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*hb1504*
HOUSE BILL 1504
R1 6lr2124
HB 628/25 – ENT
By: Delegate Healey Delegates Healey, Allen, Anderson, Baker, Behler, Boyce,
Foley, Fraser–Hidalgo, Grammer, Guyton, Holmes, Jacobs, Korman, Lewis,
J. Long, T. Morgan, Nawrocki, Odom, Stein, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Highways – Sidewalks and Bicycle Pathways – Construction and 2
Reconstruction 3
(The Honorable Anne Healey Pedestrian Safety Act of 2026) 4
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Highway Administration to prioritize certain 5
funding for the construction and reconstruction of sidewalks and bicycle pathways 6
to sidewalks and bicycle pathways that are, or are adjacent to highways that are, 7
subject to a complete streets policy or another similar Vision Zero program; requiring 8
a local government to request certain funding from the Department of 9
Transportation in a certain manner; authorizing certain State funding for the 10
construction or reconstruction of sidewalks or bicycle pathways under certain 11
circumstances; and generally relating to the construction and reconstruction of 12
sidewalks and bicycle pathways. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Transportation 15
Section 8–630 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
2 HOUSE BILL 1504
Article – Transportation 1
8–630. 2
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(2) “Municipal corporation” means a municipality as defined in § 1 –101 of 4
the Local Government Article. 5
(3) “Urban highway” means a highway, other than an expressway, that is: 6
(i) 1. Constructed with a curb and gutter and an enclosed type 7
storm drainage system; 8
2. Located in an urban area and on which is located a public 9
facility that creates appreciable pedestrian traffic along the highway from adjacent areas; 10
3. Located within urban boundaries as defined by the U.S. 11
Census Bureau; or 12
4. Located within the boundaries of a municipal corporation; 13
and 14
(ii) Part of the State highway system. 15
(b) (1) Sidewalks shall be constructed at the time of construction or 16
reconstruction of an urban highway, or in r esponse to the request of a local government 17
unless: 18
(i) The Administration determines that the cost or impacts of 19
constructing the sidewalks would be too great in relation to the need for them or their 20
probable use; or 21
(ii) The local government in dicates that there is no need for 22
sidewalks. 23
(2) Sidewalks constructed under this section shall be consistent with area 24
master plans and transportation plans adopted by the local planning commission. 25
(c) (1) If sidewalks or bicycle pathways are constr ucted or reconstructed as 26
part of a roadway construction or reconstruction project, the Administration shall fund the 27
sidewalk or bicycle pathway construction or reconstruction as a part of the cost of the 28
roadway project. 29
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, if 30
sidewalks or bicycle pathways are constructed or reconstructed in response to a request 31
from a local government IN ITS ANNUAL PRIORITY LETTER FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S 32
HOUSE BILL 1504 3
CONSIDERATION FOR IN CLUSION IN THE CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION 1
PROGRAM UNDER § 2–103.1 OF THIS ARTICLE and the adjacent roadway is not being 2
concurrently constructed or reconstructed, the cost to construct or reconstruct the sidewalk 3
or bicycle pathway shall be shared equally between the State and local governments. 4
(3) If sidewalks or bicycle pathways within a sustainable community as 5
defined in § 6–301 of the Housing and Community Development Article are constructed or 6
reconstructed in response to a request from a local government IN ITS ANNUAL PRIORITY 7
LETTER FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S CONSIDERATION FOR INCLUSION IN THE 8
CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM UNDER § 2–103.1 OF THIS ARTICLE 9
and the adjacent roadway is not being concurrently constructed or reconstructed, the cost 10
to construct or reconstruct the sidewalk or bicycle pathway may be funded entirely by the 11
State. 12
(4) (i) This paragraph does not apply to a priority funding area that is 13
a sustainable community as defined in § 6 –301 of the Housing and Community 14
Development Article. 15
(ii) IN DETERMINING FUNDIN G FOR THE CONSTRUCTI ON AND 16
RECONSTRUCTION OF SI DEWALKS AND BICYCLE PATHWAYS UNDER THIS 17
