The 1.5-mile project, under the direction of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA), enhanced safety and improves traffic flow for all road users while supporting future development along the busy US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) corridor. Construction for the $56.9-million project in College Park, Maryland, began in 2020 and was completed in November 2024.

Existing Conditions and Safety 

Pedestrian and bicycle safety is paramount along the corridor, especially in the vicinity of the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) campus. Aesthetic improvements were also important to establish US 1 as a gateway to the city and the UMCP campus. The existing typical section of US 1 was a five-lane undivided roadway with a center turn lane and no shoulders. The existing roadway was aligned with businesses and medium-density residential neighborhoods, while the existing sidewalk along US 1 was not continuous and possessed no bike lanes.

Complete Streets Improvements

The improvements along the corridor consisted of roadway widening with 11-foot travel lanes and a five-foot, bicycle-compatible shoulder in each direction to accommodate on-street bicyclists. In addition, the existing five-lane section was converted to a four-lane section with a raised landscaped median, varying in width between six feet and 16 feet. Kleinfelder’s team helped to evaluate that all sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, driveway entrances, and bicycle facility designs comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Kleinfelder served as the design engineering lead for roadway design, retaining walls, drainage system upgrades, stormwater management facilities, traffic signal upgrades, signage and pavement markings, and lighting. The team conducted extensive project coordination efforts with SHA, UMCP, the City of College Park, property owners, and local utility companies, while working to obtain approvals and permits from local, state, and federal agencies.

Project Results

The US 1 reconstruction project creates a complete streets environment, which supports and enhances future developments and improves traffic operations and safety for vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and micro-mobility users along the corridor. Improvements include roadway widening with a raised landscaped median, bicycle lanes in each direction, grass-buffered sidewalks, and upgraded traffic signals and lighting.

Project Details

Location:
Prince George’s County, MD
Owner:
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration