Montgomery County Receives $520,000 in Federal Funds for Intersection Safety and Community Engagement Efforts

For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 3, 2024

Montgomery County has been awarded $520,000 in Federal funding through the Federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The funds will be used to update the County’s Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan with community input and to implement the Safe Turns Demonstration Project, which will test the use of temporary, quick-build materials to sharpen driver turns to reduce unsafe turning speeds at 100 crash-prone intersections. The Federal funds will be complemented by a $130,000 County match. 

The Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan, which was launched in 2021, is part of a countywide effort to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. This latest round of funding will support a comprehensive update to the plan, set for 2025, as well as integrate community engagement in the process. 

"We are grateful for the support from the Biden-Harris Administration and our Congressional delegation in securing this critical funding to make our streets safer," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "This $520,000 Federal grant, along with the County’s $130,000 match, allows us to move forward with key updates to our Vision Zero 2030 Action Plan and to test new, quick-build safety measures at high-risk intersections. These efforts will make a real difference in reducing crashes and saving lives, especially in underserved communities. I want to thank everyone who helped make this possible." 

The Safe Turns Demonstration Project will use $280,000 of the funding to test quick-build safety measures at 100 high-crash intersections. The measures are designed to slow down drivers making turns, reducing the risk of collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. The project will focus on traditionally underserved communities and areas with a history of turn-related crashes. 

The Vision Zero Action Plan update, supported by $240,000 of the funding, will involve an intensive community engagement process and a review of the county’s traffic safety strategies. The goal is to ensure the action plan remains data-informed, equitable, and adaptable to emerging safety challenges. 

"The Vision Zero Action Plan is a roadmap to a safer future, and this funding allows us to make vital updates that reflect both the progress we’ve made and the areas where we still need improvement," said Chris Conklin, director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. "By testing innovative safety solutions at intersections and gathering robust data, we can continue to evolve our approach and protect the most vulnerable road users." 

Montgomery County’s Safe Turns Demonstration Project will be implemented with quick-build materials like flex posts and curb hardening. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of these safety measures through pre- and post-installation data collection, ensuring the program can be scaled to other intersections countywide. 

The Department of Transportation will oversee the implementation of the grant funds, to maximize safety for all road users. Implementation will begin in the next fiscal year, 2026, which begins July 1, 2025. Both efforts are part of a broader strategy to achieve the County’s long-term goal of zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2030. 

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on X, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter. 

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Release ID: 24-118
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282