The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public information meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to discuss the proposed Greentree Road Bridge replacement project over Bulls Run in Bethesda. Residents will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions.
The Greentree Road Bridge provides for the replacement of the existing bridge constructed in 1949, which is in poor condition. MCDOT is working proactively to replace the bridge before it becomes a safety hazard.
At the meeting, MCDOT will present project details, costs and the schedule. MCDOT will also obtain public comments and answer questions. Public input is encouraged and may influence the final design of the project.
To attend the virtual meeting, residents must register online. Upon submitting your registration, the Zoom platform will send an email containing the Zoom link and passcode needed to attend the virtual meeting.
The public is encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or via email to Project Manager Rashid Abramov at Rashid.Abramov@montgomerycountymd.gov. Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments expressed at the meeting. All information provided will be included in the public record.
Interpreter services will be provided upon request with five business days advance notice. To request interpreter services, email Lori Main at Lori.Main@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-7271.
Plans for the proposed Carroll Avenue Separated Bike Lanes project in the Takoma/Langley Crossroads area of Silver Spring will be discussed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, as the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) meets with residents at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School. The project is currently at 35 percent completion in the design stage.
New Hampshire Estates Elementary School is located at 8720 Carroll Ave. in Silver Spring. Meeting materials will be provided in both English and Spanish, and Spanish translation will be available at the meeting.
Prior to the meeting, residents can review the proposal files on the project website here. Materials will be posted no later than 5 p.m. the day of the meeting.
The proposed design will provide one-way separated bike lanes on each side of Carroll Avenue from Merrimac Drive to University Boulevard and a two-way cycletrack on the east side of the street from University Boulevard to Piney Branch Road (MD 320) in the Takoma/Langley Crossroads area.
Pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements will be included with the project. Traffic calming is also being considered.
Feedback and questions may be submitted to Project Manager Matt Johnson by email at Matt.Johnson@montgomerycountymd.gov. Comments can be submitted in English or Spanish. All information provided, including questions and public feedback, will be entered into the public record.
Learn more about MCDOT’s engineering and construction projects by visiting the website here.
The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) will provide free residential deck maintenance inspections during the month of May as part of its annual Building Safety Month campaign. The program is limited to 300 appointments.
“Building Safety Starts with You,” is the theme for the 2023 campaign, which is designed to raise awareness about building safety and the importance of adopting modern and regularly updated building codes to ensure safe and sustainable structures where people live, work, play and learn. The campaign also emphasizes the impact of building safety on personal, local and global levels. The theme for the first week of the campaign is “Building Safety Starts at Home.”
“It is important to keep up with preventative maintenance at home to ensure you are in a safe environment,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “As part of the County’s commitment to safety, DPS is offering free residential deck maintenance inspections to the first 300 homeowners who sign up during the month of May. We encourage you to take advantage of this free service to learn firsthand from an inspector about how to assess the condition and safety of your deck for you and your visitors.”
To request a deck maintenance inspection by telephone, homeowners should contact the County’s central call system at MC311 or 240-777-0311 beginning Monday, May 1. Homeowners may also schedule an inspection online by visiting the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps and submitting a service request. The form is in the online services queue on the front page of the website. On the description section of the online form, residents should note they are requesting a deck maintenance inspection and include the property address and contact information at the top of the form. These requests cannot be anonymous, and must be requested by the homeowner.
“Building safety is important 365 days a year,” said DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan. “Our code officials are working every day to keep the public safe. These free deck maintenance inspections take less than 15 minutes. Once on site, an inspector will check the support structure of the deck, fastener conditions, ledger attachment, and overall condition of the deck. Because of our inspectors’ workload at this busy time of year, the program is limited to 300 appointments. Customers will find additional resources about decks and the permitting process on the DPS website.”
One resource titled Guidelines for Residential Decks will interest homeowners building a new deck or checking the condition of their current deck. It contains information about the permitting and inspection process.
DPS’ free deck inspection program does not extend to the city limits of Gaithersburg and Rockville because these municipalities have their own permitting departments and protocols.
The weekly themes for this year’s Building Safety Month campaign include: (May 1-7) “Building Safety Starts at Home;” (May 8-14) “Building Safety Professionals and You;” (May 15-21) “Prepare Your Community;” (May 22-28) “Advocate for Your Community;” and (May 29-31) “Solving Challenges Together.”
County Executive Elrich and the County Council are scheduled to issue a joint Building Safety Month proclamation on Tuesday, May 2.
Learn more about Building Safety Month at buildingsafetymonth.org and join the conversation on social media using #MoCoDPS, #BuildingSafetyMonth2023 and #BuildingSafety365.
The Department of Permitting Services is located at 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th Floor in Wheaton. The customer service lobby is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, and customers do not need an appointment to get assistance.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a hybrid public meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, to discuss the progress of the Good Hope Road Shared Use Path Extension project in Silver Spring. Residents will have an opportunity to attend in person at Briggs Chaney Middle School or virtually to ask questions and provide comments.
