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Dual Highway Demonstration Safety Project
Smart Growth America and the Maryland Department of Transportation are teaming up with the City to install temporary safety improvements on a section of Dual Highway. The goal is to reduce accidents and enhance pedestrian safety.
What is the purpose of this project?
The section of Dual Highway between Cannon Avenue and Cleveland Avenue was identified as a roadway segment that has had a rate of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists that is much higher than the statewide average. Between 2015 and 2020 there were a total of 88 crashes in this segment; thirteen of the crashes involved pedestrians, three involved bicycles, and there was one pedestrian fatality. The demonstration project will attempt to reduce the number of crashes through speed reduction and improved pedestrian facilities.
What specific facilities will be installed as part of the project?
Temporary speed humps will be installed on westbound Dual Highway to lower vehicle speeds as they approach Cannon Avenue. Flexible delineator posts will be installed along the edges of the road to limit the use of the roadway shoulders, and to make the roadway feel narrower for drivers. The eastbound left turn lane on Washington Street approaching Cannon Avenue will be closed, improving pedestrian visibility at that intersection; the crosswalks on Cannon Avenue at Washington Street and Franklin Street will be upgraded to be more visible.
When will the demonstration project be installed?
The installation of the temporary safety facilities will occur in August 2024, and will remain in place until November 2024.
What results are expected from this project?
Data will be collected before and after the installation of the facilities to measure how much of a reduction in vehicle speeds is achieved, and to observe pedestrian patterns under this temporary configuration. The Maryland Department of Transportation will then analyze the results, and determine whether these temporary facilities should be reinstalled as a permanent safety improvement along Dual Highway. The crosswalk improvements on Cannon Avenue will remain in place permanently.
What results are expected from this project?
Data will be collected before and after the installation of the facilities to measure how much of a reduction in vehicle speeds is achieved, and to observe pedestrian patterns under this temporary configuration. The Maryland Department of Transportation will then analyze the results, and determine whether these temporary facilities should be reinstalled as a permanent safety improvement along Dual Highway. The crosswalk improvements on Cannon Avenue will remain in place permanently.
How is the project funded?
Funding for the project is from the Maryland Department of Transportation, administered by Smart Growth America. Up to $25,000 in funds have been made available to complete the demonstration project.
Public input:
The City would like to get feedback from the public on the demonstration project. What impact has the project had as you travel through this corridor, either in a vehicle, on a bicycle, or on foot? Do you feel that the temporary facilities have improved safety on this section of Dual Highway? What do you dislike about the project? Would you like for some or all of these improvements to become permanent? If you would like to make a comment, please email jbender@hagerstownmd.org.
For more information, please visit the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets Leadership Academy webpage: