October 2026

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Celebrate Walktober in Maryland

October is Walktober in Maryland! All month long, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and partners across the state are celebrating walking, rolling, pedestrian safety, and the sidewalks, trails, paths, and public spaces that connect us to everyday destinations and to each other.

There are many ways to get involved this Walktober:

• Join the Walktober Step Challenge - MDOT is kicking off the Walktober Step challenge with a relay across the state — help Maryland reach 1,000,000 steps during October. 
• Tune in to the Thursday, October 22 Walkinar on technology and innovation in pedestrian safety.
• Join MDOT on Thursday, October 29 for a Secretaries Panel Discussion on walking, rolling, safety, active transportation, and connected communities.  

To learn more and register for these events, visit the Walktober homepage.

Stevenson Road South Sidewalk Public Meeting October 19

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works Stevenson Road South Sidewalk project involves sidewalk work on the south side of Stevenson Road between Crest Hill Road and Wildflower Drive to improve pedestrian connectivity and safety. The improvements include widening the existing sidewalk to five feet and constructing about 3,500 feet of new sidewalk. All parts of the sidewalk in the project would be made ADA-compliant.

A public meeting will be held at the Odenton Regional Library (1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113) on Monday, Oct 19 from 6 to 7 p.m.

There will be temporary lane closures during construction, which is tentatively slated to begin in March 2028 and finish in August 2028. Flaggers, warning signs and other equipment would be in place to guide motorists through the work zone. Access to properties along the route will be maintained. Construction would be done on weekdays.

Some water meters, sewer cleanouts and other utility facilities may need to be adjusted or relocated as part of the work, which could cause temporary service interruptions. If this happens, customers will be notified in advance.

To access project updates, documents and contact information, go to the project webpage.

MDOT Micromobility Materials Release

E-bikes, e-scooters, and other electric micromobility devices are becoming increasingly common across Maryland. With more types of devices available, it can be difficult to know how they are classified, where they can legally be used, and how to ride and maintain them safely.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released several new resources to help riders better understand e-micromobility:

• E-Micromobility Quick Guide: Get an introduction to different types of micromobility devices, along with key facts and safety tips.
•  E-Micromobility Safe Riding Guide: Learn how riding an electric device can differ from riding a traditional bike and find tips for safer riding. 
• E-Vehicle Maintenance and Battery Safety: Find information on identifying e-bike classes, maintaining your device, and safely using and caring for lithium-ion batteries. 
• Micromobility in MD Regulation Overview: Learn how different micromobility devices are defined and regulated in Maryland and where they can be used. 

Whether you already ride an e-bike or e-scooter or are considering one, these resources can help you understand your device and the rules for using it.

Learn more at mdot.maryland.gov/micromobility.

The BRTB Approves $981,827 for Projects in the Baltimore Region that Offer Transportation Alternatives

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) plays an important role by coordinating with MDOT and is responsible for selecting regional projects using funding set-aside by Congressional action for the region, and subsequently approving these funding allocations as part of its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), called RegionNext.

At its monthly meeting in July, members of the BRTB approved two transportation projects – funded with $981,827 from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP).

The TAP funded projects for Fiscal Year 2027 are listed below:

• 5th Avenue Southwest Feasibility Study - Anne Arundel County ($199,452)
• Eutaw Place Separated Bike Lane design project - Baltimore City ($782,375.88)

To learn more about these projects, you can view the July presentation to the BRTB.

Sign Up for Updates on RegionNext2055

RegionNext2055 is a long-range plan for how people and goods will get around this region over the next 20 plus years. Local and state leaders work together to shape the best mix of transportation projects to prepare our communities for the years ahead.

RegionNext2055 envisions a Baltimore region with safe, accessible, and affordable transportation options no matter how you choose to get around.

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is starting to build the RegionNext2055 plan, to be considered in 2027, and your voice matters.

The BRTB has also released a draft list and map of proposed projects for consideration in RegionNext2055, including a variety of active transportation, roadway, and transit projects. BRTB members submitted projects in mid-2026. The Baltimore Metropolitan Council team is currently working on project scoring and cost estimation.

As part of this process, the BRTB is developing a series of white papers and surveys on a range of topics related to the long-range transportation plan. Read the white papers and sign up to be notified when new papers are released here.

Get updates on opportunities to help shape the next regional long-range transportation plan here.

Maryland Highway Safety Office Helmet Distribution

Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) is in its second year of a Bicycle Safety grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration's Highway Safety Office (MHSO). The project aims to provide bicycle helmets to local and regional partners for outreach events, to increase the usage of helmets by riders of all ages. Applicants can request someone to be onsite at their event to help fit helmets and provide safety education.