Briggs Chaney Middle School is located at 1901 Rainbow Drive in Silver Spring.
Online registration is required to attend virtually. On the morning of the meeting, an invitation to participate in the meeting will be emailed to registrants
Prior to the meeting, residents are encouraged to review the project files on the project website.
The Good Hope Road Shared Use Path Extension project provides additional pedestrian and bicycle connectivity along Good Hope Road from the northern terminus of the Good Hope Road Shared Use Path project. The project proposes an eight-foot-wide shared-use path with a five-foot-wide grass buffer on the east side of the road for approximately 900 linear feet from Rainbow Drive to the entrance to Spencerville Local Park.
The extension will provide a safe, low-stress connection for pedestrians and bicycle riders of all ages and abilities. It will help connect neighborhood residences to a local park, nearby schools, places of worship and the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center.
Comments and questions about the project can be submitted by email to rebecca.park@montgomerycountymd.gov or via the online comment form. All information provided, including questions and comments, will become a matter of public record.
Interpreter services will be provided upon request with five business days advance notice by contacting Rebecca Park by email at rebecca.park@montgomerycountymd.gov or by calling 240-777-7226.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Delegation to the Maryland House of Delegates are seeking applicants to be part of a new Development Review Process Workgroup. Individuals interested in the serving on the workgroup must apply by Monday, April 17.
The workgroup will examine the County’s process for reviewing and approving development projects, with a special focus on ensuring the County remains economically competitive.
The workgroup will be formed by May 1.
The workgroup will be made up of individuals who represent County, State and other jurisdictional representatives, but also will include representatives from the development community and broader community.
The composition of the workgroup will include:
Three representatives of the development community agreed to by the County Executive (or designee) and Planning Board chair. These members will include one who develops commercial/industrial projects, one who develops multifamily/mixed use projects and one who develops single-family projects.
Three representatives of the broader community agreed to by the County Executive and Planning Board chair. These members will include one from the Upcounty area of the County, one from the Mid-County and one from Down-county (as these areas are defined by the Montgomery Planning website).
Individuals interested in becoming a workgroup member should send an email expressing their interest to both County Executive Elrich at Montgomery County Maryland (montgomerycountymd.gov) and the Planning Board chair by Monday, April 17. The email should include why you are interested in the becoming a workgroup member and why you would be a great fit for the role.
Montgomery County officials will host a second community information meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, in Rockville to provide additional details on plans to open a “Restoration Center” to help support residents in mental health and addiction crisis and reduce overburdening emergency rooms, hospitals and jail detention. The services are designed to assist individuals who are experiencing mental health, substance use disorder, and/or other types of behavioral health crisis.
The in-person meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the third-floor hearing room of the County Council Office Building, which is located at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.
At the restoration center, a team of multidisciplinary professionals will include nurses, licensed mental health and addiction professionals, peer specialists and resource navigators. The center will provide a variety of behavioral health services including triage, crisis stabilization and warm hand-off referrals to appropriate services. The center will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
In October 2022, a public meeting was held by County officials to hear from City of Rockville officials and community members. The April 20 meeting will provide an update on questions raised at the October 2022 meeting related to procedures for individuals brought to the restoration center. There will be an opportunity at the April 20 meeting for additional community feedback.
In addition to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Acting Director James Bridgers, officials scheduled to participate in the meeting include County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard, Police Chief Marcus Jones, Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, DHHS Behavioral Health and Crisis Services Chief Rolando Santiago and Department of General Services Director David Dise.
For more information about plans for the Restoration Center project, visit the Department of Health and Human Services' website. For details on the project, visit the Department of General Services' website.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass, County Councilmembers, County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Director Chris Conklin, other County officials and community groups this week joined ceremonies at Grand Park Avenue and Banneker Street in North Bethesda to announce the completion of the White Flint West Workaround project. The $74 million construction project supports the future development plans of the Pike District as a walkable, bikeable, public transit-focused epicenter for health computing.
“The completion of the White Flint West Workaround has long been awaited by pedestrians, bicyclists and residents who live in the community,” said County Executive Elrich. “The completion of this project reflects the progress and transformation around the North Bethesda Metro Station, Pike District and the former White Flint Mall site into a dynamic transit-focused community to live, work and play. Our announcement last fall of the incoming University of Maryland—Institute for Health Computing, along with our forthcoming BRT route on 355, has helped establish the Pike District as one of the most exciting areas for growth, development and job creation in the County, State and region.”
The announcement was made on the corner of the new crossroad of Grand Park Avenue and Banneker Street. Also joining the event were County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Kate Stewart, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Office Director Pete Fosselman and Pike District Partnership Board Chair Matt Herrmann.
"We must invest in transportation infrastructure that connects people to the places where they want to be. This project and the Bus Rapid Transit network that will follow are key to unlocking North Bethesda’s potential," said Council President Glass, who chairs the County Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee. "Creating walkable communities and expanding our public transit network is critical to the success of Montgomery County and our region.”
