Maryland transportation officials are zeroing in on ‘quick-build’ projects to improve bike and pedestrian safety and cut down on vehicle speeding in the state.
As Daniel Zawodny explains in The Baltimore Banner, the project is a partnership with Smart Growth America, which will provide technical assistance for three temporary safety installations. The state’s new Complete Streets pledge emphasizes pedestrian improvements and projects that reduce traffic speed. “It means drivers could start seeing more plastic flex posts, narrower lanes and more space for pedestrians at crosswalks on state-owned roads,” Zawodny explains.
“Though they will be context-driven, Smart Growth America can help ensure the projects align with federal guidance and anticipate common snags that other states and localities have encountered in getting projects over the finish line,” said Joe McAndrew, an assistant transportation secretary for project development and delivery.
Officials will use data from the temporary projects to evaluate their success. According to McAndrew, “If the data comes back and that says that this is a smashing success, and the community is supportive of it staying, I don’t think that we are going to stand in the way of that.”
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