County Seeks More Citizen Input on the Freedom Area Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan

Freedom area residents are invited to weigh in on the Freedom Area & Pedestrian Master Plan at a community meeting on March 13. 

In October, Freedom area residents shared their ideas and experiences which served as background for developing the community’s first-ever Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, according to a county news release.

The discussion on March 13 will serve as the "next step in creating an area-wide approach to make traveling in, around and across Freedom by foot or by bicycle more comfortable, accessible, and predictable in the future," according to the news release.

This master plan will develop strategies for improving Freedom’s walking and biking network through several means:

• Identifying key locations needing improved connections for walking & biking routes;
• Prioritizing missing links or incomplete routes restricting access to community destinations;
• Targeting the most effective opportunities for leveraging resources to complete priority projects.

The Freedom Area Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan will move forward quickly, the initial plan review will take place during summer 2013.

The timing of this bicycle and pedestrian master plan effort is critical since it will both inform and link with other in-progress Freedom area planning projects according to the news release. These include the Maryland Department of Transportation grant-funded Eldersburg-Sykesville bikeway analysis and the ongoing update of Freedom’s comprehensive plan.

This will be the first bicycle and pedestrian master plan to define priorities and coordinate needed sidewalk, path, and trail enhancements for any portion of Carroll County according to the release.

Residents are invited to attend the meeting on March 13 at 7 p.m. at the South Carroll Senior & Community Center.  

For additional information, please contact Scott Graf with the Bureau of Comprehensive Planning by telephone at 410.386.2145, or by email at sgraf@ccg.carr.org. Correspondence may be directed to Mr. Graf at the Carroll County Department of Land Use, Planning and Development; 225 North Center Street, Room 204; Westminster, Maryland, 21157.