The project, managed by the County Department of Transportation, transforms the road network in the Pike District into more navigable city blocks.
The majority funding source for the project came from the County’s White Flint Special Taxing District tax revenues and related special obligation bonds. Capital Improvement Project funding provided for improvements including shared-use paths, a separated bicycle lane, on-road bicycle lanes, sidewalks, undergrounding of utilities, stormwater management, streetlights and landscape.
MCDOT headed up the design, land acquisition, site improvements, utility relocations and managed construction for the project.
“We are pleased that this project is complete and is an asset that supports future growth in North Bethesda,” said MCDOT Director Conklin. “We’re looking to integrate additional bike connections and a Bus Rapid Transit corridor, known as Flash, along 355 and Old Georgetown Road as well. The White Flint West Workaround construction creates city blocks that will support urban development and are walkable. If you think about what an urban neighborhood looks like, it’s not immense swaths of land with large parking lots along a wide road. It is shorter blocks with cross streets that are walkable and attract businesses that create street fronts. That is what we have now—an infrastructure that will support a new community.”
The local business community and advocacy groups were heavily involved in providing feedback for the project.
“The local community was involved every step of the way,” said Pike District Partnership Board Chair Herrmann. “Community involvement made a big impact on the final design and on the beautiful and highly functional bike and pedestrian paths in the immediate area. We are happy with the result.”
The project realigned the southern portion of Executive Boulevard to connect with Grand Park Avenue, created a new east/west business street Banneker Avenue (previously Main and Market streets) adjacent to the conference center, continued Towne Road (previously Hoya Road) from Montrose to Old Georgetown Road and relocated and reconfigured the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Executive Boulevard.
The complex project was constructed in two phases. The first phase of construction, which ran from November 2016 to 2017, built Banneker Street and a portion of Grand Park Avenue in front of the Bethesda Marriott North Hotel and Conference Center. The simultaneous construction of a new parking garage on the conference center parking lot, owned by the Montgomery County Revenue Authority, made room for the realigned road.
In 2018, the County acquired the necessary property and finalized plans for the second phase, which ran from January 2019 to December 2022. This phase relocated the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Executive Boulevard, connected Executive Boulevard to Montrose Parkway via Towne Road and realigned Old Georgetown Road to connect to Banneker Street. It also built the final portion of Grand Park Avenue, completing the link to Old Georgetown Road.
The project area is a hub for major utilities and required extensive relocation of gas, water, electricity and communication lines. Coordination and land swaps with the Maryland Department of Transportation allowed the work to advance. As a result, the County now owns a small stretch of Old Georgetown Road in front of the Pike and Rose development where it connects to Rockville Pike/Route 355. The land was exchanged for Towne Road after the County connected it to the newly configured crossroad at Executive Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road.
The project also integrated wide sidewalks with permeable surfaces to support trees, shared-use paths and sections of protected bike lanes, with curbs that will be painted green this spring.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) has started a project to significantly improve safety for bicyclists and motorists on nearly two miles of MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road) in North Bethesda. The improvements on MD 187, between south of I-495 (Capital Beltway) and Nicholson Lane, will convert one travel lane in each direction to add buffered bicycle lanes and the installation of flex posts to outline the new bicycle lanes.
The new buffered bike lane will include green pavement markings as well.
The safety improvements are part of the resurfacing project that began earlier this month. The overall project will be complete by the end of the year, weather permitting.
In addition to the new buffered bike lanes, other changes underway on MD 187 include:
Installation of high visibility or Continental crosswalk markings.
Reduction of the number of travel lanes from three lanes to two lanes in each direction.
Narrowing the remaining 11-foot travel lanes to 10.5 and 10 feet.
Resurfacing and restriping of the roadway.
Motorists can expect single-lane closures on MD 187 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and multiple lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday nights through Friday mornings. Motorists will be guided through the work zone with cones, barrels and arrow boards. With approximately 40,000 vehicles per day use the road, drivers should plan extra commuting time during construction.
For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, go to Project Portal. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is beginning a $3.7 million safety and resurfacing project on MD 108 from Olney Mill Road to Brooke Road in Olney. Weather permitting, the 3.7-mile project is expected to be complete by late summer 2023.
In addition to pavement milling and resurfacing, the project will:
Patch the road surface
Repair, replace or clean inlets
Clean storm drain pipes
Repair concrete curb and gutter and medians
Reconstruct driveways to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
Upgrade pedestrian ramps and bus stops
Upgrade traffic barriers
Install new pavement markings
Through the end of December, crews will complete the ADA concrete and guardrail work along MD 108. Once warmer weather returns next spring, crews will complete all remaining work, including resurfacing and pavement markings.
During work periods, crews will close a single lane of MD 108 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and overnight, 8 p.m.-5 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings. Additional workdays and times may be needed to expedite the work and keep the project on schedule.
MDOT SHA contractor Allan Myers, of Fallston will perform the work. More information on this project can be found here.
