(June 22, 2018) -The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will hold its second round of public workshops in July 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).

 

The study is part of MDOT SHA’s statewide Traffic Relief Plan to reduce congestion. The National Capital region is one of the most congested in the nation with some of the highest commuting times being on I-495 and I-270. A preliminary range of alternatives to address congestion on I-495 and I-270 has been developed based on feedback from the public at the April Open Houses. At public workshops on July 17, 18, 24 and 25, MDOT SHA will present these alternatives and garner additional public input.

 

Beginning in March, MDOT SHA initiated the environmental study known as the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study, which includes I-495 from south of the American Legion Bridge to east of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and I-270 from I-495 to I-370 including the east and west spurs of I-270. This study is part of the larger I-495 & I-270 P3 Program, which will include a future study along I-270 from I-370 to I-70 beginning in 2019.

 

As part of the study, MDOT SHA has completed a scoping process that included comprehensive engagement with members of the public, elected officials, key stakeholders, and federal, state, regional and local agencies. Four open houses were held in April in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to solicit public input on the scope of the study, including the purpose and need, potential alternatives to be considered, and environmental impacts to be evaluated.

 

To continue to keep the public engaged, MDOT SHA will hold its next series of public workshops from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at these locations in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties:

 

Eleanor Roosevelt High School

7601 Hanover Parkway

Greenbelt MD 20770

 

Clarksburg High School

22500 Wims Road

Clarksburg MD 20871

 

Central High School

200 Cabin Branch Road

Capitol Heights MD 20743

 

Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

6311 Wilson Lane

Bethesda MD 20817

 

The workshops will outline the preliminary range of alternatives and the screening criteria to be used to evaluate the alternatives to be carried forward in the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study. The workshop formats will include static board displays, scheduled general presentations, and small working group tables. The general presentations will occur at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. The boards and small working group tables will be available throughout the workshop with technical staff available for discussion of comments and questions.

 

Alternative descriptions and graphics featuring typical details of the potential improvements will be presented. A virtual workshop also will be available on the program website 495-270-p3.com starting July 17, 2018.

 

Further technical analysis will be conducted through the fall on the alternatives carried forward from the July workshops.

 

All workshops related to the study will be accessible to persons with disabilities. Any person requiring special assistance, such as a language interpreter, should contact (833) 858-5960 or via email at 495-270-P3@sha.state.md.us at least 48 hours before the workshop.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION: The public is welcome to comment on-line at the study’s website (www.495-270-P3.com), via email at 495-270-P3@sha.state.md.us, or by hard copy during the workshops. Hard copy comments can also be mailed to the I-495 and I-270 P3 Office at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, 707 North Calvert Street, Mail Stop P-601, Baltimore MD 21202.

 

Lisa B. Choplin, DBIA

Director, I-495 and I-270 P3 Office

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

707 North Calvert Street, Mail Stop P-601

Baltimore MD 21202

(833) 858-5960; 495-270-P3@sha.state.md.us

 

For more information on this project, please visit the project website 495-270-p3.com.

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