TOWSON, MD—The Department of Public Works and Transportation on Wednesday released a draft report, which includes recommendations to bolster the County’s ongoing efforts to expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements in Baltimore County.

The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the recommendations until Tuesday, November 1, and may submit comments online.

“We are proud to have reimagined Baltimore County’s approach to transportation, including a greater focus on transit and multimodal transportation options. This draft report is another step in building a more walkable, bikeable future for our communities,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “I thank all the County employees, community leaders, and thought leaders who have worked to assemble these recommendations and I look forward to additional input from our residents. Together we will continue to improve the quality of life for every resident of our County.”

The Baltimore County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will provide important updates to the County’s existing Eastern and Western Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plans, which were developed more than 15 years ago.

The key elements of the County’s new master planning process included identifying the policy and physical barriers to complete streets and active transportation circulation, analyzing and developing policy and physical alternatives, and prioritizing improvements.

The recommendations released on Wednesday include:

• 117 miles of planned on-road recreational bikeways;
• 167 miles of planned trails;
• 115 miles of Complete Street Recommendations for safety, connectivity, and accessibility improvements for users of all ages and abilities; and
• 264 miles of recommendations identified in previous planning efforts consistent with Baltimore County’s long-term vision for more a connected, comprehensive network

“Enhancing bicycling and walking in the region will contribute to the local economy, promote active lifestyles, and grow regional tourism,” said Acting Director of Public Works and Transportation D’Andrea Walker. “We look forward to partnering with community members so we can continue our efforts to plan for the future of our County’s transportation infrastructure.”

This is the second opportunity for public input on the County’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. In October 2021, Baltimore County released an online survey for residents, introduced an online interactive tool empowering residents to map their ideas for bicycle and pedestrian improvements in Baltimore County, and opening a written comment period for ideas or questions.

Following the open comment period, Baltimore County will release a final Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan later this fall.

The draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and full list of recommendations is available online here.

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