March 7, 2019
Contact:
MDOT SHA Communications
410-545-0303
ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will hold its next round of public workshops in April for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study, which considers improvements along two of the state's most congested highways: I-495 (Capital Beltway) and I-270 (Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Highway).
Multiple studies over the last decade have shown that the National Capital Region is one of the most congested in the nation, and Marylanders face the second highest commuting times in the country. On average, travelers navigate between 7 and 10 hours of daily traffic congestion on I-270 and I-495.
To address this congestion, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) are completing the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study. This study aims to provide a solution that addresses congestion, improves trip reliability, and enhances existing and planned mobility and connectivity for other modes of travel, including transit. The study begins on I-495 south of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia, includes addressing the serious regional bottleneck at the American Legion Bridge and extends to west of MD 5. The study also includes I-270 from I-495 to I-370.
Since presenting the preliminary range of alternatives in July 2018, MDOT SHA completed an initial screening that reduced the preliminary alternatives to seven recommended screened alternatives. Public workshops are being held to present the traffic, environmental, and financial analyses for the recommended screened alternatives, along with the recommendations for the alternatives to be retained for detailed study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The upcoming April 2019 public workshops will give the public another opportunity to provide input to MDOT SHA, specifically on the alternatives to be retained for detailed study. In response to public feedback, MDOT SHA has added more public workshop dates and times, including opportunities for the public to meet on Saturdays in both Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
Public workshops will be held at the following locations and times in Montgomery and Prince George's counties:
Thursday, April 11, 2019
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex
8001 Sheriff Road
Landover, MD 20785
Saturday, April 13, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pyle Middle School
6311 Wilson Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
7601 Hanover Parkway
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Eastern Middle School
300 University Blvd., East
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Thursday, April 25, 2019
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Thomas Wootton High School
2100 Wootton Parkway
Rockville, MD 20850
Saturday, April 27, 2019
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Suitland Community Center
5600 Regency Lane
Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746
The workshop materials will include: informational displays; handouts; and interactive and hard copy mapping. Staff will be available to answer questions. During the week, two presentations will occur at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, two presentations will occur at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Presentations are the same and will provide an overview of where we are today, with time for questions and answers.
CONTACT INFORMATION: The public also is encouraged to comment online at www.495-270-P3.com, via email at 495-270-P3@sha.state.md.us or by hard copy during the workshops. Handwritten comments will be received at the public workshops or verbal comments may be provided to a court reporter. Comments from the meeting can also be mailed to:
I-495 and I-270 P3 Office
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
707 North Calvert St., Mail Stop P-601
Baltimore MD 21202
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE: The Maryland Relay Service can assist teletype users at 7-1-1. People requiring assistance to participate, such as an interpreter for hearing/speech difficulties or assistance with the English language, should contact the project toll-free number at 833-858-5960 by April 1, 2019. For more information, visit www.495-270-P3.com.