# Subtitle 40 – Complete Streets

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## Part I – Definitions; Applicability

### § 40-1 Definitions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-1 (2026)

(a) In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Complete Streets” means a transportation philosophy that calls for streets to be constructed and operated in a way that considers the needs of all users and enables equitable and safe access.

(c) “Advisory Committee” means the Complete Streets Advisory Committee established by this subtitle.

(d) “Public transit vehicle” means any vehicle that:

  (1) is of a type used primarily for the transportation of the general public; and

  (2) has a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers.

(e) “Street” means any street, boulevard, road, highway, alley, lane, sidewalk, footway, mall, esplanade, or other way or place that is owned by the City or habitually used by the public.

(f) “Transportation Department” or “Department” means the Baltimore City Department of Transportation.

(g) “Transportation Director” or “Director” means the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation or the Director’s designee.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 22-125*

### § 40-2 Applicability of subtitle.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-2 (2026)

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, this subtitle applies to all project phases undertaken by or, under the authority of the Transportation Department for the improvement of any street and public right of way, including planning, programming, design, acquisition of land, construction, construction engineering, reconstruction, rehabilitation, resurfacing, retrofit, and operation.

(b) This subtitle does not apply to ordinary maintenance, such as mowing, cleaning, sweeping, pothole filling, concrete joint repair, and other regular or seasonal maintenance.  Ordinary maintenance includes local road resurfacing on roadway segments, exclusive of intersections, that experience traffic volumes of fewer than 6,000 vehicles per day, based on the latest available or estimated traffic data.

(c) This subtitle does not apply to a project at or above 30% design or under construction as of January 3, 2020.

(d) This subtitle does not apply to a street where use by both pedestrians and bicyclists is prohibited by law.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### §§ 40-3 to 40-5

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-3 to 40-5 (2026)

Reserved

## Part II – Complete Streets Transportation System

### § 40-6 Department to construct and operate system.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-6 (2026)

The Department must construct and operate a comprehensive Complete Streets Transportation System that enables access, mobility, economic development, attractive public spaces, health, and well-being for all people.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### § 40-7 System to ensure safety, etc., and convenience of all users.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-7 (2026)

This Transportation System must be designed and operated in ways that ensure the safety, security, comfort, access, and convenience of all users of the streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, emergency responders, transporters of commercial goods, motor vehicles, and freight providers.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-8 System to include connected facilities accommodating all travel modes.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-8 (2026)

This Transportation System must include integrated networks of connected facilities accommodating all modes of travel.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-9 System to promote walking, biking, and public transit.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-9 (2026)

This Transportation System must, to the greatest extent possible, promote walking, biking, and public transit.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-10 System to promote economic development.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-10 (2026)

This Transportation System must, to the greatest extent possible, promote economic development.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-11 System to ensure equity.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-11 (2026)

This Transportation System must, to the greatest extent possible, ensure equity by actively pursuing the elimination of health, economic, and access disparities.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-12 System may be constructed incrementally.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-12 (2026)

This Transportation System may be achieved through projects that fully implement complete streets or projects that incrementally implement complete streets through a series of smaller improvements over time.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### §§ 40-13 to 40-15

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-13 to 40-15 (2026)

Reserved

## Part III – Complete Streets Advisory Committee

### § 40-16 Committee established.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-16 (2026)

There is a Complete Streets Advisory Committee.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-17 Composition.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-17 (2026)

(a) The Advisory Committee comprises the following officials (or their respective designees):

  (1) the Transportation Director;

  (2) the Director of the City Department of Planning;

  (3) the Director of City Department of Public Works;

  (4) The Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development; and

  (5) The Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department.

(b)

  (1) The Chair of the Committee must include and extend to the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) all invitations and opportunities for participation with the Advisory Committee as would be extended to any statutory member, exactly as if MTA were a member of the Committee.

  (2) Further, the Chair must, to the greatest extent possible, foster the strongest possible collaboration with MTA to pursue the goals of this subtitle.

