Baltimore County, MD - Jan. 10, 2018 - Thanks to the advocacy of Councilwoman Vicki Almond and her team, the dedicated efforts of PGCC (Pikesville Greenspring Community Coalition) as well as many neighborhood residents, an exciting update is being made to the traffic lights along Smith Ave. This change will go into effect this Shabbos, January 13th, Parshas Bo. Whereas traffic lights typically require a button press for the crosswalks to indicate it’s safe to cross, beginning this week the traffic lights along Smith Ave at the corners of Pimlico, Greenspring, Sanzo, Labyrinth, and Seven Mile will be programmed to cycle automatically every Friday night/Shabbos so that Shomrei Shabbos  pedestrians can safely cross the street. 

These exciting changes come after many months of efforts by the Councilwoman’s office working with the administration and several community groups. The effort, which was undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, is part of a larger initiative to balance safety, engineering, and practical considerations while exploring ways to improve pedestrian safety in the neighborhoods on and around Smith Ave. The results are a thrilling example of community, elected officials, and county government working together for the benefit of Baltimore County residents.  Commenting on this announcement, Councilwoman Vicki Almond said “As our community changes, county government must adapt to its changing needs. I am committed to making Baltimore County work for everyone and this is a simple solution that improves the quality of life for so many of my constituents.”

As we often hear calls to express concerns to public officials and government, it’s equally important to express gratitude at a time like this. Please consider forwarding your thanks and gratitude to any or all of the following:

Councilwoman Vicki Almond - council2@baltimorecountymd.gov    
Baltimore County Department of Public Works - publicworks@baltimorecountymd.gov
Pikesville Greenspring Community Coalition - EllenStein@pgccinc.org