Residents are invited by Montgomery Parks to provide input for the first phase of a new, one-acre park in Downtown Silver Spring. South Silver Spring Park, which will be located at 1110 East-West Highway (the former site of National Tire and Battery), will provide multiple spaces for active recreation, play and socializing. The park’s first phase is expected to open in 2023.
Montgomery Parks purchased the site of the park at the end of 2021 with the goal of demolishing the existing building and developing the park.
In addition to providing spaces for fun and recreation, the park will connect nearby public spaces in Downtown Silver Spring districts by linking East-West Highway and Kennett Street. The park will connect to the Green Loop, a pedestrian and bicyclist-friendly path proposed in the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan that will connect neighborhoods and destinations.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Gabe Albornoz were among those joining the “Crossvines” development team, consisting of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority and lead developer Weller Development Company, on Thursday, April 28, to celebrate the start of construction of the new multi-purpose facility in Poolesville that will feature a custom grape-crushing facility, a casual bistro, a special events venue and a winery.
The Crossvines, which is located on the Revenue Authority property that also hosts the Poolesville Golf Course, will create economic opportunities and investment in agricultural tourism and the emerging wine-making industry in the County. It will strongly support new avenues for economic growth for properties in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve.
Among those joining the formal groundbreaking ceremonies were County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Craig Rice; Maryland State Senator Brian Feldman; Poolesville Mayor Jim Brown; Craig Beyrouty, dean of College of the Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland; Keith Miller, CEO of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority; and Marc Weller, founding partner and CEO of Weller Development Company. See photos from the groundbreaking event.
“For the past two years, Montgomery County and the nation have been dominated by the impact of COVID-19, but we continued to plan for the future—and for our future economy,” said County Executive Elrich. “Crossvines is an exciting project that will change the economic prosperity of the Agricultural Reserve. As one of the only grape-crushing facilities in the region, this will open up opportunities for more landowners to grow profitable grapes and to explore winemaking as part of their future options.”
The Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve is one of the first agricultural reserves in the country. It accounts for more than one-quarter of the overall land in the County.
The Crossvines will have a custom crush facility. Its services will also be available to wine growers throughout the area.
“We are excited to welcome and introduce the region to The Crossvines,” said Mr. Miller. “The opportunities The Crossvines will create for local growers, the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve and the state’s tourism industry will be tremendous. We look forward to welcoming growers and visitors alike as Montgomery County establishes itself as a leader in the viniculture industry.”
The Crossvines will feature acreage developed for viniculture research, education, training and promotion in partnership with educational institutions. As part of the groundbreaking event, attendees had the opportunity to sample the first wine produced from grapes grown on the Poolesville facility’s research vineyard.
“When partnering with the Montgomery County Revenue Authority and hearing the vision for this project, we knew the opportunities for this state-of-the-art facility would be amazing,” said Mr. Weller. “We are excited to break ground to create a stunning destination with a private events venue, dining and wine-making facility. The impact it will have on Montgomery County and the State of Maryland will be tremendous, and we’re proud to play a role in helping the agricultural tourism, event services, and wine making industry sectors grow.”
The County Revenue Authority, which was created in 1957, was established to construct, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, acquire, operate and finance projects devoted wholly or partially for public use, good or general welfare. It operates nine public golf courses in the County and the Montgomery County Airpark.
Weller Development is a privately-owned real estate development firm led by Marc Weller, a senior real estate executive with more than 25 years of experience developing and building residential, commercial and mixed-use real estate projects. Weller Development is the lead developer of Port Covington, a 235-acre mixed-use redevelopment project in Baltimore City that is one of the largest urban revitalization efforts in the United States. For more information on Weller, visit www.wellerdevelopment.com.
The new Marriott International Headquarters and Hotel in Downtown Bethesda was named “2022 Project of the Year” at the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Awards, a state-wide recognition of significant projects and programs that bring economic prosperity to Maryland. The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), with collaboration from the Maryland Department of Commerce, sponsored the Marriott HQ and Hotel nomination.
As the world’s largest hotelier and the biggest private sector employer in Montgomery County, Marriott International will be moving into its new 785,000-square-foot, 22-story global corporate headquarters later this summer. In March, the adjacent 245-room, 12-story Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ Hotel opened as the company’s 8,000th location.
MEDA announced that the Marriott HQ and Hotel project is recognized for “its environmentally sustainable design, coordination of partnerships and a projected $2.3 billion in business activity within its first year of opening. During the pandemic, Marriott International masterfully pivoted to address the urgent need to reimagine its workplace to accommodate significant changes in employee and customer preferences.”
Marriott International appreciated the award that reflects the detail that went into the project.
“Marriott is excited to move into our new Downtown Bethesda headquarters this summer and to carry on the proud legacy that has been built in Montgomery County, a community we have called home for more than 65 years,” said Carolyn B. Handlon, executive vice president and global treasurer of Marriott International, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We’re delighted with the recognition as Maryland’s ‘Project of the Year.’ We believe our new headquarters is truly the right place for our team of associates. We’ll be joining a vigorous and diverse community whose lively urban setting is exciting for all of us. As a proud corporate citizen, you can expect to see us continue to participate, volunteer and contribute to local and state civic life, including through our global social impact and sustainability platform, Serve 360.”
