Press Releases
Montgomery County Executive Elrich Names Wade Holland as New Coordinator of County’s Vision Zero Program and Addresses Next Steps in the Initiative to Keep Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Drivers Safe
For Immediate Release: Monday, January 27, 2020
The new coordinator, who was selected after a wide search, was introduced in Rockville. Holland has been an employee with the County’s CountyStat Office for the past six years, with a focus on public safety and transportation issues. For the past three years, he has served as the part-time coordinator of the County’s Vision Zero Steering Committee. He holds a Master of Public Policy Degree from American University, with a specialty in advanced policy analysis.
The Vision Zero Steering Committee, consisting of representatives from a variety of County departments and agencies, has worked to create and implement the 2020 Vison Zero Action Plan. The plan was built with input from key Vision Zero departments to continue implementing roadway improvements and coordinated education and enforcement campaigns. As the fulltime coordinator, Holland will oversee the Vision Zero efforts as a staff member of the County Executive’s Office.
The Vision Zero Action Plan can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/t4ajvpo.
County Executive Elrich said he wanted the Vision Zero Initiative, under Holland’s direction, to implement programs in new ways.
“There are high-tech programs that we are working on that are expensive and take time,” said County Executive Elrich. “I also want to start looking at low-cost projects that we can do fast. We need projects like intersections with wider corners for pedestrians. We need bright lighting at targeted locations—like intersections—to make sure drivers can see pedestrians. We know that human nature will have people trying to cross at mid-block so we need to consider putting in more mid-block crossings in urban areas of the County. I like the HAWK signals that flash red and force drivers to stop. I know this is a team effort and it takes time, but we need to have programs that get people to change their behavior.”
County Executive Elrich on Jan. 15 presented to the County Council his recommended six-year CIP that includes $266.6 million for projects that directly relate to the Vision Zero program. Those recommendations include increases of $9.3 million for pedestrian safety initiatives, $4.5 million to improve mobility and safety around future Purple Line stations and $4.2 million for Sidewalk Program minor projects.
“Now that the County Executive has challenged us to do things in new ways, I want the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan to be the floor of what we will do in 2020 and find even more opportunities to make our roadways safer,” said Holland. “I appreciate the County Executive’s confidence in me, but I much more appreciate his commitment to support all of the work we have been talking about and planning for. He wants us to make a difference and that is what we intend to do.”
The video of the event in Rockville can be viewed at https://youtu.be/KfF2o4m5VMY.
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Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-6532