Temporary safety improvements are being constructed this week for pedestrians and cyclists using the southbound Route 1 corridor in North Laurel, considered by officials to be one of the most dangerous roads in Howard County.
The county has entered into a partnership with the state as part of a program that will test new ideas and street designs along Route 1 (Washington Boulevard), southbound from Davis Avenue to North Laurel Road, a county news release states.
The temporary changes are part of Smart Growth America’s Complete Streets Leadership Academies and are intended to improve safety by transforming the outer travel lane into a protected area for cyclists and pedestrians. Currently, no such area exists along that stretch of the highway that is safe for cyclists and pedestrians to use.
The county’s Office of Transportation and Department of Public Works are working with Smart Growth America and the State Highway Administration to implement the project.
“Enhancing safety and multimodal transportation options throughout Howard County, and especially along our US 1 Corridor, is one of our highest transportation priorities for our community,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball stated, in the county news release. “Through this exciting partnership with SGA and SHA, we are taking the necessary steps to implement innovative practices and changes that make our roadways safer for all who work, live and travel along it.
“This builds on our recognition from Smart Growth America as having the best Complete Streets policy in the nation, reflecting our commitment to safer and more accessible streets for all,” Ball said.
Smart Growth America is a nonprofit organization that advocates and focuses on climate change, advancing racial equity and creating safe and healthy communities.
The nonprofit launched the Complete Streets Leadership Academies in 2022, to effectively deploy community-led quick-build projects on state-owned roads.
The State Highway Administration stated in its news release that it will start work on the temporary improvements to Route 1 this week. The improvements will remain in place through November.
“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,” according to the state’s news release.
The US 1 corridor is considered by county officials to be one of the most dangerous roads. The corridor is part of the county’s “High Injury Network,” which includes stretches of roads with the highest concentrations of injury or fatal crashes.
Since 2018, more than 22 deaths and more than 900 injuries have resulted from motor vehicle accidents along the corridor, the county’s news release states. During this same period, the section of roadway made up nearly 20% of all fatal crashes throughout the county.
“We are proud to be working 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,” Clarence Dickerson, the county’s transportation administrator stated. “This partnership is a demonstration of our joint commitment to meeting our Complete Streets goal of 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 county’s Department of Public Works, agreed.
“We are excited to partner with Smart Growth America, the Office of Transportation and the State Highway Administration,” he said. “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to innovatively create sustainable, livable communities. This project will also address one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Howard County, ensuring safe travel for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.”
During the next three months message boards will be posted along Route 1 alerting motorists to the work. Updates will be posted on the Howard County Office of Transportation’s Facebook page , X and the project’s website , where the public can provide feedback.
The county will also be reaching out to local businesses to gather input.
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