(c) The Transportation Director is the Chair of the Advisory Committee.

(d) Subcommittees may be established.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### § 40-18 Meetings; Quorum; Voting.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-18 (2026)

(a) The Advisory Committee meets on the call of the Chair as frequently as required to perform its duties and at least once per quarter.

(b) A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

(c) An affirmative vote of at least a majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-19 Minutes.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-19 (2026)

(a) Minutes must be taken of all meetings of the Advisory Committee.

(b) The minutes of every meeting must be made publically available by posting on the Transportation Department’s website within 7 days of the meeting.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-20 Staff.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-20 (2026)

The Transportation Department must provide staff for the Advisory Committee.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-21 Duties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-21 (2026)

In addition to the other duties specified elsewhere in this subtitle, the Advisory Committee is responsible for:

(1) promoting interagency cooperation in project identification, funding, and planning;

(2) reviewing proposals for projects brought to the Committee by any of its members;

(3) reviewing the status of projects to which this subtitle is applicable;

(4) making recommendations to the Director about prioritization of projects;

(5) reviewing reports on complete streets implementation, compliance, and performance; and

(6) coordinating interagency cooperation in community engagement.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### §§ 40-22 to 40-25

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-22 to 40-25 (2026)

Reserved

## Part IV – Design Standards

### § 40-26 Definitions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-26 (2026)

(a) In this Part IV, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Transit street” means any street on which a public transit vehicle provides fixed-route service.

(c) “Truck route” means any street so designated on the Transportation Department’s map of “Official Truck Routes”.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-27 Design vehicles.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-27 (2026)

(a) In this section, “design vehicle” means a selected vehicle, with specific weight, dimensions, and operating characteristics, used to establish street design controls.

(b) The design vehicle used by the Transportation Department for all streets, except for transit streets and truck routes, must be the design vehicle recommended for neighborhood streets by the most recent edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, “Urban Street Design Guide”.

(c) The design vehicle used by the Transportation Department for transit streets must be the design vehicle recommended for designated transit streets by the most recent edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, “Transit Street Design Guide”.

(d) The design vehicle used by the Transportation Department for truck routes must be the design vehicle recommended for designated truck routes by the most recent edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, “Urban Street Design Guide”.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-28 Design speed.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-28 (2026)

(a)

  (1) In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

  (2) “Design speed” means the speed used to determine geometric features of a street during the design phase.

  (3) “Target speed” means the desired driver speed recommended by street typology.

(b) The design speed must be equal to the target speed and posted speed limit on any local, collector, and non-interstate arterial.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### § 40-29 Lane widths.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-29 (2026)

(a) In this section, “shared street” means a street developed for mixed use by low volumes of slow-moving vehicular traffic mixed with high levels of walking.

(b) Except as provided in this section or otherwise required by law, the lanes of any street may not be more than 10 feet wide, but 9 feet is the preferred width.

(c)

  (1) On a street designated on the Baltimore City Roadway Functional Classification Map as “local”, lanes may not be more than 9 feet wide.

  (2) On a transit street or truck route, 1 lane in each direction may be up to 11 feet wide.

  (3) On a street designated as a “shared street”, lane width restrictions do not apply.

*History: Ord. 18-197 Ord. 19-332*

### § 40-30 DoT to use latest and best standards.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-30 (2026)

In constructing and operating its Complete Streets Transportation System, the Transportation Department must use the latest and best standards, including:

(1) National Association of City Transportation Officials:

  (i) “Global Street Design Guide”.

  (ii) “Urban Street Design Guide”.

  (iii) “Transit Street Design Guide”.

  (iv) “Urban Bikeway Design Guide”.

  (v) “Urban Street Stormwater Guide”.

(2) American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials:

  (i) “Guide for Planning Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities”.

  (ii) “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities”.

(3) Federal Highway Administration:

  (i) “Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide”.

  (ii) “Report on Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects”.

(4) Institute of Transportation Engineers, “Manual for Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities”.

