Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

Pedestrian Safety Enhancements

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety takes collaboration between motorists, pedestrians and government agencies in which everyone does their part — motorists stopping for pedestrians and obeying speed limits; pedestrians wearing bright clothing, looking both ways and being extra vigilant at night; local jurisdictions providing speed enforcement and safety direction to municipal service providers; and Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) providing engineering enhancement, education and outreach.

Context Driven

MDOT SHA is implementing a new Context Driven guide for engineers that customizes roadway features to fit local and community characteristics, such as urban core, urban center, traditional town center, suburban activity center, suburban and rural. These features lower speed limits and add continental crosswalks plus specialized signals.

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP)

An important feature of Context Driven is the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP). Through this PSAP, MDOT SHA works with communities to improve pedestrian safety by identifying challenges, setting goals and objectives, focusing on areas of need, setting priorities and taking action.

Below, is a list, by Maryland county, of recently implemented pedestrian safety improvements

For a list of current MDOT SHA roadway projects, visit the Project Portal.

Montgomery County

By spring 2020, MDOT SHA will have implemented or initiated more than 100 projects or studies on 20 corridors in support of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero goals to reduce severe and fatal crashes, including crashes involving pedestrians.

Speed limits were reduced in pedestrian high-traffic areas along the following 10 corridors:

Location Speed Reduction
​MD 97 – MD 586 (Veirs Mill Road) to Arcola Avenue  ​35 mph to 25 mph
​MD 97 – Hathaway Drive to MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue)  ​45 mph to 35 mph
​MD 97 – MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue to Cherry Valley Drive)  ​50 mph to 45 mph
​MD 182 – Near Sandy Spring Friends School  ​40 mph to 35 mph school zone
​MD 185 – South of MD 410  ​45 mph to 35 mph
​MD 187 – Glenwood Road to I-495  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 188 – MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road) to MD 191  ​30 mph to 25 mph
​MD 190 – Ridgefield Road to I-495  ​45 mph to 35 mph
​MD 191 – MD 614 to MD 355  ​35 mph to 25 mph
​MD 193 – MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) to Colesville Road  ​45 mph to 35 mph
​MD 193 – MD 320 to Adelphi Road  ​35 mph to 30 mph
​MD 198 – Peach Orchard Road to Athey Road  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 198 – Athey Road to Burtonsville Town Center  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 198 – Burtonsville Town Center to Dino Drive  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 586 – MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) to College View Drive  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 586 – College View Drive to MD 97  ​35 mph to 25 mph

Roadway lane widths were reduced in high pedestrian traffic areas along the following two corridors:

Location Lane Width Reduction
​MD 97 – I-495 and MD 193  ​12-feet-wide lane to 10-feet-wide
​MD 410 – MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) to Montgomery Lane  ​12-feet-wide lane to 10-feet-wide

38 Crosswalk treatments were installed or refreshed along high pedestrian traffic areas at the following locations:

Leafy Avenue and Capitol Avenue
Continental crosswalk installed at MD 192 and Leafy Avenue
​US 29 at Blair Mill Road ​US 29 at Fenton Street ​US 29 at Franklin Avenue
​US 29 at Spring Street ​US 29 at Sligo Creek Parkway ​MD 97 at Blueridge Avenue
​MD 97 at Ennalls Avenue ​MD 97 at Hickerson Drive ​MD 97 at MD 193
​MD 97 at Price Avenue ​MD 97 at Prichard Road ​MD 97 at Reedie Drive
​MD 97 at US 29 ​MD 185 at Calvert Place ​MD 185 at MD 586
​MD 185 at Weller Road ​MD 189 at Tuckerman Lane ​MD 190 at Rising Ridge Road
​MD 192 at Leafy Avenue ​MD 193 at Lexington Drive ​MD 193 at US 29
​MD 193 at Williamsburg Drive ​MD 355 at Avondale Street ​MD 355 at Chase Avenue
​MD 355 at Chestnut Street ​MD 355 at Commerce Lane ​MD 355 at Marinelli Road
​MD 355 at MD 187 ​MD 355 at MD 191 ​MD 355 at Nicholson Lane
​MD 355 at South Summit Avenue ​MD 410 at Edgevale Street ​MD 410 at MD 185
​MD 586 at Newport Mill Road ​MD 586 at Claridge Street ​MD 650 at Adelphi Road
​MD 650 at Oakview Drive ​MD 650 at Sligo Creek Parkway ​

