After nine years of Vision Zero, serious and fatal collisions are down 27%, according to the County’s Vision Zero mission statement. “This campaign is called Vision Zero because we believe that no one should die or be seriously hurt just trying to cross the street, get to school or drive to work,” said County Executive Marc Elrich.
Recently, its steering committee met to discuss the initiative’s future.
What You Need to Know
On Tuesday, Montgomery County announced the Vision Zero Fiscal Year 2026 Work Plan in a press release. Of the new safety improvements, a dozen bikeway projects are underway, with another 12 under design. Here’s what else is changing:
- County safety corridors along Montgomery Village Avenue, spanning Wightman Road to Midcounty Highway, and Bel Pre Road, from Georgia Avenue to Layhill Road.
- Pedestrian safety enhancement of $15 million on New Hampshire Avenue.
- 15 schools will undergo walkability audits along with at least ten bike rodeos.
- Safe Speed Corridor expansion along identified dangerous stretches.
- Five new miles of new sidewalk across the County.
Safety at School
Hand-in-hand with the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, the Vision Zero Youth Ambassador program is set to take a 2026 cohort. The Ambassador program is designed to “equip young adults to be the next generation of traffic safety leaders in their community,” according to the program website.
Since Vision Zero’s adoption in Montgomery County, MCDOT has been focusing infrastructure development along “priority areas in school zones and high injury corridors, and protecting pedestrians at busy intersections by adding crosswalks and banning right turns on red,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin.
The High Injury Network
The High Injury Network (HIN) covers the roadways with the “highest risk for serious injuries and fatalities.” Along the HIN corridors, serious injuries and fatalities are down 28%, according to Montgomery County Vision Zero Coordinator Wade Holland.
High Injury Network map via ArcGIS
“This year, we have the highest number of projects moving from design to construction since the inception of our Vision Zero Initiative,” Holland said.
Learn more about Montgomery County’s Vision Zero on the initiative’s website.