(5) National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Report 616, “Multi-Modal Level of Service Analysis for Urban Streets”.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-31 Compliance with State and Federal funding requirements.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-31 (2026)

The technical design standards required for state or federally funded projects will supersede local requirements in this subtitle and the Complete Streets Manual if there is an actual conflict between the local and state or federal standards and if funding will be impacted by adherence to the local standard.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### §§ 40-32 to 40-35

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-32 to 40-35 (2026)

Reserved

## Part V – Complete Streets Manual

### § 40-36 Director to adopt Complete Streets Manual.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-36 (2026)

The Transportation Director, in consultation with the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, must adopt and may amend from time to time a Complete Streets Manual to carry out this subtitle.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### § 40-37 Modal hierarchy.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-37 (2026)

The Complete Streets Manual must include a hierarchy of the various modes of travel, indicating the priority to be given to each mode.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-38 Street typologies.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-38 (2026)

(a) The Complete Streets Manual must include Complete Streets street typologies for classifying City streets.

(b) In creating street typologies, the Transportation Director, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, must consider:

  (1) roadway form and function, including traffic volume, speed, and functional classification;

  (2) intersections and crossings;

  (3) bridges and overpasses;

  (4) loading zones;

  (5) overlays, including for transit streets, truck routes, and fire and emergency routes;

  (6) existing land use;

  (7) zoning designations;

  (8) public space guidelines;

  (9) stormwater management;

  (10) green infrastructure;

  (11) “Main Streets”, as part of the Baltimore Main Streets program;

  (12) public art;

  (13) arts districts;

  (14) historic preservation;

  (15) plans formally adopted by the Planning Commission; and

  (16) any other necessary considerations.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-39 Project prioritization process.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-39 (2026)

(a) The Complete Streets Manual must include a process for identifying, screening, and prioritizing projects seeking funding through federal or state grants, the City Capital Improvement Program, or other means.

(b) This project prioritization process must include an equity assessment.  The equity assessment must consider transportation disparity trends based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, or income and recommend ways to reverse these trends.  It must assess and recommend ways to eliminate structural and institutional discrimination in transportation based on immutable characteristics.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### § 40-40 Project delivery process.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-40 (2026)

(a) The Complete Streets Manual must include a project delivery process.

(b) This project delivery process must include:

  (1) project phases from identification through construction through operation;

  (2) a chart listing the types of projects undertaken by, under the authority of, or under the supervision of the Department, and showing project phases for each type, and steps to complete each project phase, and whether, for each project type, a given step is required, optional, or inapplicable;

  (3) a decision tree showing how street typology, existing and planned land use, modal hierarchy, and any additional factors determine street design, and whether various elements are required, recommended, optional, or not required; and

  (4) a project management checklist.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-41 Equity in community engagement.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-41 (2026)

The Complete Streets Manual must include community engagement policies that overcome barriers to engagement associated with race, income, age, disability, English language proficiency, and vehicle access of populations affected by a project, including a means of measuring success in overcoming these barriers.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-42 Public comment period.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-42 (2026)

(a) The Transportation Director must publish the proposed Complete Streets Manual or proposed amendment to the Manual by posting a copy of the proposal to the Department’s website at least 45 days before its adoption.

(b)

  (1) A notice of the proposed Manual or proposed amendment to the Manual must also be posted to the Transportation Department’s website, social media, and other channels of distribution available to the Department.

  (2) This notice must include:

    (i) a summary of the proposed Manual or proposed amendment; and

    (ii) information on how a person can:

      (A) obtain a copy of the proposal;

      (B) obtain a schedule of public hearing(s) to be held on the proposal; and

      (C) submit comments before the proposal is finalized and adopted.

(c)

  (1) During the 45-day public comment period, the Director must also advertise and hold 1 or more public hearings on the proposed Manual or proposed amendment.

