Community Corner

Discuss Bicycle, Pedestrian Priority Area Designation In Elkridge At Upcoming Meeting

Residents are invited to a meeting to discuss one of 15 bicycle and pedestrian priority areas, this one in Elkridge.

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Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

ELKRIDGE, MD — Residents are encouraged to attend a public meeting to discuss a designated bicycle and pedestrian priority area in Elkridge. There are 15 designated BPPAs across Maryland.

The State Highway Administration teams up with local transportation agencies to prioritize safety and accessibility for bicyclists and people by establishing BPPAs. The Elkridge BPPA would include a variety of sites that are key cyclist and pedestrian destinations in the area, including the HCLS’s Elkridge branch and the county’s Department of Community Resources and Services’ Office on Aging, as well as and Independences’ Elkridge 50+ Center, Howard County Public School System’s Elkridge Elementary School and Elkridge Landing Middle School, various shopping centers and restaurants, and highly populated neighborhoods.

Officials say that the new 65,000 square foot Elkridge Community and 50+ Center in the Elkridge Civic District also would support the need for safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian connections in the area.

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However, there are major obstacles within the BPPA, like US 1, which bisects the BPPA and separates the Elkridge community from accessing key amenities and resources.

In 2018, the county's final report evaluating the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians near US 1 identified that stretch of road as a key area to focus on due to crash history, particularly collisions involving people. There have been three pedestrian fatalities along this stretch of US 1 in recent years, officials noted.

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“As one of the oldest towns in Howard County, Elkridge has a long history of providing important transportation connections for our state and region. Today, Elkridge is a major center of population and employment in Howard County, and we recognize the need for enhanced pedestrian, bicyclist and safety improvements for our Elkridge community,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Through the BPPA study and plan, we are committed to working with our state partners to identify and advance shared projects to ensure greater safety, accessibility and connectivity for this vibrant community.”

The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Howard County Library System’s Elkridge branch.

SHA has designated the following BPPAs:

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