The Baltimore-Washington (B-W) Parkway opened in 1954 as a limited-access scenic highway owned and operated by the National Park Service (NPS). Today, the B-W Parkway serves as both a scenic gateway to the nation’s capital and a major commuter corridor. Increased commercial development accessed by the Parkway has resulted in significant daily traffic volumes and associated congestion and safety issues. The Parkway averages multiple accidents every day, and an average of six traffic fatalities occurred annually on the Parkway over the past five years. For these reasons, the NPS National Capital Region (NCR) has identified the B-W Parkway as a top priority for safety improvements.

Volpe provided technical support to NCR in developing the Baltimore-Washington Parkway Traffic Safety Plan, including making recommendations for innovative transportation systems and solutions. Recommendations balanced NPS’s need to conserve natural, historical, and cultural resources with the goal of improving safety and reducing traffic congestion. This plan incorporates the “4Es” of traffic safety—enforcement, education, emergency services, and engineering—as strategies for improving safety on the Parkway.

The development of the plan involved collaboration with a number of stakeholders, including the Federal Highway Administration, the Maryland State Highway Administration, regional governments, local employers, and other organizations involved in traffic safety advocacy, enforcement, and policy.

Final Report, June 2015
Baltimore-Washington Parkway Traffic Safety Plan (PDF)