Thank you for subscribing!  Bmore Involved promotes civic engagement in local and regional transportation, planning, and equity. This important information - also posted on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) - is a great way for you to learn more, stay up-to-date on important events and news, and let you know how you can Bmore Involved! 

In this issue:

• Input sought on Climate Action Plan 
• Coming Soon! Help Shape the Future of the Patapsco Regional Greenway 
• Make Your Voice Heard on the Future of West Baltimore
• Harford County Hosts Town Hall on Budget 
• Howard County Hosts Transportation Open House
• Share Your Thoughts on the Future of Baltimore Harborplace
• Calling Young Adults to Create Distracted Driving Prevention Videos
• Eyes Up. Phone Down – Be The Driver Who Saves Lives
   

INPUT SOUGHT ON CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 

Great news! The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) recently received a $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). The grant will help the region and state create climate action plans through a collaborative process.

BMC is teaming up with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to hear from community groups, local governments and anyone in the region that is interested. We want your thoughts on the most important ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Your input will help shape Central Maryland's Priority Climate Action Plan, which is due to the EPA on March 1, 2024. 

Please fill out a survey by Friday, January 12, 2024, to share your ideas on the best ways to cut GHG emissions and make a difference in our region's approach to tackling climate change.

Take the Survey

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE PATAPSCO REGIONAL GREENWAY 

In 2017, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) approved a plan for the Patapsco Regional Greenway (PRG). The PRG will be a 40-mile trail running through the Patapsco Valley from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to Sykesville in Carroll County. The PRG will be used by bicyclists, walkers, runners and (in some places) wheelchair users and horse riders. Over 12 miles of the greenway have already been completed.

Now, we want to hear from you about a 4 mile segment from Elkridge to Stoney Run. We're interested in hearing from the community about the route the trail should take, the amenities that would make it fantastic as well as any concerns you might have. A comment period on the PRG Stoney Run segment will be held from January 17 through February 16, 2024.  

Come to our community meeting to talk about your thoughts and ideas!  We’ll be at the Elkridge Branch of the Howard County Library System (6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075) on Tuesday, February 6 from 6-8 p.m. 

The public can share comments at the public meeting, by text or email, via voicemail, or on the project webpage.

Stay tuned to publicinput.com/PRG to learn more or join our mailing list

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON THE FUTURE OF WEST BALTIMORE 

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation is holding two Community Workshops for the West Baltimore United planning project for the “Highway to Nowhere” corridor. 

The Highway to Nowhere is a remnant of past efforts to connect Interstate 70 with Interstates 83 and 95 around Baltimore’s Central Business District. However, those highway connections were never completed. Ultimately, the strong community advocacy of neighborhoods prevailed; but not before the West Baltimore section of Route 40 was constructed, thus earning the local moniker “the Highway to Nowhere." Roughly 50 years later, the road remains a physical and symbolic barrier to progress, dividing large swaths of West Baltimore that were once connected. 
Now, the City of Baltimore, in conjunction with the Maryland Transit Administration, is coordinating the West Baltimore United Planning Project that will set the communities of West Baltimore on a path to a brighter future.  

What do you want that future to look like?  Share your thoughts at a community workshop on:  

• Saturday, January 20 from 9 a.m. to noon  
  Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts 
  1500 Harlem Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
   
• Thursday, January 25 from 6 to 9 p.m.  
  Excel Academy 
  1001 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21223

These locations are transit accessible. Light refreshments will be available. 

Visit streetsofbaltimore.com to learn more

HARFORD COUNTY HOSTS TOWN HALL ON COUNTY BUDGET 

What matters most to you? Harford County wants to know what county residents, organizations and businesses think should be a priority in Harford County's next budget.  An overview is available on YouTube.

Join the conversation in-person at a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23 in Darlington Hall on the campus of Harford Community College. The town hall will also be broadcast on HarfordTV. 

Comments on Harford County's FY 2025 budget can also be shared  in writing (social media, mail, and email) or by phone at 443-412-2700.

Get more info or share a comment on the budget

HOWARD COUNTY HOSTS TRANSPORTATION OPEN HOUSE 

Howard County is hosting a Transportation Open House to talk about how they plan, design, run, and maintain the County's transportation systems.

Over a dozen government and community agencies will be there to chat with people on Tuesday, January 30 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kenneth S. Ulman Innovation Hub (f/k/a the Gateway Building) in Columbia. 

The event will cover various topics such as Howard County’s transportation priorities, active ways to get around, making streets accessible, safety, public transit, keeping roads well-maintained and running smoothly, and regional planning. 

You can also share your thoughts on the county's transportation priorities, plans and projects.

Learn more about the Transportation Open House

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF BALTIMORE HARBORPLACE

People are talking about what's next for Baltimore's Harborplace and you're invited to be a part of the discussion. Plans are in motion to refresh and revitalize this well-known waterfront destination and community resource. 

A draft plan is ready and comments are currently welcome. The goal is to create a more vibrant, economically sustainable and attractive space for both locals and visitors.

Explore the ongoing work to breathe new life into this important waterfront area and share a comment at  ourharborplace.com. 

DISTRACTED DRIVING VIDEO CONTEST FOR YOUNG ADULTS 

Calling all high school juniors, seniors and college students! Project Yellow Light is a national video, billboard and radio competition where you design ads warning your peers of the dangers of distracted driving for a chance to win up to $8,000 in scholarships. 

To compete, students must create a video ad, radio spot or design for a billboard ad that encourages young drivers who are new to the road to stop driving while distracted - specifically phone use while driving. In a world where we regularly stay connected through technology, drivers don’t always realize when they shift into distracted driving. The ads that students create are designed to remind young drivers that distracted driving is dangerous.

Recordings are due April 1, 2024.

To learn more, visit projectyellowlight.com

EYES UP! PHONE DOWN. BE THE DRIVER WHO SAVES LIVES 

Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can lead to a crash. Simply focusing on driving safely – which means paying attention to the road ahead – can make the difference between life and death.

In Maryland, an average of 200 distracted driving-related deaths occur annually.   

Be the FOCUSED Driver. Focus on driving, nothing else. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s the same as driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. 

Learn more at zerodeathsmd.gov