LESS DAYLIGHT INCREASES RISKS FOR PEOPLE WALKING: HOLIDAY SEASON BRINGS INCREASE IN PEDESTRIAN DEATHS AND INJURIES
BALTIMORE, MD (November 19, 2019) – With the approach of Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season, sponsors of Baltimore’s Look Alive pedestrian safety campaign want pedestrians and drivers to make safety a top priority during this risky time of year.
Regional transportation officials warn that November and December are the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians because of fewer daylight hours. According to the MDOT MVA Maryland Highway Safety Office, nearly 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities in Maryland occur in the dark, with one in three pedestrians killed at times with little to no light.
During the last two months of 2018, there were almost 400 crashes involving people on foot in Baltimore and the surrounding counties, resulting in 52 serious injuries and 13 deaths. Pedestrian crashes that result in fatalities occur most often between 6 p.m. and midnight.
“We know visibility plays an important role in pedestrian safety,” said Michael B. Kelly, BMC’s Executive Director. “That’s why we’re reminding everyone to be alert and on the look-out for one another, especially as it gets dark earlier every day.”
Beginning November 21, residents in the Baltimore metropolitan area can expect stepped up enforcement of traffic laws that protect people who are walking. Violators face fines ranging from $40 to $500.
The Look Alive campaign offers safety tips for drivers and pedestrians (see below). The campaign’s key safety tips include reminders for drivers to obey the speed limit and stop for people crossing the street. Pedestrians are advised to use the crosswalk and wear something light or reflective at night. Learn more about the program at LookAliveMD.org.
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STREET SAFETY TIPS
If you’re driving…
- Slow down and obey the speed limit.
- Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
- Be careful when passing buses or stopped vehicles.
- When turning, yield to people walking and biking.
- Look for bicyclists before opening your door.
- Allow at least 3 feet when passing bikes.
- Avoid using your cell phone and never text while driving.
If you’re walking…
- Cross the street at crosswalks and intersections.
- Use the pushbuttons.
- Wait for the walk signal to cross the street.
- Watch for turning vehicles.
- Before crossing look left, right, and left again.
- Be visible.
- Wear something light or reflective after dark.
- Watch out for blind spots around trucks and buses.
- Avoid using your cell phone when crossing the street.
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) was proud to co-host the 11th Annual Meet the Primes event with Baltimore County on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the Maryland Fairgrounds.
This procurement outreach event connects small and minority owned businesses (MBE/ SBE) to prime contract bidders.
Over 120 prime contractors, bidders and government buyers attended.
With onsite registration welcome, this free event was open to all to showcase their businesses to prime bidders seeking partners and sub-contractors. Attendees were asked to prepare a capability statement to present to exhibiting business representatives looking to meet MBE/SBE sub-contractors in the areas of Professional Services, Construction Trades, Architecture, Engineering and Other Business Services.
Attendees also had the opportunity to speak directly with companies in the “meeting cafe.” These pre-scheduled discussions allowed small business representatives to meet privately for five minutes with select government agencies and prime companies for a one-on-one discussion of their product or service. This undivided exposure to procurement officials, buyers and decision makers opens the door for new and lasting business opportunities.
Located in the section dubbed “Government Row,” BMC’s Baltimore Regional Cooperative Purchasing Committee (BRCPC) shared information about contracting opportunities, the interconnected nature of our region, and services offered to BMC members and the public. Other government entities on the Row included Maryland Department of Transportation – State Highway Administration, Maryland Department of Labor, and a host of community colleges, public schools, and government officials from Annapolis, Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford, Howard, and Prince George’s Counties.
BMC and the BRCPC look forward to continuing this event in 2020. We are proud of the opportunities Meet the Primes creates for small and minority owned businesses in our region to build new partnerships and access the buying capacity of our governments.
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The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) is soliciting proposals from a qualified consultant, or consultant team, with extensive experience in all phases of trail development – including concept, design and permitting – with the expertise in environmental, cultural/historic resource management, multi-modal transportation planning and economic/community development to provide preliminary engineering for one segment of the Patapsco Regional Greenway (PRG)
Proposals must be received by BMC no later than Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Written questions about this procurement should be sent to Regina Aris at raris@baltometro.org or 410- 732-8248 (fax) no later than Friday, October 25, 2019. Answers to questions will be posted on the BMC website no later than Wednesday, October 30, 2019.
