Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
Name	Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
Jurisdiction	Maryland
Agency	Maryland Department of Transportation
Formed	2007

Contents

Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

The Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is a statewide strategic framework that coordinates bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, safety, and policy across Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Highway Administration, and local jurisdictions such as Baltimore, Annapolis, and Frederick. It aligns with federal initiatives including the United States Department of Transportation's guidance and funding programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The Plan interfaces with regional bodies like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and statewide initiatives such as the Maryland Climate Change Commission.

Overview and Purpose

The Plan provides direction for designing facilities consistent with standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, best practices in cities like Portland, Oregon and Minneapolis, and technical guidance from the National Association of City Transportation Officials. It serves practitioners at the Maryland Transit Administration, municipal transportation departments in Columbia, Maryland and Rockville, Maryland, and planning agencies including the Maryland Department of Planning and the Chesapeake Bay Program. The document supports interoperability with federal funding streams such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Safe Routes to School program.

Initial editions drew on precedent from the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project and state plans like the California Bicycle Plan and the New York State Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Early coordination involved stakeholders including the League of American Bicyclists, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and advocacy groups such as Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Legislative context included acts passed by the Maryland General Assembly and safety recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Iterations responded to demographic shifts documented by the United States Census Bureau and public health findings from the Maryland Department of Health.

Goals reflect national objectives promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and align with climate goals articulated by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative stakeholders and the Maryland Climate Action Plan. Policies integrate multimodal planning promoted by the American Planning Association and legal frameworks influenced by decisions from the Maryland Court of Appeals. The Plan establishes targets paralleling performance measures used by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and guidance from the Transportation Research Board.

Components include network mapping consistent with GIS protocols used by the United States Geological Survey and corridor design guidance informed by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and case studies from the City of New York's bicycle program. Recommendations cover facility types found in manuals from the National Association of City Transportation Officials, street design adopted by Seattle, and greenway strategies modeled after the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's projects. The Plan advocates for complete streets policies like those implemented in Montgomery County, Maryland and Howard County, Maryland, and promotes integration with transit services provided by the Maryland Transit Administration and commuter rail systems such as MARC Train.

Implementation pathways reference funding mechanisms including the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Safety Improvement Program, discretionary grants from the United States Department of Transportation, and state allocations legislated by the Maryland General Assembly. Partnerships include metropolitan planning organizations like the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board and local public works departments in municipalities such as Gaithersburg and Salisbury, Maryland. Capital projects have coordinated with utility entities like Baltimore Gas and Electric and environmental regulators such as the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Monitoring uses metrics consistent with frameworks from the Transportation Research Board and data sources from the Maryland State Highway Administration crash databases, supplemented by bicyclist counts following protocols from the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Clearinghouse. Outcomes reference safety trends tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and public health indicators from the Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Equity analyses draw on methodologies from the Urban Institute and mapping tools used by the Census Bureau and Esri.

Public outreach strategies mirror approaches used by organizations such as the League of American Bicyclists, America Walks, and local advocacy groups including the Annapolis Bicycle Club and Baltimore Bicycle Works. The Plan was developed with input from municipal governments like Towson, Maryland and county administrations in Anne Arundel County, Maryland and Prince George's County, Maryland, as well as institutions including Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, College Park. Engagement processes aligned with federal public involvement guidance from the Federal Highway Administration and civic outreach practices promoted by the American Planning Association.