Rockville presents Vision Zero progress report; staff outlines sidewalks, bike lanes and intersection work

City staff on Feb. 3 presented a progress update on Rockville’s Vision 0 program and related pedestrian and bikeway master plans, outlining recent projects, design steps and federal grants intended to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on city streets.

Brian Barnett Woods, the city's Vision 0 coordinator and principal transportation planner, told the Mayor and Council that Vision 0’s goal is to “eliminate all serious injury and fatal crashes — so 0 fatal crashes, 0 serious injury crashes.” He said the program combines engineering, enforcement, education and policy work and that many projects require coordination with Montgomery County and the Maryland State Highway Administration.

The report summarized work across three plans: the Vision 0 Action Plan (adopted 2020), the Pedestrian Master Plan (2023) and the Bikeway Master Plan (2017). Staff said Vision 0 comprises 30 action items and that, for 2024, data from the Maryland State Police automated crash reporting system showed 15 serious-injury crashes and one fatal crash in Rockville; nine of those crashes occurred on state-owned roadways and the fatal crash involved a pedestrian.

Staff described ongoing and completed efforts, including: - Sidewalk program: feasibility studies, final design and construction sequencing for prioritized gap segments (Monroe Street cited as recently constructed). Staff said they are moving Group 1 sidewalk segments into implementation and beginning Group 3 feasibility studies this year. - Intersection safety audits: audits and small-scale changes completed or in progress; the city will use results to pursue larger projects and state coordination. Staff showed a traffic-calming installation at Wooten Parkway and Fleet Street as an example. - New crosswalk guidelines: a new, more flexible crosswalk policy is in use and will result in more crosswalk installations. - Bike facilities: projects in design or study on Martin’s Lane, North Washington Street, Manatee Street and East Jefferson Street; bike racks, bike corrals and “fix-it” repair racks are being expanded; counters to collect pedestrian and bicycle counts have been installed. - Grant-funded work: a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to study 30 intersections (10 city, 20 state roadways) and a Reconnecting Communities grant-funded study of a proposed pedestrian/bicycle bridge over rail tracks in Twinbrook. Staff said agreements with federal partners are complete and scopes are being readied for consultant procurement.

Staff also described coordination with the county and the state. They noted a recent state decision to lower the speed limit on Maryland 28 between Baltimore Road and Veirs Mill Road after a staff request; the new signs are expected by the end of March. Staff said many safety projects prioritize equity emphasis areas and regional activity centers and that they work with volunteer advisory groups (Bicycle Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advocacy Committee, Transportation & Mobility Commission).

Council members and the mayor praised the update and thanked staff and volunteers. The mayor noted that many follow-up questions submitted by council are included in the meeting packet Q&A. Staff encouraged residents to attend project-specific public meetings and to contact Vision 0 staff with suggestions.

The presentation included timelines for design and construction for identified sidewalk and bikeway segments and described next steps for grant-funded projects.