Maryland Department of Transportation

ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSE ON AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE AND 270 CORRIDOR PROGRAM SET FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, IN ROCKVILLE

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Maryland Department of Transportation Public Affairs
David Broughton, 410-865-1029
Jim Joyner, 410-865-1030

*** UPDATE ***

Weekend Public Meeting Provides Additional Opportunity for
Community Feedback and Direct Engagement on Transit, Ridesharing,
Transit-Oriented Development and Managed Lanes

HANOVER, MD (October 26, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Transportation announces the addition of a fourth open house meeting this fall to engage the public on the American Legion Bridge and 270 Corridor Program and gather community feedback as the program advances. The meetings provide the opportunity for corridor travelers, project neighbors and other stakeholders to directly engage with the program team on potential multimodal transportation solutions for the corridor.

The newly announced open house is centrally located in the program corridor:

  • Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Thomas S. Wootton High School, 2100 Wootton Parkway, Rockville. Transit Accessible: Ride On routes 56, 301. 

The series of open houses follow Governor Wes Moore's August 21 announcement of the path forward for the future of the I-495 and I-270 corridors with a comprehensive program to improve access, opportunity, and quality of life in the Washington region through multimodal enhancements along the I-495 and I-270 corridors, including replacement of the aging American Legion Bridge.

The previously announced open houses will take place at three venues along the program corridor:

  • Monday, November 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, 4301 East-West Highway, Bethesda. Transit Accessible: WMATA Red Line, Bethesda Station; Metrobus J2; Ride On routes 29, 32, 34, 47, 70.
  • Wednesday, November 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg. Transit Accessible: Ride On routes 54, 55, 56, 59, 61.
  • Thursday, November 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Frederick High School, 650 Carroll Parkway, Frederick. Transit Accessible: Connector routes 40, 50, 51.

​The same information will be available at each meeting at stations staffed by program team members. There will not be a formal presentation. Meeting materials will be available beginning on November 6 at www.americanlegionbridge270.com. The public is strongly encouraged to participate in the open house meetings. The Maryland Department of Transportation is committed to a collaborative approach to developing transportation solutions for the region.

As part of the American Legion Bridge and 270 Corridor Program, the Maryland Department of Transportation is advancing the following transportation solutions alongside stakeholder engagement:

  • Transit and Ridesharing. Maryland will advance transit options and transportation demand management enhancements along the American Legion Bridge, I-495 and I-270 corridors. The program will implement strategies such as express bus options in Maryland and connections to Virginia, ridesharing incentives and parallel transportation improvements including MARC Brunswick Line enhancements and Bus Rapid Transit. 
  • Transit-Oriented Development. The Maryland Department of Transportation will advance Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) opportunities throughout the corridors. Maryland has previously supported TOD planning and implementation efforts throughout the WMATA Metrorail system. As part of this program, Maryland will look to accelerate investment in key corridor TOD projects to unlock new developments that create sustainable and inclusive communities.
     
  • Phased Approach to Managed Lanes. Implementation of managed lanes will be phased, with the American Legion Bridge, I-495 to the I-270 West Spur, and the I-270 West Spur being the focus for initial implementation. The section from the I-270 West Spur to I-370, including through the City of Rockville, will be addressed in a later phase. This phasing will allow for a rational and fiscally prudent phased development
     
  • A Comprehensive Planning Strategy for I-270. Maryland will launch a formal environmental study to identify the transportation needs of I-270 North of the Intercounty Connector/MD 200, consider a range of concepts including transit and transportation demand management, and evaluate multimodal approaches for near-term implementation and construction.
     
  • Engagement on Delivery Method. Maryland will engage the public on the potential implementation of the managed lanes as a publicly funded and delivered project.

Those requiring assistance to participate in the open houses, such as a need for an interpreter for hearing/speech difficulties or assistance with the English language, should send an email in advance to SHATitleVI@MDOTmaryland.gov. Please indicate the desired language in the subject line. The Maryland Relay Service can assist teletype users at 7-1-1.

Stay in touch with MDOT on X (formerly Twitter) @mdotnews and at Facebook @mdotnews.

###