18 New School Zones Being Considered For Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Residents are encouraged to tune in to a virtual meeting Wednesday to discuss 18 new proposed school zones to be created across Howard County.

There are 41 existing elementary school zones, 19 middle school zones and 12 high school zones, along with 18 private school zones - seven do not have speed zones, already in Howard County.

A school zone is a designated section of road at or near a school where additional traffic safety measures may be implemented to improve overall safety for students, walkers, bicyclists and drivers, and to enhance overall driver awareness in areas where there's a heavier presence of students.

Maryland law defines a school zone as a road within a half-mile radius of a school where State Highway Administration or the local authority can set maximum speed limits. Established school zones are marked with street signs indicating the zone boundaries and applicable speed limits.

Howard County's automated speed enforcement positions "speed cameras" on roadways that either front schools or border school properties or roadways along student walking routes that are designated school zones. Each school zone is clearly marked as a school zone and as an automated speed enforcement (ASE) location.

Howard County's Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Highways’ Traffic Engineering Division will host the virtual community outreach meeting at 5 p.m. via Webex.

During the virtual meeting, the proposed zones will be presented and an explanation of why they're needed. Following the virtual meeting, county staff will accept public questions and comments about the proposed new school zones through Aug. 24. All questions and comments should be emailed to Erjon Rembeci at erembeci@howardcountymd.gov.

After the meeting, the meeting materials will be posted on the traffic engineering division’s website.