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Planning staff outline ARPA pedestrian projects, bus‑stop upgrades and concerns over Spring Hill Lake school move
Summary
Planning leaders described ARPA-funded pedestrian and bus‑stop upgrades (six new shelters, 29 concrete pads, solar lights), updates on Hanover Parkway shared‑use path and Greenbelt Station trail delays, and discussed coordination with Prince George's County schools on student walking routes for the Spring Hill Lake-to-Dora Kennedy transition.
Acting Planning Director Jamie Fear and staff told the council the department has advanced several ARPA‑funded mobility projects and other planning work but still faces funding and staffing constraints.
Staff said one of the ARPA projects — a pedestrian and bicyclist master plan and traffic‑calming measures for Greenbelt Center City — is in implementation phases that can be done in short and long terms. Ryan Sigworth said the city reserved $150,000 from ARPA for bus‑stop safety and accessibility improvements, which funded construction of six new bus shelters, 29 concrete pads for shelters and benches, additional curb ramps and the installation of solar light kits at both new and existing shelters. "We work very closely with Public Works on this project," he said.
Jamie noted the Hanover Parkway sidewalk gap reached 100% design and the Hanover shared‑use path is moving toward 90% design with staff expecting 90% plans for council review by late year; construction will await funding and final permitting. The Greenbelt Station WMATA Trail is paused after State Highway Administration review of 90% design plans; staff said SHA issued significant comments and the city is updating responses and the schedule before advancing to construction.
Council members raised safety questions about the Spring Hill Lake Elementary transition to Dora Kennedy and asked what the city can do to protect students who may walk different routes. Planning staff said they have requested a traffic and transportation plan from Prince George's County Public Schools, noted existing crossing guard and safe‑routes programs, and suggested walk‑to‑school events and coordination with Franklin Park management to address hazardous internal roadways.
Staff also described an on‑street parking study using GIS mapping to identify conflicts between bus stops and parked cars and to calculate how much parking removal would be required to make sites accessible. Where space is limited staff said they plan to use sharrows on corridors that cannot fit full bike lanes and to install daylighting at crosswalks to improve sight lines.
No formal actions were taken at the session; staff asked council for continued support on grant applications and to review 90% design materials when they are ready.