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) seeks qualified firms or organizations to examine how changing mobility options, particularly the introduction of "new mobility" services, are impacting and are expected to impact the Baltimore region's roads, pathways and curb space, and how local government development planning and review processes can and should consider and evaluate these services.
Proposals must be received by BMC no later than Friday, November 8, 2019, at 2 p.m.
Written questions about this procurement should be sent to Don Halligan at dhalligan@baltometro.org o
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) seeks an accounting and/or auditing firm to perform a comprehensive audit of financial statements, a Single Audit and certified fringe and indirect rate calculation for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020; 2021; and 2022.
Proposals must be received by BMC no later than Monday, October 21, 2019, at 2 p.m.
Written questions about this procurement should be sent to Tamiko Knight at tknight@baltometro.org no later than Monday, September 30. Answers to questions will be posted on the BMC website no later than Wednesday, October 2.
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS TO EVALUATE THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE BRTB
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) seeks qualified firms or organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of current public involvement activities of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and to develop recommendations for improving public involvement in the region's transportation planning process.
Proposals must be received by BMC no later than Friday, October 11, 2019, at 2 p.m.
Written questions about this procurement should be sent to Regina Aris at raris@baltometro.org or (410) 732-8248 (fax) no later than Tuesday, September 24. Answers to questions will be posted on the BMC website no later than Friday, September 27.
| View the Request for ProposalS |
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) seeks qualified firms or organizations to provide professional services to develop a Carroll County Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that will complement the 2019 Amendments to the 2014 Carroll County Master Plan and the 2018 Freedom Community Comprehensive Plan.
Proposals must be received by BMC no later than Friday, September 6, 2019, at 2 p.m.
Written questions about this procurement should be sent to Bala Akundi at bakundi@baltometro.org or (410) 732-8248 (fax) no later than Friday, August 9. Answers to questions will be posted on the BMC website no later than Friday, August 16.
View the Request for Proposals
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) seeks qualified firms or organizations to provide professional services to develop traffic impact study guidelines in order to review impacts of proposed developments on the surrounding transportation network.
Proposals must be received by BMC no later than Friday, August 30, 2019, at 2 p.m.
Written questions about this procurement should be sent to Bala Akundi at bakundi@baltometro.org or (410) 732-8248 (fax) no later than Wednesday, August 7. Answers to questions will be posted on the BMC website no later than Friday, August 9.
Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, died today at the age of 72. "Speaker Busch's tireless advocacy for the Baltimore region made it a better place for all of us. His support and steadfast leadership will be missed throughout the entire state. Our condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this challenging time," said Executive Director Michael B. Kelly.
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council and the Baltimore Regional Fair Housing Group will host What's on Tap: Piecing It Together - Framing Affordable Housing Messages on May 6, 2019.
Building support for affordable housing opportunities in safe neighborhoods with access to good schools vexes stakeholders and government alike. Why is that, and what are the keys to successfully creating a platform where people can truly improve their lives?
In 2016, Dr. Tiffany Manuel, then with Enterprise Community Partners, teamed up with the Frameworks Institute to release You Don't Have to Live Here. That document was an exploration backed by focus group research of why so many common messages around affordable housing backfire and can actually lead to less public support. This past year, Tiffany and Enterprise and Frameworks released the eagerly awaited follow-up, Piecing It Together, which presents further focus group research and "distills and illustrates a set of practical recommendations" for addressing the issue more successfully.
Please join us on Monday, May 6th to welcome Dr. Manuel for a short presentation followed by a discussion on her latest research at our What's on Tap event at the Diamondback Brewing Company, under the smokestack.
Date: May 6, 2019
Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and a short presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Diamondback Brewing Company 1215 East Fort Avenue, #008 Baltimore, MD 21230
Details: This event is open to the public. Registration is free.
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