  (2) At least 1 hearing must be held in whole or in part between 6 pm and 8 pm.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-43 Final adoption.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-43 (2026)

(a) After the 45-day public comment and hearing period, the Director may modify and adopt the Complete Streets Manual.

(b) A copy of the Complete Streets Manual and, from time to time, any amendment to the Manual must be filed with the Department of Legislative Reference before it becomes effective.

(c) DOT guidelines, policies, and procedures must be updated for compliance with the Complete Streets Manual.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*

### §§ 40-44 to 40-45

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-44 to 40-45 (2026)

Reserved

## Part VI – Annual Report and Public Accountability

### § 40-46 Annual report required.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-46 (2026)

On or before August 31 of each year, the Director, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, must:

(1) prepare a report assessing the status of the Complete Streets Transportation System; and

(2) submit that report to:

  (i) the Mayor;

  (ii) the City Council; and

  (iii) the Advisory Committee.

### § 40-47 Performance measures.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-47 (2026)

(a) Performance measures will be established using available data.

(b)

  (1) The annual report must measure year-over-year changes in crash data for all modes of travel as measured by:

    (i) the “Maryland Statewide Vehicle Crashes Data” collected by the Maryland State Police;

    (ii) the “Fatality Analysis Reporting System” data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; or

    (iii) other similar data.

  (2) Crash data for all modes of travel must be separately reported by the following categories:

    (i) all crashes;

    (ii) injury crashes; and

    (iii) fatal crashes.

(c) The annual report must measure year-over-year change in transit on-time performance, as measured by:

  (1) the performance data collected by the Maryland Transit Administration and published in the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Annual Attainment Report; or

  (2) other similar data collected by the Maryland Transit Administration or the Transportation Department.

(d) The annual report must measure commute times for all modes of travel, as measured by the travel-time-to-work data reported in the American Communities Survey’s “Commuting (Journey to Work)”.

(e) The annual report must measure modal share, as measured by the means-of-transportation data reported in the American Communities Survey’s “Commuting (Journey to Work)”.

(f)

  (1) The annual report must measure:

    (i) the amount of transportation infrastructure built, upgraded, replaced, or rehabilitated in the previous 1-year period; and

    (ii) the total amount of infrastructure in the City’s overall transportation system.

  (2) The measurements required by paragraph (1) of this subsection must be separately reported by type, including:

    (i) infrastructure for walking, biking, and public transit;

    (ii) public space infrastructure; and

    (iii) green infrastructure.

(g) The annual report must measure year-over-year changes in certain economic development data points and conditions:

  (1) in each of the City’s “Main Streets”, as part of the Baltimore Main Streets program; and

  (2) in any other geographical area otherwise designated by the Advisory Committee.

(h) The annual report must include an inventory of all ongoing projects in any phase and the projected cost of those projects.

(i) The annual report must include a list of all instances in which the local standards set forth in this subtitle or in the Complete Streets Manual were or are planned to be superseded by state or federal standards, pursuant to <cite data-path="|26|§40-31">§ 40-31 of this subtitle</cite>, as well as citations and causes for the local standard being superseded.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-48 Equity lens.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-48 (2026)

(a) In preparing the annual report, the Department must separately report data by geographic subunit (e.g., census tract, traffic analysis zone, or the like).

(b) The annual report must separately report data into the following categories:

  (1) populations that are above and below the median number of persons of color for Baltimore City.

  (2) populations above and below 50% no vehicle access.

  (3) populations with a median income above and below the median household income for Baltimore City.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-49 Report and data to be publically available.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-49 (2026)

(a) The annual report must be made available to the public by posting it on the Transportation Department’s website.

(b) To the greatest extent possible, all underlying data used in preparing the annual report must be made available to the public.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

### § 40-50 Accountability to communities.

Balt., Md., Code art. 26, § 40-50 (2026)

The Transportation Department, in consultation with the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, must conduct public meetings and other community engagement and outreach activities to present the Complete Streets annual report to the public and solicit public input.

*History: Ord. 18-197*

*History: Ord. 19-332*