Vision Zero Projects

The City of Rockville regularly plans and carries out transportation projects to improve safety for people driving, walking, rolling, bicycling, and using transit. While projects can often take several years between conception to implementation, some of the recently completed and ongoing projects include the following:

Pedestrian Master Plan

The Department of Public Works is currently engaged in developing a new Pedestrian Master Plan for the City of Rockville. Creating a pedestrian plan is one of the Vision Zero action items and is recommended in Rockville 2040: Comprehensive Plan. A pedestrian master plan provides an overview of the pedestrian network and identifies policy and infrastructure improvements to address unique issues faced by people walking and rolling. You can visit the Pedestrian Master Plan website to learn more about the project including status updates and contact information.

Baltimore Road

The Baltimore Road project includes roadway repaving and improved drainage, stream restoration, new sidewalks, and a shared use path along Baltimore Road between MD 28 (First Street/Norbeck Road) and the City limits.

Construction is nearing completion. New asphalt surface and pavement marking are underway and should be completed in May. Construction is expected to conclude before summer of 2023. More information about this project, including status updates and project manager contact information is available on the Baltimore Road project page.

Maryland Avenue

The Maryland Avenue road project created new bicycle lanes along Maryland Avenue and eliminated one motor vehicle travel lane between Great Falls Road and S. Washington Street. In addition to the new bicycle facility, this project includes reducing the posted speed limit and resurfacing the roadway. This project was completed in December 2021. Maryland Avenue project plans are available here.

Town Center Road Diets

The Town Center Road Diets project is designed to add pedestrian and bicycle facilities along N. Washington Street between MD 355 (Hungerford Drive) and MD 28 (Jefferson Street) as well as along E. Middle Lane between N. Washington Street and MD 355 (Hungerford Drive). This project will add new protected bicycle lanes and bike boxes along N. Washington Street and a widened sidewalk along E. Middle Lane among other improvements. The final plans for the Town Center Road Diets project are available here. Please contact Daniel Seo for questions at dseo@rockvillemd.gov.

The proposed sidewalk on the south side of E. Middle Lane between Gibbs Street and Maryland Avenue has been modified to accommodate the existing loading zone. Proposed revisions are available here.
By mid-August, the contractor, Ardent, is planning to complete final pavement markings on N. Washington Street and E. Middle Lane, weather permitting. During the pavement marking work, new traffic patterns are expected since the existing two travel lanes on the roadways will be reduced to one lane in each direction and new bike lanes and on-street parking spaces will be added.
After completing the pavement marking work, the contractor will start to work on precast concrete curbs for bike lanes, meter poles and related parking signage.
Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The city's contractor will comply with the Montgomery County noise ordinance.
Construction is expected to be completed by early fall.

Beall Avenue Protected Intersections

The City evaluated opportunities to improve the intersections of Beall Avenue & Maryland Avenue and Beall Avenue and Hungerford Drive (MD 355). This feasibility study was funded through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Regional Roadway Safety Program and assessed the feasibility of improving these intersections as well as the segments of Beall Avenue between Hungerford Drive and North Washington Street. Potential improvements being evaluated include roundabouts, raised crossings, signalization changes, and separated bicycle lanes, among others. These types of improvements are expected to help motorists travel at the posted speed limit and to help pedestrians cross Beall Avenue.

A virtual public meeting was held on May 18, 2023 to share information about this project and present an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to learn more, ask questions, and provide comments to the City. A recording of the meeting is available online. Additionally, the May 18 presentation slides are available online.

The completed study and the associated appendices are available online.

Fleet Street and Monroe Street Complete Streets

The City evaluated opportunities to create Complete Streets along Fleet Street between Maryland Avenue and Richard Montgomery High School and along Monroe Street between Fleet Street and East Middle Lane. Complete Streets are streets that provide facilities for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users so that everyone may travel safely. Potential improvements for these streets may include separated bicycle lanes, shared use paths, and signalization changes.

A virtual public meeting was held on May 4, 2023, to discuss the findings of this study and allow for residents and stakeholders to provide input, ask questions, or raise questions with City Staff. A recording of the meeting is available here. Presentation slides are available here.

The completed study and associated appendices are available online.

Shared Roadways

Shared Roadways are designated low-volume and low-speed roads where motor vehicle and bicycle traffic may share the same roadway space. The City of Rockville Bikeway Master Plan includes recommendations for 36 different roadway segments to be designated as Shared Roadways. Please contact Daniel Seo for questions at dseo@rockvillemd.gov.