The project reflects an important part of the County’s economic development future.
“Marriott is a truly deserving honoree as the Maryland Project of the Year. They recognized early a growing reality that the way people work post-pandemic would change,” said Benjamin H. Wu, MCEDC president and CEO. “The scale and speed which they had to redesign and meet shifting workplace needs is without precedent for a Maryland company. Marriott adapted quickly to these new demands to maximize retention of its critical workforce. Despite the devastating COVID-19 impact on the hospitality sector, Marriott remained committed to not delay the project and they have delivered on-time. From employees to construction workers to suppliers to local restaurant and retail, this project has many beneficiaries and will be an economic driver in Montgomery County for decades to come.”
The project required the cooperation and teamwork of many sectors of State and local government.
“This important project is a terrific example of an effective state-local collaboration,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “In addition to the Marriott International headquarters, there are over 100 affiliated hotels in the state. With such a large State and local footprint, Marriott provides important economic benefits and job opportunities. Looking toward its future, the company wanted a relocation from its current offices to propel its success with the development of a 21st Century workforce. This project provides an attractive, functional, and creative new headquarters that will allow Marriott to attract and retain top talent in a very competitive industry.”
Montgomery County on Feb. 25 dedication the “MD 355 Crossing Project” in Bethesda that will enhance capacity and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety access to the Medical Center Metrorail Station. The new crossing connects the west and east sides of MD 355/Rockville Pike between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).
At the dedication ceremonies, the underpass under MD355/Rockville Pike was renamed to honor Phil Alperson, a Silver Spring native who was a leader in the effort to establish and complete the project. Mr. Alperson, who died in May 2020, served on the staff of Chris Van Hollen, who was then a Congressman and is now a U.S. Senator. Mr. Alperson later worked for the Montgomery County Government as its military installations / BRAC coordinator.
At the ceremonies, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by Senator Van Hollen, County Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Will Jawando. The ceremonies also included Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda Commanding Officer Captain Scott Switzer, Acting NIH Principal Deputy Director Tara Schwetz, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) Director Patrick O’Brien and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Implementation Committee Co-Chair Deborah Michaels and members of the Alperson family.
The project was directed by the County Department of Transportation.
“This is one of the most important improvements to pedestrian safety in Montgomery County in recent years,” said County Executive Elrich. “MD355/Rockville Pike at the NIH and Walter Reed Metro station has been a dangerous intersection for generations, and the employees and visitors of these critical institutions deserved better. I am grateful for all the partnerships and hard work that went into completing this project. And it is appropriate that this pedestrian underpass is going to be named after the late Phillip Richard Alperson, the former Montgomery County Government employee and key Capitol Hill aide, well-known for getting things done for his County and country.”
Construction of the complex project took about five years and includes an underpass below MD 355 that provides pedestrians and cyclists a safe means of crossing the busy roadway. The project also includes a new 120-foot-deep high-speed elevators, emergency stairs creating direct access between the station and the east side of MD 355 and a new elevator and staircase between the existing Metrorail platform and mezzanine level.
The project involved deep excavation that was done by drilling and blasting through rock. In addition, the project included roadway surface improvements such as a traffic signal, pavement resurfacing, sidewalk/bike path and median work. Stormwater management facilities also were completed.
“Phil was an eternal optimist with a purpose. He knew in his heart that our work in the Congress could help people in Maryland and across the country,” said Senator Van Hollen. “He believed that government had the ability to deliver meaningful results for our community and nation. He also rightly believed that we have an enduring obligation to provide world-class medical care to our men and women in uniform and to our veterans. The completion of this important project—which will make it easier for our dedicated civil servants to provide that care and for our military personnel and veterans to access it—is a testament to that commitment. His legacy of public service, commitment to our military and vision for a greater Maryland will live on, not only through the completion and dedication of this project he helped make a reality, but through his family, friends, and colleagues who carry his spirit and commitment to ‘The Alperson Way’ with them each day.”
The underpass provides a safe crossing between WRNMMC, NIH and the Medical Center Metro kiss-and-ride area served by Montgomery County’s Ride On bus service. NSA Bethesda and WRNMMC were established in 2011 and became the second-largest employer in Montgomery County.
“It’s been a challenge for everyone involved to get this project planned, funded, constructed, and completed,” said Captain Switzer. “We’re grateful for all of that hard work, however, since our service members, staff, patients, students, and visitors now have a much safer path to access our installation.”
The County's largest employer is NIH, which is located on the opposite side of the street. Thousands of people cross MD 355 daily to get back and forth between the campuses and to the Medical Center Metro located on the NIH side of MD 355.
