The Baltimore region includes a number of small historic town centers that have developed with significant geographic constraints; these constraints can put stress on the transportation infrastructure, resulting in a number of challenges around access and safety. Ellicott City and Oella are examples of the many historic towns in the region that were first developed during the United States’ colonial period and are continually in the process of adapting its built environment to suit the needs of residents and visitors in the modern era. 

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council, on behalf of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, Howard County and Baltimore County, is conducting a multimodal transportation study for Ellicott City in Howard County and Oella in Baltimore County to address parking, wayfinding, and multimodal access. Although Main Street in Ellicott City is a unique downtown, some of the study’s proposed solutions may be used as a model for other historic towns in the Baltimore region.

• Collecting and analyzing data to develop an existing conditions report that details parking utilization for on-street parking and 14 public and privately owned lots within the study area;
• Collecting and analyzing existing pedestrian and vehicular signage within the study area; 
• Collecting and analyzing multimodal access including sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, shared-use paths, trails and bicycle facilities.