Office of Transportation and the State Highway Administration,” he said. “This collaboration is an important step forward in our commitment to innovatively creating sustainable, livable communities. This project will also address one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Howard County, ensuring safe travel for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”
Over the next three months, message boards will be placed along Route 1 to alert motorists to the work. Updates will be posted on the Howard County Office of Transportation Facebook page, X, and the project website, where the public can provide feedback.
The province will also reach out to local businesses to gather input.
Originally published: August 15, 2024 at 11:57 am