Over multiple years, the Maryland Congressional Delegation secured $28 million in Federal appropriations for the project from the Defense Access Road program within the Department of Defense budget and added another $40 million for the Department of Defense OLDCC for transportation projects at BRAC-impacted military medical facilities. OLDCC also provided a $34 million supplementary award in 2016, bringing total funding for the project to more than $102 million. Additionally, the Crossing Project has been combined with the State Highway Administration’s Intersection Improvement Project at MD 355/Jones Bridge Road that was funded with a $4.8 million grant from OLDCC.
“More than a decade in the making, this pedestrian tunnel is a welcome addition to the interconnected worlds of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. “Our brave troops and their families, Federal workers, other local commuters and residents will be safer because we fought for this critical federal infrastructure project. As a delegation, Team Maryland has been united in our efforts to deliver Federal investments to the places where it best supports our residents, workers and local communities.”
Pre-COVID-19 numbers indicate that Medical Center Metro Station accommodated around 11,000 Metro riders daily. With more than 7,000 pedestrians crossing MD 355 to get to the Metro stop, Ride On and shared-use path on the west side of MD-355.
“Phil Alperson was an extraordinary public servant with over three decades of honorable service to the people of Montgomery County and Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Montgomery County Government,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin. “Though we miss him sharply, we can still feel his unwavering commitment to our community to this day. Phil worked for years on the MD 355 Crossing Project, and naming the pedestrian underpass in his honor is a beautiful and touching way to honor his enduring legacy.”
The County Department of Transportation funded an environmental assessment and led the design and construction of the project. Additional coordinating agencies included the U.S. Navy, WRNMMC, NIH, Federal Highway Administration, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and WMATA.
“The BRAC Maryland 355 Crossing Project has successfully reimagined this intersection to better support the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and surrounding community,” said Congressman John Sarbanes. “For years, I have worked alongside members of the Maryland delegation to advance this project and improve the efficiency and safety of traffic around the facility. Today, it is only fitting that we honor the memory of Philip Alperson, a passionate advocate for the community, as we come together to mark the completion of this effort.”
Council President Albornoz said the naming of the pedestrian crossing for Mr. Alperson is a fitting tribute.
"Today we honor one of our most dedicated and passionate public servants in Montgomery County," said Council President Albornoz. “Phil Alperson has devoted his entire career to serving others and through his vision, has made a lasting impact in people’s lives. By dedicating the MD 355 Crossing Project in his name, this is a wonderful tribute to his legacy and the importance of public service, building bridges and community connection. Pedestrians and cyclists alike will be able to safely travel to their destinations for generations to come.”
A video on the construction project can be viewed here. Additional details on the project can be found at https://md355crossing.com/.
Montgomery Parks will be closing a portion of Sligo Creek Parkway to vehicles and the trail to pedestrians and bicyclists from Carroll Avenue to Jackson Avenue beginning on Monday, March 7. Trail construction will address drainage improvements to mitigate flooding on the trail. Construction is anticipated to take approximately one month to complete. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to access Sligo Creek Parkway during the closure.
Sligo Creek Parkway is part of the department’s Open Parkways program that closes roads to vehicular traffic on weekends and some holidays to provide more open space for walking, cycling, running and skating.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joined County Council President Gabe Albornoz, Councilmember Sidney Katz, Department of General Services Director David Dise, Fire and Rescue Service Chief Scott Goldstein and other officials recently to celebrate the start of construction for a new Clarksburg Fire Station.
The new facility will be located at 23420 Frederick Road in Clarksburg. The fire station will provide a permanent home for first responders to meet the needs for the growing Clarksburg community. The new station will be a Class I Fire Station and be approximately 24,600 square feet. The new fire station is estimated to be completed within 18 months.
“This fire station has been a long-awaited addition to the Clarksburg community,” said County Executive Elrich. “Clarksburg is an area that has grown tremendously over the past decade. This station’s service area now generates more than twice the amount of emergency responses since 2005. The Clarksburg fire station provides our firefighters and paramedics a permanent home in this community and will help strengthen critical emergency services to our residents in this area. I appreciate the work, partnership and coordination of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, along with our Department of General Services, to design this station with a ‘sustainability lens’ that minimizes impacts to natural resources.”
The facility will provide:
Four drive-through apparatus bays;
Administrative, training and living quarters for up to 22 firefighters;
Gear, equipment and personnel decontamination facilities to support best practices in cancer risk reduction among firefighters;
Space for the UpCounty Regional Services Center;
A police satellite office; and
Onsite parking.
“Today’s groundbreaking of a new fire station in Clarksburg is a testament to the incredible sacrifice made by our first responders and the critical importance of their service to our County residents,” said Council Vice President Albornoz. “This state-of-the-art facility will include a training and decontamination center to best support our first responders as well as providing space for our Upcounty Regional Services Center that provides essential services to those in need. This fire station will truly meet growing needs and build trust within the Clarksburg community."
The predominantly brick exterior was designed to provide a timeless civic presence. The site design was developed to provide safe operations while minimizing impact to natural resources.
“As the chair of the Council’s Public Safety Committee, I am especially pleased that we were able to break ground on the long-awaited new station No. 35 in Clarksburg,” said Councilmember Katz. “This station will provide enhanced services to the growing population in Clarksburg. Thank you to my Council colleagues, as well as our executive branch partners in DGS, and especially, to our first responders.”
