Seeks to Make Retail-Residential District Safer and Friendlier for Pedestrians and Bikes
A project to make Rockville Town Center safer for pedestrians and bicyclists by calming traffic kicked off Nov. 21 as city staff and the city’s contractor discussed the construction schedule for the Town Center Road Diets Project.
At a kickoff meeting, city staff and the city’s contractor, discussed the construction schedule for the project, including a projected completion date of early fall 2023.
Ardent Company will construct the project. It will improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety by narrowing the two travel lanes on both North Washington Street and East Middle Lane to one lane in each direction, and by creating protected bike lanes, parking, and signage. The project will also widen the sidewalk on the south side of East Middle Lane between North Washington Street and Maryland Avenue. Ardent Company plans to order construction materials and begin small portions of the construction in January or February, depending on weather conditions and material availability. However, the major work will begin in March 2023.
As part of a Mayor and Council initiative, the project was developed through a consultant’s study of how to improve Town Center’s vitality. The study followed recommendations by a panel of Urban Land Institute experts who visited the city in July 2019.
The project is also one of several to improve safety for people driving, walking, rolling, bicycling, and using transit as part of Vision Zero, the city’s strategy to eliminate traffic and pedestrian fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy and fair mobility for all.
Find the project plan under “Vision Zero Projects” at www.rockvillemd.gov/visionzero. For more information, contact Public Works at [email protected].