Moore-Miller Administration’s Pedestrian Improvements at Doctor Patel and Rowanberry Intersections are Latest Safety Enhancements along US 1 Corridor
(September 10, 2026) – The Maryland Department of Transportation, the State Highway Administration and Howard County elected officials today celebrated completion of a series of safety improvements at high-traffic
US 1 intersections in the Elkridge and North Laurel areas of the county designed to enhance safety for all roadway users, including those who drive, walk, bike or roll. The projects are the latest safety enhancements from the Moore-Miller Administration along the US 1 corridor meant to reduce roadway crashes in an area that has been a priority for the county. Between 2021 and 2025, the area of US 1 between Doctor Patel Drive and Brewers Court experienced 1,249 crashes with 15 fatalities and 390 injuries. Of those, pedestrians accounted for five fatalities and 41 injuries.
Improvements at the high-volume US 1 intersections with Doctor Patel and Rowanberry drives in the Elkridge area include traffic signal upgrades, installation of high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian-activated signals and new sidewalk connections, along with other safety features.
“These improvements along the US 1 corridor in Howard County reflect the Moore-Miller Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation’s commitment to be Serious About Safety and to invest in projects that reduce roadway deaths and injuries, drive economic growth and preserve Maryland’s transportation network,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson.
The State Highway Administration has worked closely with the county to identify and prioritize areas with the greatest needs. In 2023, the State Highway Administration completed safety-focused improvements at several other areas along the corridor, including the following:
- US 1 at Brewers Court – new pedestrian-activated signals, protected space in the median and new continental crosswalks;
- US 1 at Guilford Road – a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists along southbound US 1, new continental crosswalks and upgraded pedestrian crossing signals at the intersection; and
- US 1 between Crestmount Road and Cedar Avenue on southbound US 1 – new sidewalk, curb, gutter and drainage improvements.
County and state elected officials have advocated for the projects at Doctor Patel and Rowanberry drives and SHA prioritized the improvements as part of its Serious About Safety efforts to ensure that top safety priorities are brought forward, even when resources are limited.
MDOT SHA Administrator Will Pines (left) and MDOT Secretary Katie Thomson (center) join state and county officials at the high-traffic US 1 intersections in Elkridge and North Laurel.
“These safety projects along US 1 are a direct result of the tremendous partnership between the Moore-Miller Administration, Howard County, local and state elected officials, and the community,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “These projects will save lives, enhance mobility, and improve safety throughout the community – and they could not have been accomplished without our shared commitment to safety.”
“This moment is the culmination of more than eight years of planning, collaboration and shared vision to make Route 1 safer for all,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Together, we are transforming this corridor from a high-speed roadway with a history of pedestrian injuries and crashes into a safer, more accessible and more connected place for everyone who calls Elkridge home.”
State Delegate Natalie Ziegler, who represents District 9A spanning parts of Howard and Montgomery counties, noted the changing nature of US 1 from commercial and industrial to a mix that includes residential enclaves. She also cited the corridor’s history of crashes and safety issues and said, “It’s so wonderful that we are changing that, to make this a place where residents who live here really can make it a community and a neighborhood, and feel like they can cross the street safely.”
“Everybody was unified for this project. It really is a testament to the dogged work of both the executive and legislative branches for both the state and the county to accomplish this,” said Howard County Council Vice-Chair Christiana Rigby. “When the Moore-Miller Administration and Dr. Ball say they are serious about safety, they actually mean it.”
US 1 has been the focus of several additional initiatives aimed at multimodal safety and accessibility. One of the State Highway Administration’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan projects is focused on
US 1 between the Prince George’s County line and Gorman Road. After a series of public workshops and newsletters, the project is slated for construction in 2027.
Additionally, in 2024, the State Highway Administration implemented a
Complete Streets Quick-Build project along US 1 in North Laurel that repurposed a travel lane to create a protected area for cyclists and pedestrians. In October 2024, the state also lowered the speed limit from 45 mph to 40 mph along a half-mile section of US 1 between Bonnie View Lane and Greenfield Road. Signs and roadway striping were installed to alert motorists.
The US 1 improvements reinforce the Maryland Department of Transportation’s
Serious About Safety initiative to drive safety goals and save lives and support the department’s
Complete Streets policy ensuring state roads are convenient, reliable and accessible for all users.
Note
Photos from today’s event, as well as images depicting the US 1 intersections before and after improvements, are available by contacting SHA Media at 410-545-0303 or
[email protected].