Howard County Wins Transportation Cooperation, Collaboration Award For 'Go Howard' Program

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Chesapeake Chapter of the Association for Commuter Transportation has recognized the Howard County Office of Transportation's "Go Howard" program with the Transportation Demand Management Collaboration and Cooperation Award.

The office of transportation, along with the Downtown Columbia Partnership, were recognized for their program that encourages residents to use alternative modes of transportation while living and working in Howard County.

"This award is a testament to the transformational efforts of our Office of Transportation to ensure Howard County is a walkable and bikeable county, and proves that through meaningful and beneficial partnerships, like that which we have with DTCP, we can ensure our residents have what they need to live their best life. Not only are the programs and activities these two are hosting improving the quality of life for our residents, both inside and out, but they are also having a positive impact on our environment as well," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

The Go Howard program aims to reduce single occupancy travel and its impact by educating residents and local businesses about transportation options and alternative work arrangements. DTCP supports Go Howard by partnering with the office of transportation to host community events that bring attention the program.

Transportation-focused activities that feature incentives for biking and walking include:

• Cranksgiving – A food drive on two wheels held during the month of Thanksgiving, this annual event is designed to provide active recreation for residents, raise awareness about the county’s bikeable pathway system and generate food items for individuals and families in need. This year’s Cranksgiving will be Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at Azlon Plaza (6100 Merriweather Drive) in Downtown Columbia.
• Culinary Walking Tour – A Walktober event, this annual event takes participants on a three-mile walk showcasing the ease of walking to and from stores, while featuring some of Downtown Columbia’s favorite places to grab a bite to eat or drink to sip. This year’s sold-out walk attracted 250 participants and featured eight participating restaurants.
• BikeAround – A more than six-mile exploration of Downtown Columbia and its existing and evolving neighborhoods, this annual event showcases the physical connections that make alternatives to automobile transportation possible. This annual event included a block party that encouraged cycling and provided an opportunity for cyclists to develop a community.

"Partnerships are vital to moving our multimodal transportation efforts forward and we value the collaborative and creative approach the Downtown Columbia Partnership provides, particularly during and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate the recognition of these efforts and look forward to continuing to partner with DTCP and others to offer the public opportunities to get around Howard County on foot and by bike and bus," said Bruce Gartner, administrator of Howard County's Office of Transportation.