Delegates Ryan Nawrocki and Kathy Szeliga sent out the following release asking for immediate action following Eastern Blvd. Traffic Meeting
Following a community meeting on July 2 regarding ongoing traffic hazards along Eastern Boulevard, Delegates Ryan Nawrocki and Kathy Szeliga are urgently calling for swift and decisive action to address what they describe as an increasingly dangerous stretch of state roadway.
“Eastern Boulevard has become one of the most hazardous roadways in Baltimore County, and it’s putting lives at risk every single day,” said Delegate Ryan Nawrocki.
“Far too many serious crashes and fatalities have occurred along this corridor, and speed continues to be a major contributing factor. The time for studies is over. We need meaningful changes now, starting with a reduction in the speed limit.”
The meeting took place at the Gunpowder VFW Post 10067.
Delegates Nawrocki and Szeliga expressed their gratitude to the post for hosting the critical conversation and providing a space for community members to be heard.
“What we heard last night was heartbreaking and deeply concerning with families fearing for their safety, daily near-misses, and a clear pattern of accidents that could have been prevented,” said Delegate Kathy Szeliga.
“Residents have been pleading for help for years, and their voices should no longer be ignored. With traffic growing and development expanding, the danger is only escalating. We need immediate, concrete changes before more lives are lost.”
Delegates Nawrocki and Szeliga have been actively working with SHA and local stakeholders to bring solutions to the table. As part of their efforts, they worked on HB780 during the 2025 legislative session, a bill that would grant SHA the authority to lower speed limits by up to 5 mph on certain state highways, including dangerous corridors like Eastern Boulevard.
The bill passed the House, but unfortunately, it did not pass the Senate.
One community leader at the meeting suggested that SHA designate this portion of Eastern Blvd a “suburban activity center,” a designation that typically carries a recommended speed limit of 35 mph, lower than some of the current posted limits.
The delegates are urging the agency to follow this guidance and reduce speeds accordingly.
“The chronic speeding is both a nuisance and a deadly factor in crash after crash along this stretch,” added Nawrocki.
“The state’s traffic standards support reducing the speed limit here, and we’re calling on SHA to implement that change now before more lives are lost.”
The delegates reaffirmed their commitment to working alongside residents, SHA, and local officials until concrete safety improvements are made.
