The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) has awarded the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) a grant for a safety study along New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) from Oakview Drive to Southampton Drive. The grant, totaling $60,000, was a joint submittal with the Prince George’s Department of Public Works and Transportation. A portion of New Hampshire Avenue, from Northampton Drive to Southampton Drive, is within Prince George’s County.
The study will include recommendations for safety improvements to enhance the corridor for people who walk, bike and use transit.
The TPB is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for metropolitan Washington, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Grants from the TPB support pedestrian, bicyclist, transit and traffic safety improvements that align with the County’s Vision Zero initiative. The TPB is housed at and staffed by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
“For far too long, traffic on New Hampshire Avenue at the Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties’ line has been dangerous for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “I appreciate the coordination and partnership with our neighbors in Prince George’s County and I am thankful to the TPB for this much needed grant that will improve the safety for all those who live, travel and do business in this corridor.”
The New Hampshire Avenue project area has been identified as an Equity Emphasis Area, which identifies communities that have significant concentrations of minority populations that are traditionally underserved. Additionally, the project area is a “High Injury Network” for both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, meaning the number of crashes is disproportionately high compared to other areas.
“MCDOT continues to advance our Vision Zero initiatives using a variety of funding sources,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “I am proud of the work we are doing to identify and secure funding for projects which are necessary to make the County safer for everyone.”
Multiple agencies expressed their support for MCDOT’s grant application. Letters were sent by the Montgomery County Executive, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), the Prince George’s Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
“We appreciate the support we have received from our partner agencies,” said Conklin. “This State roadway has a considerable impact on the County roads and communities that border it. I am confident we will find many opportunities for improvements in this area and working together, we will improve safety for all users.”
The study will take place in Fiscal Year 2022, which started on July 1, 2021. A final version is expected by spring of 2022.
After the study concludes, the next step will be for MCDOT and MDOT SHA to agree on the recommendations, partner on a design plan and identify a construction mechanism. MDOT SHA has indicated it is interested in making safety improvements in this area and expressed support for the grant application. However, design and construction funds for the project have not yet been committed.
