Submitted by: Hal Metzler
Submitting Department: Public Works
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
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Letter of Support: "The Walkable Urban Streets Act", CB-069-2023, and the accompanying Council Resolutions CB-067-2023 and CB-068-2023
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council authorize the City to send a letter to the Prince George's County Council in support of CB-069-2023, and the accompanying?Council Resolutions?CB-067-2023 and CB-068-2023.
Furthermore, we request that an amendment to CB-069-2023 be considered to strike or revise the broad exceptions provided in lines 6-9 of the Bill, which is holdover language from current law (i.e., strike "except when costs shall be demonstrated to be disproportionate to the projected need, or when such facilities would?be inappropriate due to the nature of the project, including the context and character of the surrounding built and natural environment of the surrounding neighborhood or area").
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Summary Background:
CB-069-2023 will update and codify the County's 2017 Urban Street Design Standards. Codifying the previously adopted standards will require the County (DPW&T and DPIE) to implement those standards and build complete streets (i.e., streets safe for all road users - people walking, rolling, biking, taking public transit, and driving) in our regional transit districts and local centers (at least four of which are in, or adjacent to, the City of Hyattsville). Making our transit districts more walkable will also significantly improve the quality of life and safe access to transit for the increasing number of Hyattsville residents who live within these transit districts.
The County should adopt a policy and process that requires its planning and permitting staff to provide detailed information to decisionmakers about both the costs of investing in Walkable Urban Streets (e.g., the price of walkway/bikeway/roadway treatments, trees, benches, lighting, signage, etc) and the...
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