Two Maryland Democrats are hoping to rename a state highway located south of Washington, D.C., in honor of former President Barack Obama.
State Sens. Arthur Ellis and Obie Patterson introduced Senate Bill 213, which would designate Maryland Route 210, known as “Indian Head Highway,” as “President Barack Obama Highway.” The legislation would be set to take effect in October.
The renaming would cost about $12,500 in fiscal year 2022 for the design, construction, and installation of dedication signs, according to a fiscal and policy note, which also stated that if it is to be renamed, the future “costs increase by a significant but indeterminate amount.”
Indian Head Highway is named after the nearly 4,000-person town of Indian Head, Maryland. Ellis also introduced a joint resolution urging the mayor and Town Council to rename it to “better reflect the State of Maryland’s respect of indigenous history, culture, and persons.”
“The State of Maryland has an interest in respecting the rich cultural history of indigenous persons,” the resolution reads. “It is likely that the name of Indian Head may be deemed offensive to indigenous persons.”
The approximately 20-mile stretch of road has a reputation for being dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Between 2017 and 2019, at least 66 people died as a result of crashes on the highway, according to WJLA.
