PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists in Prince George’s county is the goal of new legislation. It comes at a time when the county is leading the state with the highest number of traffic fatalities.
The Walkable Urban Streets Act is part of a series of bills designed to make roads safer in urban areas of Prince George’s County, according to the bill's sponsors. Pedestrians and cyclists are at the forefront of proposed changes.
“Sometimes you have six-lane roads in an urban area and it’s very difficult for pedestrians to cross. People carrying groceries, people pushing baby strollers,” said Councilman Eric Olson, one of the sponsors on the bills.
The legislation incorporates urban street design standards consistent with the county’s most recent general plan called Plan Prince George’s 2035. It establishes plans and strategies to increase safety and walkability. Olson says proposed changes include bike lanes, narrowing lanes in certain areas to make it easier for pedestrians to cross and lowering the speed limit.
“Once you go over 25 mph, if you hit a pedestrian, that pedestrians chances of survival are much less,” Olson said.
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, so far this year, Prince George’s County has the highest number of fatal crashes out of all the counties statewide with 91. Last year the county had a total of 116 traffic fatalities — the highest in the state by far. Baltimore County came in second with 63.
According to Prince George’s County Police, there have been two deadly crashes involving pedestrians recently. One in Fort Washington along 210, and another on Greenbelt Road. While those are state-owned roads, Olson says they can set the standard in the county, then work on making state roads safer.
“We want to make sure we’re leading the way in the county and then we get the State Highway Administration to retrofit and make the changes necessary on state roads," Olson said.
Next up is a public hearing for the bills. The final vote is scheduled for November 14th.