Maryland officials outline Vision Zero push, cite preliminary drop in 2024 roadway deaths and seek new authorities

Maryland Department of Transportation officials told the House Environment and Transportation Committee on Jan. 16 that the state is accelerating Vision Zero work — including implementing a strengthened Complete Streets policy, pushing for additional funding, and seeking new statutory authorities — after preliminary data showed 573 roadway fatalities in 2024, down from 621 in 2023.

Joe McAndrew, assistant secretary for project development and delivery at MDOT, told the committee the department has updated its Complete Streets policy and is now operationalizing implementation strategies so the state’s “default is to deliver transportation projects that are safe for everybody.” He said the administration’s budget proposal targets $40,000,000 in additional Complete Streets funding statewide and asked lawmakers to “hold us to account on the implementation.”

Motor Vehicle Administration Administrator Kristi Neisser, who also serves as the state’s highway-safety representative, cautioned the committee that the 573 number is preliminary while final crash reports are still being finalized, but she stressed the human cost behind the statistics: “These are not just numbers — these are members of our community and loved ones.” Neisser highlighted the state’s fatal crash dashboard, updated daily without personally identifying information, as a tool for local partners and planners.

MDOT officials said the Vision Zero effort combines three broad approaches: reorienting department business practices toward safety, piloting innovative engineering and demonstration projects, and seeking enabling legislation. McAndrew and Neisser described legislative concepts under consideration this session that would expand administrative tools to address unsafe drivers, including delaying license reinstatement for drivers with certain convictions tied to fatalities, allowing administrative exclusion of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders found to be over legal blood alcohol levels, adding the Motor Vehicle Administration to the state Cannabis Health Commission for emerging impairment issues, and expanding automated enforcement and speed-management authorities.

Tim Kearns, director of the Maryland Highway Safety Office and Vision Zero coordinator, described outreach to local jurisdictions and the launch last December of the Vision Zero committee created by prior legislation. He said the Highway Safety Office is funding local plan development and working with metropolitan planning organizations to bring smaller jurisdictions into the process. He also noted increased grant support for targeted enforcement and community programs aimed at impaired driving, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and other emphasis areas.

Officials pointed to several statewide tools intended to guide local and state action: the fatal crash dashboard (access at 0.md.gov), a statewide strategic highway safety plan and emphasis-area teams, local strategic plans encouraged by the Highway Safety Office, and the State Highway Administration’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and Vulnerable Road User assessment. MDOT also announced it recently received a five‑year NHTSA grant for $13,200,000 to support upgrades to Maryland’s crash and traffic data systems.

Committee members pressed MDOT leaders on specific topics including distracted driving data, automated enforcement data sharing, and how Vision Zero investments fit within the Consolidated Transportation Program. McAndrew and Neisser said the department will provide follow‑up data on distracted driving and reiterated that some of the proposed legislative changes are intended to give agencies more administrative tools to influence behavior beyond roadway design.

The agency officials emphasized that the Vision Zero effort will require continued interagency work, local partnerships, and sustained funding commitments. “We will lead and partner to turn over every stone we think will help reduce fatalities,” McAndrew said as MDOT closed its briefing.