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. This project is currently under construction and will be complete in spring 2022. 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.

Beginning on or about Wednesday, February 22, Ardent, the construction contractor, will set traffic control signs, stake out the limits of disturbance and install erosion and sediment controls on East Middle Lane.
Detour signs will be provided during sidewalk work on the south side of East Middle Lane between N. Washington Street and Maryland Avenue.
Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The City contractor will comply with the Montgomery County noise ordinance.
Construction is expected to last through early fall.

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. The City has posted shared roadway signage for 50% of the recommended roadway and continues to install shared roadway signage. 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. Currently, Department of Public Works staff are evaluating the following five sidewalk gaps:

Frederick Avenue between N. Stonestreet Avenue and Westmore Avenue
Highland Avenue between S. Stonestreet Avenue and Grandin Avenue
Monroe Street between New Mark Esplanade Trail and Dogwood Park
Nelson Street between Azalea Drive and Beall Avenue
Reading Terrance between S. Stonestreet Avenue and Grandin Avenue
Wood Lane between N. Adams Street and N. Washington Street

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

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.