BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland State Highway Administration will host a public informational workshop this fall to provide updates and receive feedback on an initiative to improve pedestrian access and safety along a key Essex corridor as part of the agency’s ambitious Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PDF).

Through the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, the State Highway Administration reviewed existing conditions across the state, identified areas of need and prioritized corridors for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. The plan was published in May 2023.

The area in question covers MD 150 (Eastern Avenue), between MD 700 (Martin Boulevard) and MD 702 (Southeast Freeway) in Baltimore County.  The session will be held on Tuesday, October 1, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Stembridge Community Center, located at 99 Stemmers Run Road in Essex.

“The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is critical in our strategy to provide safe, accessible and equitable transportation options for all customers, no matter how they travel,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “We are excited to host these informational workshops to share our thoughts with residents and get feedback on ways we can improve safety and accessibility throughout our communities.”

Working with community residents, officials and other stakeholders, the State Highway Administration is developing strategies to enhance safety for all roadway users along these corridors by increasing safety and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. The agency is making recommendations using its Context Driven Guide – a toolkit that considers the “context” of an area to determine what countermeasures are most appropriate. Depending on community needs, land-use and other factors, solutions may include speed limit reductions, protected bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, signal timing adjustments or a host of other strategies.

During the informational workshops there will be no formal presentation. State Highway staff will be available to discuss project-specific details, and those attending may arrive at any time to view the displays, ask questions and provide feedback. Materials also will be posted on the State Highway Administration’s Project Portal website.

A Spanish-language interpreter will be available at each of the meetings to assist with communication and respond to questions. Others seeking an interpreter for hearing or speech difficulties or assistance with the English language may email [email protected] in advance of the event. Please indicate the desired language in the subject line. Maryland Relay Service can assist teletype users at 7-1-1. Questions about the informational workshops or general inquiries may be directed to State Highway Administration Senior Safety Officer Joseph Moges at [email protected], or Community Relations Manager Holly Pearl at [email protected].

The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is a key component of the implementation of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s new Complete Streets Policy, which prioritizes safe, reliable, equitable and sustainable travel across all modes to make roads safer and connect Marylanders to jobs, education and economic opportunity. Projects under the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan also support Maryland’s Vision Zero goal, which seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries on state roadways by 2030.