$15M In Improvements To Help Protect People, Bicyclists Along Busy PGC Road

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — In an effort to reduce the number of deadly pedestrian-vehicle collisions along MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, the State Highway Administration will be completing $15 million worth of improvements along a 2.5-mile stretch.

MD 650 will be Maryland's first Pedestrian Safety Action Plan project that focuses on pedestrian, bicycle and multi-modal improvements. New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) is a six-lane roadway with a posted speed limit of 35 mph and average daily traffic of 70,000 vehicles.

"Between 2018 and 2022, this stretch of roadway experienced 1,019 crashes – 45 involving pedestrians. Ten of those crashes resulted in a fatality, eight of them involving a pedestrian," SHA Administrator Will Pines said during a groundbreaking ceremony.

"We are serious about safety. This segment of MD 650 in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties was identified as one of the high-risk roadways. This corridor has non-motorist serious injury crashes per mile that are 14 times higher than the statewide average, and fatal crashes per mile 11 times higher than the state average," Pines told Patch.

The planning phase for these projects was part of the state's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan development, which originated in 2021. The document was finalized and published May 2023, Pines said.

Pines told Patch that along the 2.5-mile stretch of MD 650 from University Boulevard to Powder Mill Road, the $15 million in safety improvements include:

• Upgrading pedestrian ramps, driveway entrances and bus stops to meet ADA standards;
• Improving traffic and pedestrian signals, as well as upgrading crosswalks at key locations;
• Installing new or improved sidewalks in certain areas and adding median fencing to deter pedestrians from crossing in the middle of the block;
• Installing new lighting, pavement markings and signage to make these features more visible and
• Cleaning and repairing existing inlets and storm drains.
• These are targeted safety improvements that immediately enhance safety for the community.

The State Highway Administration anticipates the new safety features will be completed in fall 2026, weather permitting.

“The only thing that rivals the description of the project’s esthetics are the tremendous safety and user benefits, enhancements for residents and, of course, another great connection between Prince George’s County and our neighbors in Montgomery County,” said Kevin Stephen, Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Government Infrastructure, Technology and Environment, during a groundbreaking event kicking off the project.

For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, visit Project Portal or the homepage at roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.