County Executive Marc Elrich to Join County Council Vice President Evan Glass in Wheaton for Vision Zero Event to Focus on Pedestrian and Street Safety

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 11, 2022

Saturday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will Join Council Vice President Evan Glass on Saturday, Feb. 12, for his third annual event highlighting the importance of “Vision Zero” programs to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities. Special guests at the event in Wheaton will include National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and other elected officials from Montgomery County.

“We continue to focus our efforts to improve pedestrian safety through our Vision Zero programs,” said County Executive Elrich. “Montgomery County is working hard toward preventing traffic accidents and deaths. Our Vision Zero efforts are designed to eliminate serious and fatal collisions. We are making progress, but there is still much more to do. I appreciate Council Vice President Glass’ partnership, advocacy and leadership on this issue. By working together, we are making the right policy and budget decisions in order to save lives.”

Montgomery County is one of the first County governments in the United States to initiate a Vision Zero plan. 

“For too long we’ve considered pedestrian and cyclist traffic injuries as inevitable side effects of modern life,” said Council Vice President Evan Glass, a member of the Transportation and Environment Committee. “But the reality is that we can and must prevent these tragedies by taking a proactive approach to reimagining our roads so that they work for all users.”

The event will take place at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Randolph Road in Wheaton, an intersection where a 59-year-old woman was recently killed by a hit-and-run driver. The Veirs Mill Road corridor, which carries approximately 43,000 cars per day, is home to mostly Latino immigrant communities and businesses and has seen an alarming increase in pedestrian-related incidents. Montgomery County’s Vision Zero initiative calls for eliminating serious and fatal collisions on County roads for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists by 2030. 

Who: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council Vice President Evan Glass, Congressman Jamie Raskin, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy Federal, State and local leaders

What: Vision Zero Walk 2022

Where: 12207 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton (Korean Korner parking lot)

When: Saturday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. 

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Media Contact: Barry Hudson 240-300-7348