Housing and Community Development Office: 7500 Maple Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.891.7119 301.270.4568 FAX Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday

The transportation planning process improves mobility and accessibility by working with the public to identify land use and travel patterns that affect traffic congestion and air quality. Information about use of roadways, bicycle paths, sidewalks, transit, and future land use development can help to predict travel patterns and transportation network use. Much transportation planning is done at a regional level because most travelers cross local jurisdictions, and because pollution concerns caused by vehicle travel are a region-wide problem.

In the Washington area, the Washington Council of Governments works with the Transportation Planning Board to prepare regional-level transportation plans.

Safe Roadways Committee

The Safe Roadways Committee advises the City Council on local, state and regional transportation related policies, programs and projects. The Committee also works to encourage alternatives to driving, including walking, bicycling, and use of transit. If you are interested in joining the Safe Roadways Committee, or would like further information about their activities, please contact the Housing and Community Development office at 301.891.7219.

Takoma Transportation Study

The City worked with the District of Columbia to prepare a small area transportation study. The Takoma Transportation Study addresses future expected traffic flows and recommends changes to address traffic congestion, pedestrian access and other issues.

Walkability Studies

In the summer of 2003, the City invited Dan Burden, a well-known expert on walkability issues, to assess the walking conditions in Takoma Park. A summary of his findings includes photos of current conditions and proposed changes for areas that need improvement. Click here to view Dan Burden's walkability website.

Walkable communities study. In 2005, State Highway sponsored four workshops to look at pedestrian safety on specific state highways, comment, and suggest solutions. Click here to read the report on these workshop solutions.

Takoma Junction Intersection Feasability Study

After the Dan Burden walkability tour recommended a mini-roundabout at Takoma Junction, at the request of the City, the State Highway Administration completed a feasibility study. This is only an initial step to address concerns at the Junction. Significant community comment and participation is expected in any design development. The City has requested that SHA develop a public process to solicit comments and options for intersection improvements at the Takoma Junction intersection (as per study recommendation).

Intersection Fesability Study
Attachment A: Signalized Operations
Attachment B: Concept "A" Roundabout Operations Worksheet
Attachment C: Concept "B" Roundabout Operations Worksheet
Attachment D: Truck Turning Movements

Montgomery County Transportation Planning

Montgomery County prepared a supplement to the Takoma Park Master Plan in 2001 that addresses pedestrian and bicycle routes in the City. They also prepared a Countywide Bikeways Functional Master Plan in 2005.

What can be done about transportation concerns in local neighborhoods?

The City recently changed the process to apply for traffic calming measures on residential City streets. This link describes the revised process.

Requests for sidewalks or traffic calming initiatives should be directed to your council person. If you have concerns about traffic or pedestrian safety on City streets or sidewalks, please contact the Police Department at 301.270.1100. Or, fill out an on-line form with the City's Action web tool.

If you have concerns about general circulation patterns, pedestrian safety, or traffic bottlenecks, please contact the City's Housing and Community Development office at 301.891.7119.

If you have concerns about street or sidewalk maintenance, parking, or regulation obstructing or overhanging sidewalks or roads in the City, please contact the Department of Public Works at 301.891.7633. Or, fill out an on-line form with the City's Action web tool.

If you see a traffic light or pedestrian signal that is out, please call the State Highway Administration at 410.787.7650. At two intersections, the County maintains signals: Flower Avenue and Piney Branch Road and Carroll Avenue and University Boulevard. For burned out lights at these intersections, please notify the County at 240.777.2190.

There are a number of State highways and roads in Takoma Park. These roads are maintained by the State Highway Administration. Call the Administration's Fairland Maintenance Shop to report pot holes, drain failure, and signage problems on any State Highway route at 301.572.5166.

State roads in Takoma Park include:

• Carroll Avenue (Route 195)
• Ethan Allen Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue (Route 410)
• Flower Avenue (Route 787)
• New Hampshire Avenue (Route 650)
• Piney Branch Road (Route 320)
• University Boulevard (Route 193)

For more information about State Highway maintenance and traffic studies, see the State Highway Administration web page.

