BALTIMORE, MD (November 5, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are reminding the public that the deadline to submit comments on the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is 11:59 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2020.
The DEIS was published July 10, following a two-year process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A 90-day comment period was originally provided, twice the minimum time required. However, based on input from community partners, stakeholders and local and federal officials, the period was extended to 120 days – giving the public until November 9 to submit comments on the DEIS.
The public may provide comments on the DEIS through an online comment form at
oplanesmd.com/deis/. Written comments also may be emailed to
MLS-NEPA-P3@mdot.maryland.gov or mailed to:
Lisa B. Choplin, DBIA, Director
I-495 & I-270 P3 Office
Maryland Department of Transportation
State Highway Administration
707 North Calvert Street, Mail Stop P-601
Baltimore, MD 21202
The DEIS and supporting technical reports are available at oplanesmd.com/deis. Hard copies of the DEIS and electronic copies of technical reports also are available for review at multiple locations in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, as well as one in Fairfax, Virginia and one in Washington, D.C. For a list of these locations, visit the website above.
All public and agency comments received on the DEIS, regardless of method of submission, will be given equal consideration. All substantive comments received or postmarked by the end of the comment period will be responded to in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Comments received or postmarked after the close of the comment period deadlines will be reviewed and considered to the extent practicable.
In consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MDOT SHA and FHWA conducted a series of virtual and in-person public hearings on the DEIS in August and September. Citizens, officials and other stakeholders were invited to participate in four virtual/online public hearings. In addition, two in-person hearings – one each in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties – were held under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines limiting crowd size and maintaining social distancing. Hearing materials, videos of the virtual public hearings, audio of the in-person public hearings and transcripts of the testimony are available on the P3 Program website.
The I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study considers ways to relieve congestion and improve trip reliability, mobility and connectivity for modes of travel, including transit, in the National Capital Region. The DEIS includes traffic, environmental, engineering and financial analyses of a No Build Alternative and six Build Alternatives involving high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or express toll lanes (ETL), sometimes in combination with existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-270.
Editor’s Note
From intersection improvements to widening and new interchange construction, MDOT SHA is investing in projects to enhance the commute and daily travel for millions of Marylanders. MDOT SHA maintains more than 2,500 bridges and 17,000 miles of non-toll state roads – the interstate, US and state numbered routes in Maryland’s 23 counties.
Contact: Terry Owens, MDOT SHA I-495 & I-270 P3 Office
410-903-7454;
TOwens4.consultant@mdot.maryland.gov