Any interested partners can contact Cindy Burch (cburch@baltometro.org) or, if outside of the Baltimore region, Cynthia Spriggs at MHSO (cspriggs@mdot.maryland.gov).

Hickory Ridge Area Transportation Studies Public Meeting October 15

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15, at The Hawthorn Center (6175 Sunny Spring, Columbia, MD 21044) between 5 and 7 p.m. to discuss two ongoing multimodal transportation projects in the Hickory Ridge Area, the Hickory Ridge Road Pathway Design and the Cedar Lane Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities Feasibility Study. The meeting will be held in an open house format, with no formal presentation. Attendees may arrive at any time during the meeting. Click here to view a flyer for the meeting.

The Hickory Ridge Road Pathway Design project aims to provide pedestrian and bicycle connections along Hickory Ridge Road between Martin Road and Broken Land Parkway.

The Cedar Lane Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities Feasibility Study will evaluate the feasibility of providing pedestrian and bicycle facilities along Cedar Lane. The study area includes Cedar Lane from Owen Brown Road to MD-32, continuing along Sanner Road to Creekside Road.

Both of these projects stem from recommendations in the Hickory Ridge Bike Corridor Study.

After the meeting, all presented materials, and a public feedback survey will be available on this webpage. The survey will be open until Friday, October 30.

Montebello Elementary/Middle School INSPIRE Plan Meeting October 27

Baltimore City’s Investing in Neighborhoods and Schools to Promote Improvement, Revitalization, and Excellence (INSPIRE) program works with communities surrounding newly renovated 21st Century Schools to build on these major investments and identify additional neighborhood improvements.

INSPIRE plans include Primary Walking Routes, which identify improvements to sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps, and other infrastructure to make walking to school safer and more comfortable. Plans also include recommendations for improving quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods and $100,000 in capital funding per school for community-selected projects.

Planning is now underway around Montebello Elementary/Middle School. The Montebello INSPIRE Steering Committee recently reviewed more than 50 draft recommendations developed through previous plans, community walks, events, surveys, and other community input. Over the coming months, these recommendations will be refined as Baltimore City prepares the draft plan for adoption in 2027. 

A public meeting to review the draft recommendations will also be held Tuesday, October 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Montebello Elementary/Middle School (2400 E. 32nd Street). Attendees should use the entrance at the back of the school.

Learn more and view the meeting flyer here.

Public Meeting Held September 15 for Kindler Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Feasibility Study

The Howard County Office of Transportation is conducting a study to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Middle Patuxent River, creating a multimodal transportation connection between Kindler Road and Eden Brook Drive. A roadway and vehicle bridge existed in this location until the bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The existing asphalt has remained on both sides of the river, serving as a popular walking and bicycling pathway.

This project is funded through the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB)’s Transportation and Land Use Connections (TLC) program.

A public meeting was held on September 15 to discuss the concepts created for the feasibility study. Meeting materials can be found on the project page. A feedback survey was open until Friday, October 2.

Questions on the study can be directed to transportation@howardcountymd.gov. Subscribe to receive updates from the Office of Transportation on similar projects.

Celebrating Safety Enhancements along the US 1 Corridor

On Thursday, September 10, Maryland Department of Transportation, the State Highway Administration, and Howard County elected officials celebrated completion of a series of safety improvements at high-traffic US 1 intersections in the Elkridge and North Laurel areas of the county designed to enhance safety for all roadway users, including those who drive, walk, bike or roll.

The projects are the latest safety enhancements along the US 1 corridor meant to reduce roadway crashes in an area that has been a priority for the county. Between 2021 and 2025, the area of US 1 between Doctor Patel Drive and Brewers Court experienced 1,249 crashes with 15 fatalities and 390 injuries. Of those, pedestrians accounted for five fatalities and 41 injuries.

Improvements at the high-volume US 1 intersections with Doctor Patel and Rowanberry drives in the Elkridge area include traffic signal upgrades, installation of high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian-activated signals and new sidewalk connections, along with other safety features.

Next, the stretch from Gorman Road to the Prince George’s County line is slated for ADA-compliant sidewalks, shared-use paths, protected bicycle facilities, crosswalks, grass buffers, and safety lighting. The State Highway Administration anticipates bidding this fall and groundbreaking next spring.

To learn more, read the press release, the Baltimore Sun article, and visit the project page.

Share Your Thoughts on the Active Transportation Newsletter

Each month, the Active Transportation Newsletter shares updates on active transportation projects, funding and grant awards, opportunities to provide input, and upcoming public meetings. We highlight efforts to make it safer and easier to walk, bike, and roll in communities across the region.

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