Largest alternative transportation grant in the state will go to Anne Arundel for expanding off road access to transit, conduct safe route studies for schools, and build bike lane separators.
The Anne Arundel County Office of Transportation secured $6.98 million from the Maryland Department of Transportation through the Transportation Alternatives (TA) and Kim Lamphier Bikeways Grant programs to construct an extension of the BWI Trail spur from Maple Ave to the Nursery Road Light Rail station, perform additional Safe Routes to School Accessibility Studies, and provide safe separators for protected bike lanes. This project has been a county, city, and state collaboration to ensure the safety of residents looking to opt-out of car travel all together when getting to the places they need and want to be.
From the press release:
“The Office of Transportation has excelled at securing state and federal grants which reduces the burden of project costs on our capital improvement program budget,” said Sam Snead, Director of the Office of Transportation.
From County Executive Stuart Pittman:
“Safe biking and walking alternatives are the best way to reduce traffic, protect our environment, improve health, and make the county more livable and affordable. We are especially pleased to extend this trail in North County.”
While this funding will focus on specific project elements, the work is part of the counties Transportation Functional Master Plan which explicitly seeks to:
- Prioritize a safe and comfortable – low-stress – walking and rolling network between essential destinations throughout the County.
- Ensure that vulnerable populations have access to active transportation infrastructure.
- Recommend infrastructure proven to reduce crashes, especially at intersections and along corridors with high rates of crashes resulting in death or serious injury.
- Identify policy recommendations to promote the construction of safe, accessible, and direct walking and rolling infrastructure.
Key performance indicators reinforce this focus from the Walk and Roll Anne Arundel plan:
- Connectivity and Access
- Equity
- Safety
- Strategic Growth and Mode Shift
- Investment
Read Anne Arundel’s Vision Zero goals.
Read Anne Arundel’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
Read Anne Arundel’s Implementation Plan – Walk and Roll Anne Arundel.
