Streetscape and Pedestrian Planning

Belair Road Streetscape Vision Plan

Designing safety improvements based in resident priorities and neighborhood-led advocacy.

The Neighborhood Design Center partnered with the Hamilton Community Association to develop a community-managed streetscape plan. The plan outlines short-, medium-, and long-term design recommendations to transform Belair Road into a corridor that calms traffic, enhances walkability and safety, and celebrates neighborhood identity through public art, greenery, and community stewardship.

The project was led by NDC staff Lubna Chaudry and Julia DiMauro with support from design volunteers Will Wu and Rebecca Son. Funding was provided by Baltimore Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD).

The Challenges

Unsafe pedestrian infrastructure: Sidewalks are narrow, inconsistent, and frequently not ADA compliant, making everyday travel difficult for people with disabilities, families with strollers, and older adults.
Lack of cohesive visual identity. Inconsistent signage, minimal streetscape design, and neglected details like scattered used tires or faded paint signal a lack of investment and community pride.
Sence of neglect and insecurity: Community members described Belair Road as feeling “dangerous” or chaotic. Concerns about speeding vehicles, poor lighting, and crime contribute to a strong sense of insecurity along the corridor. The lack of basic maintenance—such as clean sidewalks, clear signage, or accessible infrastructure—amplifies the perception of neglect.

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Area of Study: Land Use — This portion of Belair Road is dominated by auto-oriented commercial buildings, with many businesses set back from the street and featuring parking in front or along the side. The corridor reflects a mid-20th-century development pattern focused on vehicle access, with limited pedestrian amenities.

Area of Study: Existing Elements— This stretch includes basic pedestrian infrastructure, but lacks the consistency and quality needed to support a comfortable and inviting pedestrian environment.
Existing elements include scattered trees, offering limited shade and visual relief, few benches and public trash bins, primarily located near bus stops, worn out crosswalk markings at signalized intersections, and limited mid-block crossings.

Area of study: Zoning — The corridor is characterized by a mix of auto-oriented and pedestrian-oriented businesses, including retail stores, restaurants, service providers, and local institutions. Buildings are primarily zoned for commercial and mixed-use purposes, accommodating both ground-
floor businesses and, in some cases, upper-story residential or office uses.

Area of study: Access — In many areas, sidewalks are cracked, uneven, or patched, creating challenges for pedestrians, especially those with mobility impairments. There is a high frequency of curb cuts serving driveways and surface parking lots.

Area of Study: Mobility — A key transportation corridor with frequent MTA bus service connecting residential neighborhoods to downtown and surrounding areas, many of these bus stops lack basic rider amenities; most stops have no seating or shelter, exposing riders to sun, wind, and rain.

Area of study: Crash Data — A kernel density analysis reveals distinct crash “hot spots” concentrated at major intersections and near driveways serving auto-oriented commercial properties, where frequent turning conflicts and access-related incidents are intensified by high vehicle volumes and numerous curb cuts.

Area of Study: Land Use — This portion of Belair Road is dominated by auto-oriented commercial buildings, with many businesses set back from the street and featuring parking in front or along the side. The corridor reflects a mid-20th-century development pattern focused on vehicle access, with limited pedestrian amenities.

Community Engagement

A series of community engagement activities from January 2023 to April 2025 informed the Belair Road corridor planning process, ensuring the corridor vision reflected community priorities and lived experiences.

Additionally, a walk audit was conducted with community members to observe current conditions, identify safety and access challenges, and pinpoint opportunities for enhancement along the corridor.

The Vision: A safe, vibrant, and inclusive community where residents and visitors of all ages and abilities can walk, bike, and connect with ease.

Along Belair Road, we envision a corridor transformed: one that calms traffic, protects pedestrians, and celebrates neighborhood identity through creative design and community stewardship. We strive for a main street that not only meets daily needs with accessible transit, sidewalks, and services, but also sparks pride through public art, greenery, and local engagement.

Addressing a dangerous intersection

The intersection of Belair Road and White Avenue has been identified as a high-priority location for pedestrian safety upgrades and streetscape improvements.

A phased approach is recommended to improve conditions for people walking while also enhancing the overall character of the corridor, including restriping existing crosswalks, beautification of traffic island, closure of east-bound right turn lane, adding pavement art and planters as a barrier, and lastly delineate parking, add loading zone for Senior Day Care, and add pedestrian safety bump-out.

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Proposed street interventions to make Belair Road safer

Proposed street interventions to make Belair Road safer

Road Diet Proposal: laying the groundwork for a safer and more welcoming corridor.

A few key features of the proposal include:

Maintaining two through lanes in both the northbound and southbound directions to accommodate current traffic volumes.
Adding a center two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL) to allow safer access to adjacent driveways and side streets, reducing turning conflicts and improving overall traffic flow.
Preserving curbside parking in areas adjacent to commercial properties without off-street parking and residential blocks, supporting access and neighborhood needs.

A bright future

We provided the Hamilton community with these concept plans, example imagery of similar interventions, funding resources, and more to make these dreams a reality.

Last Updated November 2025

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