Shocked into action by the rising number of pedestrian accidents, Montgomery County, Maryland, convened a blue-ribbon panel in 2000 to explore the problem and provide solutions. Made up of citizen advocates, public planners, elected officials and representatives from the police and fire departments, the panel met throughout 2000 and 2001 before releasing a report in early 2002 with recommendations for making streets safer for pedestrians.
Chief among these recommendations was an addition to planning law requiring all developers launching new projects to produce a Pedestrian Impact Statement, evaluating their proposal for its effect on pedestrian safety and access. The criteria upon which projects are judged are connectivity, effect on the number of sidewalks and trails, and comparison with the community.s existing format. Additionally, the statements must include recommended improvements and account for additional costs incurred by accommodating pedestrians.
While developers are not required to act on the findings of their statements, the county believes that, by studying the impact of their projects on pedestrians, developers will be more likely to incorporate pedestrian-friendly elements into their designs. The county officially adopted a policy requiring Pedestrian Impact Statements in 2004.
Goal
Promoting Pedestrian Safety by Working With Developers