At the 2019 MACo Winter Conference session, “Contemplating Our Congestion Crisis,” attendees learned about the issue of traffic congestion in Maryland and what options and solutions can elevate the state and our counties. The Session was a deep dive into teleworking, complete streets, and mass transit.

Travis Johnston, Director of Locally Owned Transit at the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), started off the panel by explaining a few of the Demand Management Programs that MDOT MVA offers to Maryland residents including Commuter Choice MD, the Ride Share Database, and MTA’s Guaranteed Ride Home.

Dan Reed, a planner with Toole Design Group, gave a historic perspective of why Maryland’s landscape is the way it is and expressed the importance of building communities where driving is not a necessity.

Mark Belton, County Administrator for Charles County, spoke on the importance of working across county lines to benefit all Marylanders and explained one of Charles County’s programs, VanGO.

Graham Young, Complete Streets Manager in Baltimore City, explaining how important complete streets are and the need to establish a modal hierarchy where vulnerable modes are prioritized first and single occupancy vehicles are last.

The session was moderated by Prince George’s County Council Member Todd Turner and was held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

The 2019 MACo Winter Conference, “Building for the Future,” was held on December 4-6, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland.