Growing Green with Pride Spring 2024
Arbor Day 2024
County Officials Gather at Launch of Eagle Harbor's New Restoration Project
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April is Earth Month, a time where communities typically prioritize projects aimed at preserving the planet. The Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) enthusiastically participated in various events centered on environmental health, sustainability, and beautification in Prince George’s County. Leading the bi-annual countywide litter pickup, Growing Green with Pride, DPW&T collaborated with Beacon Heights Elementary School, Woodridge Elementary School, and Radio One for the spring cleanup. Schools, churches, small businesses, community organizations, and others joined in the cleanup efforts across the County, sharing photos with DPW&T on social media. DPW&T also teamed up with the Department of Environment (DoE) and the Prince George's County Beautification Committee for Arbor Day 2024 at the Frances Fuchs Early Childhood Center (ECC) in Beltsville, MD. Together, we spent the day planting trees alongside students and members of the community. Both Frances Fuchs ECC and Woodridge Elementary are considered "Green Schools" and are members of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE). On Earth Day, County officials gathered to celebrate the launch of the Eagle Harbor Stream Restoration and Community Resiliency Project, which will aim to minimize coastal flooding.
DPW&T's Call-a-Bus Service wins the Ignite Award 2024!
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The Department of Public Works and Transportation was recognized for our Call-A-Bus transportation services. Call-A-Bus is a free (or $1), shared curb-to-curb ride service available to all residents of Prince George’s County with a prioritization on seniors and those with disabilities. Call-A-Bus won the Transit Innovation Award at The Ignite 2024 Transit Awards sponsored by TripSpark Technologies. This award ceremony honors TripSpark agency partners who consistently demonstrate leadership, develop programs and partnerships, leverage technology, and strive for excellence to improve the quality of life through accessible, affordable, and equitable transit programming.
DPW&T leveraged TripSpark’s Novus to aid in scheduling trips on our new Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs). The Novus system allowed us to create unique solutions for bus routes in the central part of the County to benefit drivers and the transit experience. This award reaffirms DPW&T and the County's shared commitment to the success of the Prince George’s County Transit Transformation (PGC TT). The Transit Transformation embodies our County’s commitment to modernizing transit while ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable services for residents.
The initiative is anchored in five key pillars: Equitable, Safe, Reliable, User-Friendly, and Community-Centric, reflecting our service offerings. Our core values—Equity, Sustainability, and Innovation, define our mission. DPW&T prioritizes leveraging technology to enhance service delivery and meet sustainability objectives. The County aims for a 100% zero-emission transit fleet by 2040, with 12 zero-emission fixed-route buses (ZEBs) procured between 2021-2022. In 2023, two ZEB paratransit buses were acquired, a pioneering move for a major agency in the state. This groundbreaking decision required rigorous testing because of the diverse geography of our County’s urban and rural landscape.
Vision Zero Partners with Washington Area Bicyclist Association for Youth Transportation Safety Town Hall
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Department of Public Works and Transportation participated in the Youth Transportation Safety Town Hall hosted by the Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA) and their Vision Zero Youth Leadership Institute. This event was attended by over 50 Prince George’s County students and many of our regional partners. Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation, Oluseyi Olugbenle, was one of the keynote speakers for the Town Hall and shared the importance of Vision Zero in the County. The RideSmart and Vision Zero Programs shared information and giveaways with attendees, including a wheel in which students guessed the meaning of different roadway signs. The DPW&T looks forward to continuing to partner with the Vision Zero Youth Leadership Institute on future initiatives.
Vision Zero Hosts Traffic Garden Safety Event for Maryland Day
DPW&T hosted a pop-up traffic garden during the University of Maryland's, "Maryland Day" on Saturday, April 27, 2024! Children, students, and community members from all over the County enjoyed a blend of fun and road safety education as they navigated through our miniature streetscape. A big thank you to our partners at UMD Department of Transportation Services for their invaluable collaboration on this event.
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