The streetscape is a vital component of a successful urban area. ‘Streetscape’ includes the improvements within a right-of-way (ROW) that allow people to safely and comfortably travel along a street. These include street trees and landscaping, sidewalks and paving, street lighting and other street furniture, like benches and trash cans.
In 2025, Montgomery Planning updated the Silver Spring Streetscape Standards so that the future streetscape in Silver Spring will be more accessible, easier to maintain, and more responsive to climate change. This update aligns the Standards with the 2022 Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan and the associated Design Guidelines.
These Streetscape Standards are to be used for the design of streetscape improvements that are associated with development, as well as for capital improvement projects and regular streetscape maintenance. The Streetscape Standards are intended to be used by applicants, developers, and agencies within Maryland and Montgomery County that implement streetscape improvements in downtown Silver Spring.
This update is the result of a yearslong collaboration between Montgomery Planning and the following partner agencies and groups that implement or maintain the streetscape in Silver Spring:
- Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
- Silver Spring Urban District/Regional Services Center
- Montgomery County Department of Transportation
- Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
- Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services