For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will be joined by Council President Evan Glass, members of the County Council and pedestrian and bicycle safety advocates at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 7700 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda for a bill signing ceremony of the Safe Streets Act of 2023. The bill was unanimously enacted by the Council on Sept. 19.
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The Safe Streets Act of 2023, which was led by Council President Glass, who chairs the Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee, is designed to create safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists on County roadways. The new law prioritizes pedestrians by extending walk times at crosswalks and prohibiting “right turn on red” at busy intersections in downtown areas. Additionally, to create safer routes to school, the new law requires infrastructure reviews following incidents in school zones, walksheds and bus stops that occur from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on school instructional days.
In 2022, 19 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed and 541 people seriously injured on Montgomery County roads. The County has already had 11 fatalities and 404 injuries involving pedestrians and cyclists in 2023.
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At the bill signing ceremony, County leaders will highlight the changes residents will see because of the law and describe the County’s comprehensive, strategic approach to reach Vision Zero’s goal of eliminating fatal collisions by 2030.
The full text of Bill 11-23 is available here.
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Media_Detail.aspx?NaID=5697