In 2024, the Maryland Department of Transportation updated its 12-year-old Model Complete Streets Initiative to establish more consistent policy directives and to include other Maryland DOT agencies, expanding the approach beyond engineering to also encompass education and enforcement. This comprehensive approach allowed for systemic change and cultural shifts that accelerate progress on complete streets implementation. The $500,000 initiative also required the streamlining of supporting programs focused on bicycle/pedestrian/transit rider/micromobility user safety and accessibility, like the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan implementation and Safe Routes to School program, and the Maryland sidewalk data collection initiative. Maryland DOT also partnered with Smart Growth America and local communities to construct quick-build complete streets demonstration projects on state roads to provide “litmus tests” of its revamped policy while also gathering community and local government input. As a result, Maryland DOT could more quickly chart a path towards quicker project delivery in areas of need; meaning localities realized more benefits more quickly.
America's Transportation Awards 