The project has been designed to achieve “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) Silver through the incorporation of systems that will reduce energy and water consumption, sustainability responsible materials and improved indoor air quality. The project construction cost is $12,287,220.
"Delivering outstanding, world-class fire and rescue services is our highest priority,” said MCFRS Chief Goldstein. “The new Clarksburg community fire/rescue station will allow the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service to continue this vital role in the Clarksburg greater area for generations to come."
As part of the project, the County previously extended public sewer service to the historic area of Clarksburg and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is designing a new pump station. The project will remove area residents and businesses from dependency on individual septic systems. The nearly half-mile of underground sewer mains will drain into the pump station to be constructed by WSSC. The station is located on the Miles/Coppola property, within the Ten Mile Creek Watershed.
For more information about the future fire station, visit the project website.
White’s Ferry is a historic cable ferry crossing the Potomac River, connecting Montgomery County in Maryland and Loudoun County in Virginia. It ceased operations on Dec. 28, 2020, following a Circuit Court opinion in a private lawsuit over the use of private land for the ferry landing in Virginia. A joint study to evaluate the long-term feasibility of the ferry service and to help identify possible alternatives and courses of action has been completed and is now available for review.
In response to the suspended ferry service, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure jointly undertook the study. The effort was focused on a common goal for the two counties to evaluate the need of the transportation connection and to identify potential operating improvements.
A video of a public online meeting on the study, which was held on Nov. 17, also is available. See below.
“Closing White’s Ferry had negative impacts for residents to access their work, shopping, and recreation destinations on both sides of the Potomac,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The results of this study show a clear purpose and need to reopen the ferry as a critical transportation connection for the communities that rely upon it. I want to thank Loudoun County for their partnership in this initiative. I believe the study’s findings will benefit the elected officials considering what can be done to provide the necessary access for the ferry to reopen.”
Prior to closing, White’s Ferry transported approximately 600 to 800 vehicles per day, in addition to bicyclists and pedestrians.
“Ferry service across the Potomac River is an important part of our region’s transportation network,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “The ferry moved a lot of people, helped support surrounding businesses and shortened commute times for many. We are working closely with Loudoun County to restore ferry service as soon as possible.”
The study’s scope includes:
Detailed consideration of best practices of similar ferry operations in other locations.
Analysis of existing roadway access and ferry use constraints.
Identifying legal and regulatory requirements associated with ferry operations.
Potential landing site improvements and landing location options.
Operating alternatives that may include a public/private partnership.
“I am pleased that working together with our partners in Loudoun County, we are making progress on this critical effort to restore service at White’s Ferry,” said Montgomery County District 1 Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “With the study complete, we can now move forward and continue to work on a permanent solution so that a private property dispute will never again disrupt regional mobility and quality of life.”
The construction project on Beach Drive in Kensington, between Kensington Parkway and Old Spring Road, has been accelerated by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) so that a two-lane vehicle bridge can be replaced and the road reopened by April 1. The road has been closed since Aug. 30.
Since the project began, traffic has been detoured through MD 185 to MD 192 to Stoneybrook Drive and Beach Drive. The roadway is now scheduled to be reopened to traffic on April 1, although the contractor will be performing final paving, striping and landscaping in early July.
A new pedestrian bridge constructed as part of the project was opened on Sept. 1.
To meet the new accelerated construction schedule, additional crews are being added. Construction will take place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and may include Saturday work. Residents living near the site may hear construction-related noise during these hours.
A 2020 bridge inspection revealed that the bridge’s steel arches are in poor condition. The south parapet has been removed above two arches and temporary concrete traffic barriers were put in place. The project, which will allow the bridge to be restored to full capacity, is being partially funded with Federal funds.
The project includes replacement of the two-lane bridge, relocating Rock Creek Trail to a separate alignment, constructing a pedestrian bridge crossing of Silver Creek and removing the right turn lane of Kensington Parkway at Beach Drive. The project also will plant trees, incorporate landscaping and implement erosion control measures.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) expects on Wednesday, June 23, to activate and test a new ramp metering system on the ramp from northbound MD 118 to southbound I-270 in the Germantown area. This will be the first location activated in the new ramp metering system that will eventually include 22 northbound and 23 southbound I-270 ramps.
This single location was activated as a flashing yellow signal on Wednesday, June 16. It will become fully operational on June 23. MDOT SHA is testing the system for one week and will then deactivate it until the entire southbound I-270 ramp metering system is activated later this year.
The northbound I-270 ramp metering system is expected to be activated in 2022.
Ramp metering is a part of the I-270 Innovative Congestion Management (ICM) project designed to help reduce congestion on this busy interstate. The system uses sensors that detect real-time traffic conditions and activate traffic signals, when needed, to more efficiently control how traffic merges onto I-270. This will allow motorists to merge safely onto I-270 while minimizing delay and reducing congestion.