37 traffic signals and safety improvements were completed along 13 corridors in Montgomery County. The scope of the projects included new accessible pedestrian signals (APS), countdown pedestrian signals (CPS), intersection control beacons (ICB) signal installation, Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) improvements and lighting enhancements. View location below for specifications.

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​​​ Thermal pedestrian sensors were installed at the intersection of MD 586 and the Matthew Henson Trail.​
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Location Project Type
​MD 28 at Baltimore Road (East)  ​Signal Modification, Detection Camera
​MD 28 at Norbeck Boulevard ​Signal Modification, APS, CPS, Signing, Marking, Geometrics
​MD 97 at MD 586  ​Pedestrian Beacon (New)
​MD 97 at Arcola Avenue ​Signal Modification
​MD 97 at Heathfield Road/Postgate Terrace ​Signal (New), APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 97 at May Street/Rippling Brooke Drive ​Signal (New), APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Systemization
​MD 108 at MD 182 ​APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 108 at Old Baltimore Road ​Adaptive Signal System
​MD 115 at Needwood Road ​Signal Modification, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 182 at Excaliber Lane/Sandy Spring Friends School ​Signal (New)
​MD 185 at Adams Street ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 185 at Aspen Hill Road ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 187 at Commerce Lane ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 187 at I-495 Outer Loop off ramp ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 187 at I-495 Inner Loop off ramp ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 187 at Poindexter Lane/Edson Lane ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 187 at Woodmont Avenue ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 190 at Little Falls Parkway ​Signal Modification, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Geometrics
​MD 190 at Ridgefield Road/Brookside Drive ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Lighting (LED)
​MD 320 at MD 193 to MD 650 ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Crosswalks, Detection
​MD 320 at Sligo Creek Parkway ​Signal Reconstruction
​MD 355 at Battery Lane ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Avondale Street/Commerce Lane ​Pedestrian Beacon (New), Crosswalks
​MD 355 at Church Street/Monroe Street ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Cordell Avenue ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Jones Bridge Road/Center Drive ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Mid-block Pedestrian Crossing  ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Park Road/E. Middle Lane ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Shady Grove Road ​Signal Modification
​MD 355 at South Summit Avenue ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 355 at Twinbrook Parkway/Rollins Avenue ​Signal Modification, Geometrics
​MD 355 at Woodmont Avenue/Terrace Garden Way Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Lighting (LED), Systemization, Geometrics​
​MD 410 at Summit Hills Gate House Entrance ​Signal (New), APS, ADA Ramps
​MD 586 at Matthew Henson Trail  ​Signal Reconstruction, APS/CPS, Thermal Sensor
​MD 586 at Newport Mill Road ​Signal Reconstruction
​MD 650 at Briggs Chaney Road ​APS, CPS, ADA
​MD 650 at MD 198 ​APS, CPS, ADA

Prince George's County

By spring 2020, MDOT SHA will have implemented or initiated more than 100 projects or studies on 15 corridors to reduce crashes and fatalities, including crashes involving pedestrians.