PARAGRAPH FROM THE FUNDING PROG RAMMED FOR SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLE 18
PATHWAYS BY THE DEPARTMENT IN THE CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION 19
PROGRAM UNDER § 2–103.1 OF THIS ARTICLE , THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL 20
PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLE PATHWAYS THAT ARE, OR ARE 21
ADJACENT TO HIGHWAYS THAT ARE, SUBJECT TO: 22
1. A COMPLETE STREETS POL ICY, AS DEFINED IN § 23
2–112 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR 24
2. ANOTHER SIMILAR VISION ZERO PROGRAM UNDER 25
SUBTITLE 10 OF THIS TITLE. 26
(III) If sidewalks or bicycle pathways within an area designated as a 27
priority funding area under § 5 –7B–02 of the State Finance and Procurement Article are 28
constructed or reconstr ucted in response to a request from a local government IN ITS 29
ANNUAL PRIORITY LETT ER FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S CONSIDERATION FOR 30
INCLUSION IN THE CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM UNDER § 2–103.1 31
OF THIS ARTICLE and the adjacent roadway is not being concurren tly constructed or 32
reconstructed, and if the Administration determines that construction would not occur 33
under this section due to insufficient contribution of funds by the local government, the cost 34
to construct or reconstruct the sidewalk or bicycle path way shall be shared between the 35
State and local government as follows: 36
1. 75 percent of the cost shall be funded by the State; and 37
4 HOUSE BILL 1504
2. 25 percent of the cost shall be funded by the local 1
government. 2
[(iii)] (IV) If sidewalks or bicycle pathway s within an area 3
designated as a priority funding area under § 5 –7B–02 of the State Finance and 4
Procurement Article are constructed or reconstructed based on a determination by the 5
Administration that a substantial public safety risk or significant impedim ent to 6
pedestrian access exists and the adjacent roadway is not being concurrently constructed or 7
reconstructed, then: 8
1. The Administration shall categorize the sidewalk or 9
bicycle pathway construction project as “system preservation” and give corres ponding 10
funding priority to the project; and 11
2. The cost to construct or reconstruct the sidewalk or bicycle 12
pathway AND TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY RIGHT–OF–WAY may be funded entirely by 13
the State. 14
(5) If sidewalks or bicycle pathways are being constructed or reconstructed 15
in response to a request from a local government IN ITS ANNUAL PRIORITY LETTER FOR 16
THE DEPARTMENT’S CONSIDERATION FOR INCLUSION IN THE CONSOLIDATED 17
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM UNDER § 2–103.1 OF THIS ARTICLE and the adjacent 18
roadway is not being concurrently constructed or reconstructed, the local government shall: 19
(i) Provide public notice and opportunities for community 20
involvement prior to the construction of a sidewalk or bicycle pathway project; and 21
(ii) Secure any necessary right–of–way that may be needed beyond 22
the right–of–way already owned by the State. 23
(6) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, after 24
sidewalks and bicycle pathways are constructed under this section, they shall be 25
maintained and repaired by the political subdivision in which they are located. 26
(ii) Subject to approval and the availability of funds, the 27
Administration promptly shall reimburse a political subdivision for the preapproved and 28
documented costs incurred in reconstruc ting a segment of a sidewalk or bicycle pathway 29
that has deteriorated to the extent that repair is not practical or desirable for public safety. 30
(d) The Administration may not construct any project that will result in the 31
severance or destruction of an e xisting major route for pedestrian transportation traffic, 32
unless the project provides for construction of a reasonable alternative route or such a route 33
already exists. 34
(e) The Administration shall develop guidelines jointly with local governments to 35
carry out the provisions of this section. 36
HOUSE BILL 1504 5
(f) The Administration shall maintain and repair all facilities for nighttime 1
illumination that: 2
(1) Are constructed by the Administration for the safe conduct of vehicular 3
traffic; and 4
(2) Exist adjacent to urban highways. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
October 1, 2026. 7
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.