• Release ID: 07-068
• Release Date: 7/3/2007
• Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-7939 or Jean Arthur240-777-7934
• From: Council Office

Montgomery Council Approves Measures That Will Lead to Road Code Revisions

Guidelines for New or Reconstructed Roads in Subdivisions Will Help Protect Pedestrians, Improve Stormwater Runoff

ROCKVILLE, July 3, 2007—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved measures that will lead to comprehensive revisions to the County’s Streets and Roads Code. The eventual changes to street and road design, construction and regulations are intended to have considerable impact in future subdivisions, including the creation of streets that will be safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and standards that will improve stormwater management.

Eight worksessions were held on the proposal since it was introduced by Councilmember Nancy Floreen in December. Council President Marilyn Praisner and Councilmembers Valerie Ervin and Duchy Trachtenberg were co-sponsors of the bill.

The Council today approved default standards that will now go to the County’s executive branch for consideration. The executive branch will have up to one year to approve of the standards approved by the Council or to offer alternative standards. If the executive branch proposes different standards, the Council will then have three months to consider them.

Among the major standards that would be revised by the bill passed today are ones that would reduce the widths of newly constructed or reconstructed neighborhood and business district streets to widths that would naturally reduce the speed of traffic and shorten the distances that would be required for pedestrians to cross a street. Another aspect of the bill promotes street trees. An amendment proposed by Councilmember Roger Berliner and eventually included in the bill will limit the amount of time a sidewalk or curb lane could be closed due to adjacent construction.

“The new standards require that road construction respects the needs of all users, not just motorists,” said Councilmember Floreen. “Flexible rules create context sensitive streets that give attention to the needs of bicyclists, stormwater management, pedestrians and community design. I am thrilled by the County’s innovative thinking on these issues, and I am confident our residents will find future roadways much more responsive to our diverse needs.”