Howard County is pushing forward with an innovative road safety initiative, as it seeks to improve the treacherous US 1 corridor in North Laurel. County Executive Calvin Ball has announced a partnership with Smart Growth America (SGA) and the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) to construct a "quick-build" demonstration project designed to protect those who walk and bike along the road. "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," Ball said in a statement obtained by Howard County Government News.
In the project—which is set to tentatively wrap up in mid-August—Howard County will see the reallocation of the outer travel lane on US 1 southbound turned into a safer space for non-motorized road users. This stretch currently lacks the infrastructure to safely support pedestrians and cyclists. It's part of a larger effort to not only test potential road safety improvements but also to start to reduce the significant number of injuries and fatalities that occur in this area. With over 22 deaths since 2018, making up nearly 20 percent of all fatal crashes in the county, the need for change is clear.
Officials are eager to assess the impact of this undertaking. "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, Administrator of the Office of Transportation, told Howard County Government News. The project will bring to life the county's vision for streets where "people of all backgrounds can live and travel freely, safely and comfortably."
Director of the Department of Public Works Yosef Kebede emphasized the forward-thinking nature of the collaborative project, saying, "This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to innovatively create sustainable, livable communities." The demonstration phase on US 1 thus becomes a critical moment for Howard County, which prides itself on having the best Complete Streets policy in the nation, as reported by Howard County press release.