What transportation planning resources are available?

Montgomery County has several types of resources.

• The Park and Planning Commission is responsible for most of the transportation planning in the County. Its transportation website includes data, task force recommendations, and master plans.
• The Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation is responsible for maintenance of roadways, sidewalks, and signals outside Takoma Park and for Ride On bus services. It is also responsible for signals at two intersections in Takoma Park (Flower Avenue and Piney Branch Road and Carroll Avenue and University Boulevard).
• The County has recently created a pedestrian safety initiative that includes public awareness campaigns and guidelines to improve safety conditions.

Many local non-profit groups also have an interest in transportation planning.

• Washington Area Bicyclist Association
• Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities
• 1000 Friends of Maryland
• Action Committee for Transit
• Coalition for Smarter Growth
• Citizens Alliance for Responsible Transportation
• Intelligent Transportation Society of Maryland
• Washington Regional Network
• Multi-Jurisdiction Pedestrian Safety Committee

What local transportation projects are being proposed or are underway?

In Takoma Park:

• The Metropolitan Branch Trail is an 8-mile shared-use trail that is partially constructed. The trail is suitable for bicyclists, pedestrians, and rollerbladers. It will connect with the Capital Crescent Trail to create a circular route through the District, Bethesda, Silver Spring and Takoma Park. The section of the trail that passes through the City has been completed.
• The Carroll Avenue Streetscape Project has been initiated to improve sidewalks, bicycle access, and pedestrian safety on Carroll Avenue from the border with Washington DC to Philadelphia Avenue and on Laurel Avenue.
• The Flower Avenue Traffic Calming Study considers options for improving pedestrian and traffic safety through traffic calming along Flower Avenue from Carroll Avenue to Piney Branch Road.
• The University Boulevard/New Hampshire Avenue pedestrian safety and resurfacing project will improve sidewalks, signals and crosswalks for pedestrians and improve ADA access. it will also add a fence to the center of the medians

Near Takoma Park

• Takoma Metro Station Redevelopment
• The Purple Line is a proposal to bring rapid transit (metro, light rail, or bus) to the corridor connecting Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Langley Park, College Park and New Carrollton.
  • The City of Takoma Park is a member of the Coalition to Build the Purple Line .
  • The local chapter of the Sierra Club has more information about the proposals.
  • The City's Light rail resolution shows the most recent City Council position on the project.

What public transportation options are available in Takoma Park?

• Map of bus routes in Takoma Park.
• Metrorail and Metrobus information is available from WMATA . These routes link Takoma Park with downtown Washington DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
• Montgomery County's RideOn bus service includes bus routes linking Takoma Park with Silver Spring, Langley Park, Rockville, Bethesda, and other parts of Montgomery County.
• Prince George's The Bus links Langley Park to University of Maryland Cheverly, Addison Road, and Ikea parking lot.
• The University of Maryland Shuttle-UM links Langley Park to Silver Spring and the University of Maryland.

What bicycle or pedestrian routes are available in Takoma Park?

• The Sligo Creek Trail is a paved, winding path through Sligo Creek Park that links new Hampshire Avenue and Piney Branch and connects to other stream valley park trails in Maryland.
• The Metropolitan Branch Trail is an 8-mile shared-use trail that is partially constructed. The trail is suitable for bicyclists, pedestrians, and rollerbladers. It will connect with the Capital Crescent Trail to create a circular route through the District, Bethesda, Silver Spring and Takoma Park. The section of the trail that passes through the City has been completed.
• The Long Branch Trail will eventually connect Flower/Piney Branch to New Hampshire Avenue and the Sligo Creek Trail. The portion outside of Takoma park has already been constructed.

What other transportation options are available in Takoma Park?

Takoma Park has one car-sharing option: Zipcar. If you sign up as a member, you get a special key to access their cars, trucks, and minivans parked in convenient places around Takoma Park and the Metro DC area. You pay an hourly rate, and the company pays for the car, insurance, and gas.