$14.7M Allocated In Budget For HoCo Complete Streets Policy, Transportation Infrastructure

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The county's fiscal year 2025 capital budget includes a record investment of $14.7 million for its Complete Streets Policy and active transportation infrastructure.

"The character of our community is defined by how we connect with each other. Communities who are connected by sidewalks, bike lanes and active transportation infrastructure tend to be healthier, more vibrant and happier. Through these investments and projects, we are creating new connections and revamping old ones to ensure our community members can safely walk, bike, roll and ride to the people and places that make up our great county," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Last year, Smart Growth America awarded Howard County’s Complete Streets Policy a perfect score in it 2023 report, making the county the first jurisdiction in the nation to receive 100% under their scoring matrix.

The $14.7 million allocated in the budget for pedestrian, bicycle and Complete Streets projects include:

• $1.7 million for Cradlerock Way safety improvements to enhance safety following a recent pedestrian fatality on that road;
• $1.6 million to continue Walk Howard implementation and sidewalk projects;
• $1.5 million for school route pathways and sidewalks, doubling last year’s funding level for this project;
• $1.1 million to continue Bike Howard implementation with bike infrastructure;
• $1.1 million for the Dobbin Road pathway;
• $1 million for ADA ramp upgrades;
• $265,000 for pedestrian and bicycle access to Troy Park;
• $150,000 for the North Laurel Road sidewalk project; and
• $60,000 for pedestrian and bicycle access to Columbia Gateway;

“From the pedestrian improvements detailed in WalkHoward to the expansion of Flash, it’s compelling to see such a broad array of multimodal transportation investments that will further connect our communities from Elkridge to Ellicott City to Columbia and Maple Lawn,” said Phillip Dodge, vice chairperson, Howard County Multimodal Transportation Board.