Challenge

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) launched its Model Complete Streets and “Serious About Safety” initiatives in 2023 to address fatalities and serious injuries to people who walk and bike. A statewide Complete Streets policy followed soon after, but it was important to the agency that the policy be backed up by a robust implementation program to create on-the-ground change.

Solution

Our team supported the Secretary’s Office at MDOT for the development and implementation of the Complete Streets policy. To do this, Kittelson first performed an audit of MDOT’s related guidance and policies to identify and prioritize documents that need updated for new policy alignment. As part of this audit, the team detailed sections of each document that require updates and shared the findings with MDOT’s six modal administrations—quasi-independent agencies that each oversee an element of the transportation system (e.g., highways, transit, aviation, etc.). We reviewed over 30 documents and provided MDOT with a prioritized list based on how relevant each document’s guidance was to achieving Complete Streets.

Next, Kittelson helped MDOT with important initial steps for implementing the statewide Complete Streets policy. Each modal administration was tasked with developing its own implementation plan. Kittelson fostered and fast-tracked development of these plans by creating a template and a list of key questions for the administrations to address. The team also worked with MDOT and the modal administrations to identify performance measures, implementation timelines, and key champions to progress the statewide policy.

Kittelson’s services ranged from facilitating working groups to directly writing implementation plans for agency review and approval. This task also included the development and delivery of hands-on training courses for agency staff, local governments, and MPO representatives, advocates, and elected officials.