Support safer streets, support the Walkable Urban Streets Act

Tell the Prince George's County Council we need safer streets and the Walkable Urban Streets Act.

Prince George's has many dangerous roads. The Walkable Urban Streets Act will help ensure safer street designs for everyone, especially people walking and biking near transit stations. The legislation updates and requires the county to implement safer street designs that it has already adopted - the 2017 Urban Street Design Standards. These standards provide people-friendly, slow speed, multimodal street designs, which are to be applied to Regional Transit Districts and Local Centers as designated in Plan Prince George's 2035.

The full County Council will conduct a public hearing and final vote on November 14. Ask the Council to support this important step towards safer streets.

Photo of slip lane at Hamilton Street and Ager Road, by Dan Behrend.

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Support the Walkable Urban Streets Act (CB 69, CR 67 and CR 68)

Dear [elected official],

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I wish to express my support for the Walkable Urban Streets Act, Council Bill 69-2023 and its companion resolutions CR 67-2023 and CR 68-2023. This legislation updates and codifies the 2017 Urban Street Design Standards, developed by county staff.

The Walkable Urban Streets Act is needed to address the county’s serious traffic safety challenges, while fostering walk- and bike-friendly places around transit stations and local centers. The Urban Street Design Standards, which provide people-friendly, slow speed, multimodal street designs, apply to Regional Transit Districts and Local Centers as designated in Plan Prince George’s 2035.

When the standards were created in 2017, they were not adopted into the county's Specifications and Standards for Roadways and Bridges of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T), which our permitting agency relies on for street design decisions. Thus the urban standards have only been partially and inconsistently applied to designated centers.

This legislation rectifies this gap by ensuring that county agencies are required to apply the Urban Street Design Standards around transit stations and in designated centers, and encourages their use in other appropriate locations.

We need full implementation of the Urban Street Design Standards to achieve the county’s goals for safer streets for all users, enhanced walk and bike access, and thriving mixed-use centers around transit stations and other designated hubs. The Urban Street Design Standards make streets safer for people by:

* 25 mph design speed maximum
* 2-4 travel lanes total roadway maximum
* 10' travel lane width maximum, and 11' for bus routes
* 15' corner turning radius maximums (and no slip lanes for high speed turns)
* Buffered walk and bike facilities 
* On-street vehicle parking

The Walkable Urban Streets Act will ensure the county is planning and building the streets needed for economic success and safer, people-oriented places.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, [Your information here]