When ramp metering is in operation:
Motorists will see a warning sign with flashing beacons.
When the beacons are activated, motorists should be prepared to stop at the stop line.
Once the signal turns green, drivers may proceed on the ramp and merge onto the highway.
The signal will allow one car at a time to go from each lane, optimizing traffic flow onto I-270.
The ramp metering signals will have the capability to operate between 4 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily and are anticipated to be active during peak-traffic hours and when congestion is present on I-270.
For more information and to view a map and ramp metering visualization video, click HERE.
The I-270 ramp metering system will be the first program of its kind in Maryland, but similar ramp meter programs have been used elsewhere and MDOT SHA said that they have been proven to be cost-effective tools to help address congestion and safety by regulating traffic flow onto the highway.
Ramp metering is one element of the I-270 ICM Project that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced in 2016 to provide congestion and improve travel times throughout the 34.4-mile I-270 corridor from I-70 in Frederick to the point where the highway meets I-495 in Bethesda. Other elements in the Governor’s proposal include additional auxiliary lanes between interchanges; extension of acceleration and deceleration lanes and reconfiguration and restriping of existing lanes to optimize traffic operations.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has stated his opposition to significant parts of the Governor’s overall proposal.
For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, go to Project Portal.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has announced his full support for the actions authorized by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to support the reopening of a Potomac River ferry as a critical interstate transportation connection between Loudoun County, Va., and Montgomery County.
The two counties share a common goal of reestablishing daily ferry service. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is in close coordination with its counterparts in Loudoun County to identify technical solutions to reestablish this transportation connection. The collaborative efforts have been further supported by state and county elected officials and residents in local towns who have been most impacted by the closure of the long-running ferry at the end of 2020.
MCDOT will partner with Loudoun County to study available options for resuming ferry service between the two counties. The study will include options for restoring service at the historic White’s Ferry location. Ferry service across the Potomac River is recognized by both Maryland and Virginia as an important part of the region’s transportation network. Prior to closing, White’s Ferry transported approximately 600 to 800 vehicles per day across the river and connected bicyclists and pedestrians between the two counties.
The joint study will evaluate White’s Ferry’s past and potential operations, as well as possible land acquisition scenarios, to support reestablishing a connection on the Virginia side. The study will evaluate short- and long-term possibilities for resuming ferry service and will include consideration of economic development opportunities and operating scenarios to maximize public access and benefits from the connection.
The joint study will be led by MCDOT and the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure. The study’s scope will include:
Roadway access and ferry use along with any other pertinent transportation issues.
Identifying legal and regulatory requirements associated with ferry operations.
Landing site improvements and landing location options.
Operating alternatives that may include a public/private partnership.
The study is expected to begin within the next 30 days and be completed within 90 days of the start date.
“Restoring the operation of a Potomac River Ferry between Montgomery County and Loudoun County as soon as possible is critically important to reducing travel times to and from Virginia for many of our residents,” said County Executive Elrich. “This connection across the Potomac will also provide more Virginians access Montgomery County businesses and our growing agritourism sector. Plus, the ferry ride is just plain fun. I am grateful for the work and partnership between the Loudoun County and Montgomery County transportation departments, and I am also deeply appreciative of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors for their support of these efforts. Our residents on both sides of the Potomac River need this ferry service to resume quickly.”
White’s Ferry ceased operations on Dec.28, 2020, following a Circuit Court opinion in a lawsuit over the use of private land for the ferry landing in Virginia. Since the closure, Montgomery County, Loudoun County and both states have actively engaged with each other and with the owners of the ferry and property on which the landing in Virginia is located to facilitate a resolution between the private parties involved.
"Restoring this critical transportation connection across the Potomac River is essential to our regional mobility, economy, and quality of life," said Montgomery County District 1 Councilmember Andrew Friedson. "Regional solutions require regional collaboration and we are grateful to Loudoun County for partnering with us, along with our state and local partners, so we can return the ferry service to our residents and businesses need as quickly as possible.”
Loudoun County and Montgomery County strongly support the resolution of issues between private parties to reestablish daily ferry service as soon as possible.
Construction of a project by Avocet Towers Investors, LLC will close down two lanes of traffic five nights each week on Montgomery Avenue between Wisconsin Avenue and Waverly Street in Bethesda through mid-summer. The road closure will occur near the future building located at 7373 Wisconsin Ave.
The lanes will be temporarily closed overnight from 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Weather and progress permitting, the work should be complete by mid-summer.
Night work is required to minimize traffic congestion due to existing construction activities during daytime hours, pedestrian safety concerns and impacts to local businesses.
The lane closures are needed to install new water laterals and abandon existing water main as building construction continues. The work will include cutting the asphalt, excavation, pipe placement, water line shut down to abandon existing water main, backfill and compaction of the lines.
The field supervisor on-site, Ed Tribull, can be reached at 240-876-3888 to address any questions/concerns regarding the closures during construction.
Additional questions or comments on the project can be directed to Anna Nazarova at anazarova@flippo.com or 202-437-2702.
