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On Monday, Sept. 14, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Natali Fani-González, and Councilmember Kate Stewart were joined by Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Chris Conklin and other community leaders for a ceremony to mark the completion of phase one of the McComas Avenue Greenway project in Wheaton.
You can watch the ceremony on the County’s Facebook page and view pictures on the County’s Flickr page.
This project is an effort to establish more Neighborhood Greenways, streets with low motorized traffic volumes and speeds, designed and designated to prioritize walking and bicycling over traffic speed. As part of phase one construction, MCDOT crews implemented a series of upgrades designed to slow cars down throughout the neighborhood, making it safer to walk and bike.
“We are prioritizing projects that will reduce speeding, cut down on crashes, and make streets work better for everyone,” said County Executive Elrich. “We want residents to feel like they can safely walk to the amenities that are nearby and feel connected. Neighborhood Greenways like McComas Avenue have been shown to reduce total traffic deaths and serious injuries by 30%, and pedestrian deaths and serious injuries by almost one-third. Slower roads save lives and make our communities safer and more accessible for everybody.”
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The initial 1.2-mile project area spans McComas Avenue from St. Paul Street to Georgia Avenue and includes segments along Douglas Avenue, Windham Lane, and Drumm Avenue. The neighborhood is located near Westfield Wheaton Mall.
“This is a victory,” said Council President Fani-González. “It was done because neighbors got together and advocated for places that are safe for people to walk, bike, roll, take transit, and drive. People with all abilities should be able to mobilize in their communities, and sidewalks are part of the connectivity that helps people move around. I am proud to live in a community that understands how important that is.”
McComas Avenue was designated a Neighborhood Greenway by the 2018 Montgomery County Bicycle Master Plan.
Key improvements completed in Phase 1 include:
McComas Avenue Corridor:
- Construction of raised intersections and raised crosswalks, including dedicated traffic-calming elements at the entrance of Stephen Knolls School.
- Installation of curb extensions and splitter islands to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and slow down turning vehicles.
- High-visibility crosswalk striping and painted bike sharrows (pavement markings indicating the road is shared with cyclists) to highlight pedestrian and cyclist movements.
- New sidewalk connections and curb ramp reconstructions to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards.
Drumm Avenue Intersections:
- Installation of roadway speed humps and curb extensions.
- Crosswalk re-striping and ADA-compliant curb ramp upgrades.
- Sidewalk connection to close pedestrian pathway gaps.
“This has been a top issue with residents for years,” said Councilmember Stewart, who represents District 4, where some of the improvements are being made. “It’s about getting out of our houses and not automatically getting into our cars but walking in our community. This project is bigger than what was originally planned because that’s what neighbors wanted. It is about listening to what we need here and delivering on that. Today, our Department of Transportation is delivering for the residents of this community.”
Work on this project began after the pandemic, when residents recognized the need for additional travel options beyond driving.
“The McComas Avenue Greenway project was designed and constructed in close cooperation with the residents within this community,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Based on recurring feedback, the project team expanded the McComas Avenue Neighborhood Greenway project limits beyond Georgia Avenue to connect with the future Amherst Avenue Bikeway to provide safe, continuous access to employment, residential, and retail centers in Wheaton. We are grateful to our residents for their active participation, as we work to develop a transportation infrastructure that is safe, equitable, and accessible.”
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During the design phase, MCDOT collected resident feedback through multiple public meetings, a community survey, and by email. More than 200 community members provided input, which helped guide the final design plans. MCDOT partnered with the Kensington Heights Civic Association to promote engagement throughout the project.
One parent at the press conference thanked County leaders and MCDOT for the improvements, noting that these improvements allow his daughter to now walk to Oakland Terrace Elementary School from their home on McComas Avenue.
Phase two of the project, which is expected to begin later this year, will construct an additional 0.10 miles of greenway infrastructure to connect the McComas Avenue Greenway to the planned Amherst Avenue Bikeway. Once linked, the network will provide residents with continuous pedestrian and cyclist pathways to the regional transit system, including RideOn and MetroRail, and to the Wheaton Central Business District.
For more information on MCDOT roadway safety projects and the countywide Vision Zero initiative, visit Projects – Department of Transportation – Montgomery County, MD.
Additional information about MCDOT programs and services is available on the MCDOT website. Follow @MCDOTNow on X, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.
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Read the original article at mcgov
