Howard County and state officials outline transportation priorities, bicycle safety improvements

Nov. 1—State officials on Monday outlined financial investments and work underway to improve highway, pedestrian and bicycle safety in Howard County.

The meeting, at the George Howard Building in Ellicott City, included representatives from the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Transit Administration and Maryland Aviation Administration.

It was part of the Department of Transportation's annual tour of all 23 counties and Baltimore City, to discuss funding plans and receive input. Following the statewide tour, a draft of the fiscal 2024-2029 Consolidated Transportation Program will be finalized and approved by the Maryland General Assembly when it convenes in January.

This annual exercise is only for county roads that are under state control.

"Delivering safe, reliable, equitable and sustainable transportation is critical to Maryland's economic health and the vibrancy of neighborhoods across the state," Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld stated in a news release Tuesday. "This Draft CTP is inspired by that mission. We know there are challenges ahead, and we are committed to fiscal responsibility and collaboration with local communities, stakeholders and elected officials as we deliver the transportation network Marylanders need and deserve."

In April, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball sent a letter to Wiedefeld outlining the transportation priorities the county wants included in the CTP.

"We want to continue to focus your attention on Howard County's highest transportation priorities, safety and public transit on Route 1 and Route 29," Ball stated in the letter. "The safety of all users of our transportation systems continues to be one of Howard County's highest priorities, especially the safety of our most vulnerable users, pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities."

Maryland State High Administrator William Pines outlined two projects that are underway to improve safety and accessibility on Route 1. They include:

— A $4.7 million project adding pedestrian and bicycle access at Guilford Road, Brewers Court, Rowanberry Drive, and Doctor Patel Drive. Guilford Road will get a new shared-use path, sidewalks, crosswalks and upgraded pedestrian signals. The project is slated for completion in 2024.

— A sidewalk under construction in the Jessup area of Route 1 to fill a missing link from Cedar Avenue to Crestmount Road. This project is slated for completion this fall. Total cost of the project is $2,226.

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Pines also said crews are now working on an $11.6 million project at Route 103, from Route 29 to the Long Gate Shopping Center in Ellicott City. The work includes increasing capacity and widening Route 103 to include a turn lane onto Old Columbia Pike, and another lane onto northbound Route 29.

Other improvements include sidewalks, bike lanes, reconstructed traffic signals, relocated utilities, landscaping and stormwater management. Completion is expected next spring.

Pines also discussed the recently completed $8.2 million project to widen Route 108 at Centennial Lane and Beaverbrook Road in the Columbia area. Improvements include new turning lanes, new bike lanes, a new second left-turn lane on eastbound Route 108, and an extended right-turn lane on westbound Route 108 . The project also widened parts of Centennial Lane, upgraded the pedestrian signal and crosswalk, and installed a new traffic signal.

Meanwhile, the CTP draft includes safety improvements to Interstate 70, from Route 32 to Route 695 in Howard County. The project is intended to improve safety on Interstate 70, the draft plan states.

Safety improvements along Route 32, from north Linden Church Road to Interstate 70 is also included, along with the widening of Route 29, from two lanes to three lanes, from the Middle Patuxent River to Seneca Drive.

The entire CTP details a $21.2 billion six-year capital budget for state transportation projects.

The draft of the 2024-2029 Consolidated Transportation Program, is located at www.ctp.maryland.gov.