The following press release was issued by the Maryland Department of Transportation earlier this month:
MDOT SHA SEEKS INPUT FOR I-495 & I-270 MANAGED LANES STUDY AT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES THIS MONTH IN MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES
Citizens Encouraged to Attend Mid-April Evening Meetings in Upper Marlboro, Clarksburg, Bethesda and Greenbelt
(April 3, 2018) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will hold four public open houses in April for the I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study, which is the first step for public input on the Traffic Relief Plan to reduce congestion on two of the state’s most heavily traveled highways. The National Capital region is one of the most congested in the nation with some of the highest commuting times.
“Understanding the local perspective will help us determine the best plan to reduce traffic congestion, increase economic development, enhance safety and return quality of life to Maryland commuters in this area,” said Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.
MDOT SHA, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study to identify innovative transportation solutions to reduce congestion.
The study considers improvements along the entire length of I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Maryland, as well as the entire length of I-270 (Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Highway) up to I-70 in Frederick County, Maryland. The I-495 and I-270 Managed Lanes Study extends along I-495 from south of the American Legion Bridge in Virginia to east of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and on I-270 from I-495 to I-370, including the east and west spurs. The study will include a review of existing and future traffic, existing roadway infrastructure, and environmental conditions to identify alternatives and assess potential impacts.
The four public open houses will solicit public input regarding the scope of the study, including the purpose and need, potential alternatives to be considered, and environmental impacts to be evaluated.
The open house dates and locations are as follows:
Tuesday, April 17; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Dr. Henry Wise Jr. High School
12650 Brook Lane
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
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Wednesday, April 18; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Clarksburg High School
22500 Wims Road
Clarksburg, MD 20871
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Thursday, April 19; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
4301 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
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Tuesday, April 24; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
7601 Hanover Parkway
Greenbelt, MD 20770
All open houses related to the study will be held in locations accessible to persons with disabilities. Any person requiring special assistance, such as a language interpreter, should contact 1-833-858-5960 or via email at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the workshop they want to attend.
CONTACT INFORMATION: The public and other interested parties are encouraged to comment on-line at the study’s website (www.495-270-P3.com), via email at [email protected], or by hard copy during the public workshops. Hard copy comments can also be mailed to the I-495 and I-270 P3 Project Office at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, 707 North Calvert Street, Mail Stop P-601, Baltimore MD 21202.
Jeanette Mar – Environmental Program Manager, Federal
Highway Administration, Maryland Division
George H. Fallon Federal Building
31 Hopkins Plaza, Suite 1520
Baltimore MD 21201
(410) 779-7152; [email protected]
Lisa B. Choplin – Project Director, I-495 and I-270 P-3 Project Office
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
707 North Calvert Street, Mail Stop P-601
Baltimore MD 21202
(833) 858-5960; [email protected]
For more information on this project, please visit the project website at www.495-270-P3.com.