Montgomery County Residents Reject New Sidewalks, Citing Flooding and ‘Stranger Danger’

Montgomery County, Maryland rejected a staff proposal from its department of transportation (MCDOT) to install sidewalks on eight residential streets within half a mile of an upcoming light rail station after dozens of residents responded negatively to the plan.

According to a piece by Dan Reed in Greater Greater Washington, just 12 of 73 residents who replied to a survey supported the sidewalks. Others opposed them, expressing concerns about “loss of available parking, lack of need, financial loss due to tree and landscaping removals, loss of environmental beauty and the ‘natural feel’ of the community, stranger danger, increased crime, littering, and, most of all, the worsening of stormwater flooding and erosion.”

A county official later revealed it does not have the funds to install new sidewalks. However, Reed points out that MCDOT looks for resident approval for even the smallest projects. “As with many things, the people who want sidewalks are less likely to speak up than people who are motivated by opposition, and people who don’t want sidewalks in front of their house can be pretty loud.”