Residents, community groups and local legislators urged county and state transportation officials to advance pedestrian, bicycle and trail projects in several Baltimore County corridors during the MDOT consolidated transportation program briefing.

Councilman Izzy Patoka asked for sidewalks on Old Court Road between Greenspring Avenue and Park Heights to serve a large Orthodox Jewish community and noted property owners willing to provide right-of-way. "Sometimes, pedestrian counts aren't always done during these weekends... I just wanna make you aware of that and ask that, we, lean into trying to identify a way to get these sidewalks completed on Old Court Road between Greenspring Avenue and Park Heights," Patoka said.

Susan Williams of the Pine Ridge Neighborhood Association pressed State Highway Administration and county staff to revisit a 2023 concept for Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, citing deteriorated sidewalks, ADA failures and pinch points that make it difficult for strollers and wheelchairs. "The ADA access along this corridor fails in almost every federal standard known," Williams said, asking for renewed staff attention to revise the concept plan.

Several speakers requested safety upgrades on Eastern Boulevard (MD 150) in Middle River and Essex, including medians, center turn lanes, signal upgrades and pedestrian enhancements. Baltimore County resident and business owner Dave Conrad thanked DPWT and SHA for recent operational and short-term safety improvements and asked for continued coordination as water-main work proceeds.

Nonprofit and trail advocates asked MDOT to advance Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area (BPPA) planning and complete design work for the Number 8 streetcar trail and a potential pedestrian bridge over I-695 that would connect Cadenceville and Southwest Baltimore communities. "These actions will complete Cadenceville's core trail network, enhance safety and accessibility, and connect the region's communities," said Bobby Kuznanski on behalf of Kingsville Rail-to-Trails partners.

State and county officials said they have applied for bikeways grants, are advancing design for specific trail segments, and will pursue grant funding for sidewalk and pedestrian projects. SHA noted planned resurfacing and bike-lane additions on Frederick Road and design work for pedestrian safety action plans on MD 150.

Officials requested continued communication with community groups on design details and timing and said some near-term operational fixes — speed-limit adjustments, foliage removal, markings and signals — are already in progress to address immediate safety concerns.