What can local families expect in 2025? Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman gave a State of the County Address to close out 2024, looking back on achievements and challenges to refocus for the year ahead.
Here’s what he shared about education, transportation and green spaces.
Public Schools
• Career counseling programs are available as early as middle school, helping young teens forge a path to their future careers, including fire and rescue, education and technology. “I know that my dream of being a veterinarian is what carried me through math and science, and that almost every truly engaged student that I meet has a vision for their future as well,” Pittman shared in his address.
• Recent test scores are “surpassing most of our peers,” pointing to pandemic recovery, with the clearest progress within Community Schools, which serve families experiencing the highest levels of poverty. Staff members at these schools have been working directly with families, an effort that has proven effective.
• There are no longer bus driver vacancies and schools are “well below” pre-pandemic teacher vacancy numbers.
Transportation
• Noting traffic concerns on Riva Road, going past Annapolis High School and the county and school system offices, the Department of Public Works Traffic Engineering team’s new signal optimization system has cut 4 p.m. travel time almost in half. Residents can expect a left turn restriction there soon, which will help even more.
• The county is also adding wider sidewalks for bike and pedestrian traffic, plus a public transit center at the park and ride lot on Harry S. Truman Parkway, which will all help reduce the number of cars on the roads.
Green Spaces
• Thanks to the first Green Infrastructure Master Plan in 2021, an expansion of the county Recreation and Parks’ capital budget and partnerships with nonprofit land conservation organizations, the county has been able to add new green spaces including Crownsville Memorial Hospital Park, Tanyard Springs Park, Saltworks Monticello properties, Elktonia Carr’s Beach, the McNew Community Gardens, Quiet Waters Retreat and additions to Severn Danza Park, Bacon Ridge Natural Area and Jug Bay.
Watch the 2024 State of the County Address at aacounty.org/state-of-the-county.
