The Maryland State Transportation Trails Strategic Plan (the Plan) established a vision for "a safe and accessible transportation trail network that connects Marylanders to opportunities across their communities, towns, and the state."
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) developed the Plan to build on the success and foundation of the 2009 Trails Plan and the 2050 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2050 BPMP). The Planning Process included inventorying the existing shared-use path network, existing maps of missing links, and railbanked corridors identified for transportation trails; identifying planned and programmed shared-use paths/trails; prioritizing missing links and crossings to safely connect the state across a low-traffic-stress/all-ages-and-abilities network; and identifying tools and partners to complete shared-use path/trail projects.
MDOT partnered with the State Highway Administration, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and nearly 100 partners from other state and local agencies to develop the strategic plan and , work collaboratively to increase access to a larger network of trails that benefit all Marylanders. The Plan development took one year to complete marked by a kick-off event in Easton, Talbot County in September 2024 and the release of the Plan during a public webinar in September 2025.
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What is a transportation trail?
For this plan, a transportation trail, in short, refers to a shared-use path that connects to roadways and is open to public bicycle and pedestrian traffic, as well as most forms of micromobility, whether e-scooters, skateboards, or strollers.
While transportation trails may be used for recreational purposes, they also serve a transportation function by providing a low-traffic-stress facility between community destinations, not just within parks. Some transportation trail facilities may have been constructed prior to the enactment of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and therefore some trails in this Plan are made of crushed stone and gravel. Most transportation trails, however, are ADA-compliant and follow established guidance by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), enabling use by those requiring mobility devices. The formal definition of shared-use path as defined in the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Bicycle Policy & Design Guidelines (update expected 2026) will be utilized when referring to “trails” in this Plan, unless otherwise specified: “Shared use paths are physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space, curb, curb and gutter, or barrier and are located either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way. Shared use paths are open to use by pedestrians and other authorized non-motorized users.”
Trails covered in this plan include predominately off-road paved paths, which have a primary purpose of transportation as opposed to recreation. These trails may use independent right-of-way or may share right-of-way with roads, railroads, or utilities. Trails that are used primarily for recreation, such as single-track mountain bike (MTB) trails or hiking trails are not covered by this Plan.
MDOT is Serious about Safety
In Maryland, transportation trails can be found in a range of land use contexts. As recommended in the
Context Driven Toolkit, when feasible, low-stress facilities like shared use paths are preferred over on-road bicycle facilities as engineering safety countermeasure on Complete Street projects in suburban and rural contexts. Additionally, vertical separation improves LTS in urban and suburban activity center contexts where right-of-way is limited. Learn more by visiting MDOT’s Serious About Safety website.
What topics are covered in the Maryland State Transportation Trails Strategic Plan?
- The importance of a statewide transportation trail network
- Analysis of existing conditions and spatial inventory of transportation trails
- Overview and outcomes of public engagement including the formation of the Transportation Trails Technical Advisory Committee
- Strategies/toolkits to help transportation trail implementers to build a transportation trail network including aligning funding opportunities, building momentum with stakeholders, and maintenance
- Policy recommendations for each project lifecycle phase with implementation led by MDOT
- Transportation trails project selection criteria for locally significant projects and state/regionally significant projects with selected tracked projects
Downloads:
Maryland State Transportation Trails Strategic Plan kickoff event in Easton, MD on September 13, 2024
How to get involved Maryland State Transportation Trails?
- Did you miss the webinars?
- Join the mailing list for the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Trails sub committee meeting by emailing [email protected].