Sidewalk Construction Feasibility

Sidewalk gaps are evaluated for feasibility according to the City's Sidewalk Prioritization Policy. Department of Public Works staff are evaluating the following six sidewalk gaps:

Frederick Avenue between N. Stonestreet Avenue and Westmore Avenue.
- View the Frederick Avenue Sidewalk Feasibility Plan.
Highland Avenue between S. Stonestreet Avenue and Grandin Avenue.
- View the Highland Avenue Sidewalk Feasibility Plan.
Monroe Street between New Mark Esplanade Trail and Dogwood Park.
- View the Monroe Street Sidewalk Feasibility Plan.
Nelson Street between Azalea Drive and Beall Avenue.
- View the Nelson Street Sidewalk Feasibility Plan.
Reading Terrace between S. Stonestreet Avenue and Grandin Avenue.
- View the Reading Terrace Sidewalk Feasibility Plan.
Wood Lane between N. Adams Street and N. Washington Street.
- View the Wood Lane Sidewalk Feasibility Plan.

The studies are evaluating the feasibility of constructing sidewalks only. This project does not include construction. Before any advances toward further design or construction, city staff will provide opportunities to discuss sidewalk projects with residents, nearby property owners or other interested groups.

Intersection Safety Audits

Two key action items in the Vision Zero Action Plan are related to improving intersections and crossings throughout the City of Rockville. The City has carried out intersection safety audits at five intersections in the City and evaluated traffic patterns; pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle counts; crash history; and the existing intersection geometry. The first five intersections to be studied include:

East Gude Drive and Taft Court
Edmonston Drive and Lewis Avenue
Wootton Parkway and Fleet Street
Wootton Parkway and Preserve Parkway
Wootton Parkway and Seven Locks Road

The intersection safety audits have been completed and staff has proposed improvements to address the causes of crashes at each intersection. Click here to view the proposed improvements.

There will be two virtual public meetings in May to share information and obtain comments, suggestions, and questions from the community related to the Edmonston Drive and Lewis Avenue intersection and the Wootton Parkway and Fleet Street intersections. Should you have any questions or comments about the other intersections, please feel free to email the project manager, Daniel Seo, at dseo@rockvillemd.gov.

Edmonston Drive and Lewis Avenue

A virtual public meeting was held on Wednesday, May 17. A recording of the meeting is available online. Slides from the presentation are also available online. If you would like to submit comments or have questions about the project, please feel free to contact Daniel Seo, project manager, at dseo@rockvillemd.gov. The public comment period will be open until June 30, 2023.

Wootton Parkway and Fleet Street

Leading Pedestrian Intervals

A leading pedestrian interval (LPI) is an advance WALK signal displayed for the crosswalk while red indications continue to be displayed to parallel through and/or turning traffic. The LPI is used to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles at intersections with high pedestrian volumes and high conflicting turning vehicle volumes. City staff implemented LPIs at the following intersections in Town Center:

MD 28/Monroe St: LPI to cross MD 28
MD 28/Maryland Ave: LPI to cross MD 28
MD 28/Washington St: LPI to cross MD 28
N. Washington St/E. Montgomery Ave/Courthouse Sq: LPI to cross N. Washington St.
N. Washington St/Middle Ln: LPI to cross N. Washington St
N. Washington/Beall: LPI to cross N. Washington St
E. Middle Ln/Maryland Ave: LPI to cross E. Middle Ln
Twinbrook Pkwy/Chapman Ave: LPI to cross Twinbrook Pkwy

Projects on State-Maintained Roadways

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is responsible for planning, designing, and constructing, and maintaining roadway projects on state-maintained roadways and rights-of-way. State-maintained roadways are designated by a number as well as a name, for instance, Rockville Pike, Hungerford Drive, and Frederick Road are all part of MD 355.

Veirs Mill Road & Atlantic Avenue Intersection Improvements

In fall of 2022, MDOT SHA installed hardened centerlines, flex-post curb extensions, signal back plates, and refreshed pavements markings at this intersection to help discourage motorists from using the right-turn lanes as through lanes, and to improve pedestrian safety.

Americans with Disability Act Sidewalk Improvements

There are two roadway segments along MD 355 in which ADA improvements, including rebuilding sidewalks and curb ramps will occur. The first segment is on MD 355 from Edmonston Drive to First Street, and the second segment is on MD 355 from Monroe Place to MD 28. These projects are planned to be advertised this coming fiscal year. Once plans and review meetings are completed, and permits secured, these projects will move forward to construction.