At its monthly meeting, members of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) approved support for six local planning projects that work to improve roadway safety across the region. The projects will receive $480,000 total in short-term consultant assistance as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 TPB Regional Roadway Safety Program (RRSP).

The program offers consultant assistance up to $80,000 for planning projects and up to $100,000 for design projects that address roadway safety issues and contribute to a reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes. This is the fifth round of funding since the program’s inception in 2020.

The program’s funding priorities encompass enhancing safety in traditionally underserved communities, promoting better road user behavior, advancing safety data comprehension, and implementing cross-jurisdictional safety measures.

All six projects are located within or will benefit Equity Emphasis Areas (EEAs), census tracts in our region with high concentrations of underserved communities, such as low-income individuals and/or traditionally disadvantaged racial and ethnic population groups.

The following projects were approved for funding: 

MARYLAND

Jefferson Street Engineering
City of Frederick, $100,000

This project builds upon a project funded in FY 2024 to provide multimodal safety improvements along a main corridor in the City, Jefferson Street. A crash has occurred along Jefferson Street every 45 days for the past five years. This follow-on project will advance the recommendations from the ongoing study towards 30 percent design.

Randolph Road Safety Improvement Project
Montgomery County, $100,000

This project will develop preliminary engineering designs of safety improvements proposed for Randolph Road, an arterial that has a history of serious injury and fatal crashes and is identified in the County's High Injury network. The corridor serves multiple Equity Emphasis Area communities, and the proposed improvements include corridor access management, strategic lane width reduction, improved pedestrian crossings, enhanced corridor access management, and ADA compliance for sidewalks, ramps, and crosswalks.

Study of Proactive Approaches to Transportation Safety: Exploring near-miss data and innovation technologies
Prince George’s County, $40,000

This project will conduct a study of methods for collecting, analyzing, and using data related to “near miss” crashes. According to the Federal Transit Administration, a “near miss” is defined as an event that has the potential to lead to injury, fatality, or physical damage but that is not actualized. Prince George’s County hopes that the findings from this study will allow it proactively explore areas of safety concern beyond its high injury network.

VIRGINIA

Seminary Road Safety Improvements
City of Alexandria, $80,000

This project will identify and develop conceptual designs for safety improvements along Seminary Road, a high-crash corridor that serves an Equity Emphasis Area community and falls within the one-mile walkshed for two elementary schools. Potential corridor enhancements may include new crosswalks, lane modifications, sidewalk improvements, and bus stop improvements, among other treatments.

S. George Mason Drive and S. Four Mile Run Drive Intersection Alternatives Analysis
Arlington County, $80,000

This project will evaluate the feasibility of two alternative designs for the intersection of S. George Mason Drive and S. Four Mile Run Drive, a complex intersection where two major arterial roads, a neighborhood street, and the W & OD trail cross. One of the alternatives would be a peanutabout, a peanut-shaped roundabout. The intersection has been identified as a County Vision Zero Hot Spot because of its high crash rate, and it was highlighted by the community through public outreach for its safety concerns.

Wilson Boulevard Safety Improvements
City of Falls Church, $80,000

This project will develop conceptual design plans for multimodal improvements along Wilson Boulevard in the City of Falls Church, between the Arlington Boulevard service road and John Marshall Drive/ N McKinley Road. The corridor has experienced several crashes resulting in serious injuries and a fatality, and it serves an Equity Emphasis Area. The city intends to coordinate the project with the planned Route 7 BRT service as well as the Seven Corners Ring Road project.