Speed limits were reduced along high pedestrian traffic areas along the following 5 corridors:

Location Speed Reduction
​MD 193 – MD 320 to Adelphi Road  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 210 – Livingston Road to Sachem Lane and the Washington D.C. line ​35 mph to 30 mph
​MD 214 – Pepper Mill Drive to I-95/495  ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 410 – Toledo Terrace to MD 500 ​40 mph to 35 mph
​MD 5 – MD 458 to the Washington D.C. line ​35 mph to 30 mph

Roadway lane widths were reduced in high pedestrian traffic areas along the following two corridors:

Location Lane Width Reduction
​MD 210 – Livingston Road/Sachem Lane to Washington D.C. line ​12-feet-wide lane to 10-feet-wide
​US 1 – Contee Road to the Howard County Line ​12-feet-wide lane to 10-feet-wide

Continental crosswalks have been shown to be more visible to approaching vehicles and improve yielding behavior. Crosswalk treatments were installed along the following 6 corridors in Prince George’s County:

  • US 1 – Contee Road to Howard County Line
  • MD 210 – Livingston Road and Sachem Lane
  • MD 212 – Washington D.C. Line and MD 193
  • MD 214 – Pepper Mill Drive and I-95/495   
  • MD 214 – Washington D.C. Line and I-95/495
  • MD 410 – Toledo Terrace and MD 500
  • MD 500 – MD 208 (Hamilton Street) and MD 410 (East West Highway)

29 traffic signals and safety improvements were completed along 11 corridors in Prince George’s County. The scope of the projects included new accessible pedestrian signals (APS), countdown pedestrian signals (CPS), intersection control beacons (ICB) signal installation, Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) improvements, and lighting enhancements. View location and project type below.

 

MD 5 at Brandywine Road 
New traffic signal installed at MD 5 at Brandywine Road
Location Project Type
​I-495 (Inner Loop) Southbound Off-ramp at Forestville Road ​Signal (New), APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Geometrics
​MD 5 (Branch Avenue) at Brandywine Road  ​Signal (New), APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at Kenmoor Drive  ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at MD 193 (Watkins Park Drive)  ​Signal Modification, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Lighting (LED)
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at MD 295 Northbound Ramps ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at MD 450 Annapolis Road ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at Neighbor Road/62nd Place  ​Signal Modification and Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at Technology Way  ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 202 (Landover Road) at US 50 Ramps  ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Audrey Lane  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Fort Washington Road  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at I-495 (Ramp 13 from I-495 Westbound)  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Livingston Road/Sachem Drive  ​Signal Modification, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at MD 228 (Berry Road)  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at MD 373 (Livingston Road)  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Old Fort Road (North)  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Palmer Road/Livingston Road  ​Lighting (LED) - Intersection
​MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Salisbury Drive/Talbert Drive  Lighting (LED) - Intersection​
​MD 214 (Central Avenue) at Devonwood Drive/Jennings Mill Drive  ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction,
APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 214 (Central Avenue) at Ritchie Road/Garrett Morgan Boulevard  ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 214 (Central Avenue) at Shady Glen Road  ​Signal Modification, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 223 (Woodyard Road) at Pine View Lane  ​Signal Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Lighting (LED)
​MD 381 (Brandywine Road) School Flasher  ​Signal (New) Temporary
​MD 414 (Oxon Hill Road) at Rivertowne Commons Shopping Center Entrance (West Entrance)  ​Signal, Reconstruction, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps
​MD 450 (Annapolis Road) at Ellerbie Street  ​Signal, ICB (New)
​US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) at Madison Street  Signal Modification, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, crosswalks​
​US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) at Berwyn Road  ​Signal Modification, APS, CPS, ADA, Marking, Lighting, Geometrics
​US 1 (Rhode Island Avenue) at Volta Avenue  ​Signal (New), APS, CPS, ADA Ramps, Lighting (LED)
​US 301 (Crain Highway) at Chadds Ford Drive/Timothy Branch Drive  ​Signal, Modification, APS, CPS, ADA Ramps

In summer 2020, MDOT SHA started a two-year urban reconstruction project along MD 212 that will feature mobility and safety features for all users. Learn more in the video below.

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Pedestrian Safety