Introducing the 2024 MACo Celebratory Blog Series: Showcasing the Remarkable Achievements of Maryland’s Award-Winning Counties!

Join us on this exciting journey as we embark on a special blog series dedicated to honoring the exceptional accomplishments of the counties that triumphed in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Achievement Awards. 

Each week, we will shine a well-deserved spotlight on a few remarkable counties, taking a deeper dive into their accomplishments, innovative initiatives, and the profound impact they have had on their communities. 

Planning

Howard County received Best in Category Award for their Innovative and Equitable Policies in the HoCo By Design General Plan.

HoCo By Design, Howard County’s new General Plan, offers a model for mature suburban communities grappling with issues of housing affordability, public school capacity, equity, and limited land supply. The plan illustrates how new housing types can be introduced in existing neighborhoods while maintaining community character; how new ideas for public school facilities can be integrated into general plans; and how equity in future land use and growth can be highlighted and brought to the forefront. HoCo By Design’s overarching objective was to identify a growth and conservation strategy for the next twenty years that is more equitable, predictable, sustainable, and achievable than previous general plans, and which would preserve and protect the qualities of Howard County that make the community so special while tackling the challenges ahead. The plan explores mixed-use redevelopment as its primary strategy for accommodating future growth, while also detailing 78 policies and 323 implementing actions to address a variety of topics tied to growth, conservation, and infrastructure. Of these, four broad categories of polices and actions stand out as innovative from a comprehensive planning perspective: 1) “missing middle” housing; 2) public school facilities; 3) advancing equity through land use; and 4) redeveloping mixed-use “activity centers.”

Transportation

Howard County received two achievement awards in this category.

Collaboration, Coordination, and Creativity to Promote Transportation Demand Management in an Urbanizing Suburb 

The Howard County Office of Transportation (OoT), specifically its Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, Go Howard, and the Downtown Columbia Partnership (DTCP) are partners charged with implementing TDM programming for Downtown Columbia (DTC) as it is redeveloped into a vibrant, new urban destination that embraces its future with up to an additional 14 million square feet of mixed-use development to be incorporated into an existing, and enhanced, suburban transportation network. TDM is the application of strategies and policies that help to enable travel by means other than driving alone. These strategies help move more people in the same amount of roadway space, reduce the number of trips made, and spread the travel demand across more hours of the day to take advantage of space and capacity when it’s available. The two greatest factors that influence the effectiveness of TDM programming are robust transit service and paid parking, neither of which currently exists in Downtown Columbia. As a result, the partners have developed new, creative, and innovative strategies to encourage the public to utilize alternatives modes of transportation while living, working, and enjoying community life in Downtown Columbia and Howard County. Together, OoT and DTCP work to update planning studies and implementation plans, host several active transportation-focused activities that feature incentives for biking and walking, and engage directly with employers, employees, and residents to educate them on the resources and incentives available when they choose to travel by a mode other than a single occupancy vehicle (SOV).

County Right-of-Way Wireless Antenna Permitting Program

The innovative program outlined in this submission facilitates access to County Right-of-Way for the installation and maintenance of broadband antennas on street lights, significantly enhancing data service for smartphone users, commuters, and vehicles traversing County Roads. This initiative was conceived to address the escalating demand for high-quality data services while prioritizing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicle operators and passengers. A key objective of the program is to ensure equitable access for all applicants, without subsidizing private companies through real estate use or maintenance of structures. With the rapid advancements in technology, there has been a substantial increase in wireless data and telecommunications bandwidth requirements. Recognizing this need, the program collaboratively engages with major data carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile to deploy wireless data antennas, commonly referred to as broadband antennas, along County Roads. Leveraging the infrastructure typically used in sports venues, these antennas are strategically positioned in the grass areas of the County Right-of-Way. By facilitating the deployment of broadband antennas in the County Right-of-Way, this program not only addresses the growing demand for data services but also optimizes the utilization of existing infrastructure, minimizing the need for additional structures and enhancing the overall efficiency of data transmission. Furthermore, by ensuring fair access to all stakeholders, the program fosters a competitive and innovative environment while upholding safety standards and promoting technological advancement within the community. Through this submission, we aim to showcase the success and impact of this pioneering initiative, which not only enhances connectivity but also embodies the County’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and equitable access to essential services.

Montgomery County – Dedicated Bus Lanes Project

The dedicated bus lanes along the more than two-mile section of roadway will allow buses to travel with minimal motor vehicle traffic obstruction along one of the area’s busiest and most congested corridors. The dedicated bus lanes on University Boulevard are part of a larger Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) program, the Bus Priority Project, that will advance similar bus-only lanes. The bus lanes will provide faster, more reliable service along a route with critical service connections to Metrorail, Ride On, Metrobuses and the Silver Spring Transit Center. The lanes are designated with solid red paint and “Bus Only” text. We are redesigning our approach to transit, to prioritize transportation options that are equitable and climate-friendly. The University Boulevard dedicated bus lanes will improve the daily commute for thousands of workers, students and residents along this corridor who depend on public transportation. Additionally, these new bus lanes will attract new riders to Metrobus and Ride On services as a more convenient, safe, and cost-effective option than using automobiles. MCDOT will monitor the effectiveness and safety of the bus lanes and an evaluation will be done in December 2025 to confirm that the bus lanes are beneficial on this corridor.

Together, let’s explore the remarkable stories behind these award-winning counties and draw inspiration from their passion, creativity, and commitment to making a positive difference.  View all 2024 NACo Achievement Award winners through their interactive and searchable map.