HANOVER, MD – Acting Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley reminds the public that the opportunity for public comment on the I-270 multi-modal transportation study will close July 31, 2009.  The study is evaluating potential transit and highway options to address congestion and planned future development along a 30-mile corridor reaching from north of the City of Frederick to Rockville in Montgomery County. 
 
“This is a long-term planning document,” said Acting Secretary Swaim-Staley.  “Some options may be viable in the future while others may not.  However, it is important to put transit and highway concepts on the table for consideration.  Public input will assist us in determining preferred options as we plan for the years ahead.”
 
Transit options under study include alternatives for a Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) with costs for the CCT ranging from $450 million to $777 million.  Park and Ride improvements and improved bus service also are under study.  Highway alternatives range from interchange improvements costing up to $500 million dollars to construction of Express Toll Lanes that could potentially reach into the billions of dollars.
 
Due to the high cost of the options studied, it is most likely that should any option be implemented it would be built in phases over time as funding became available.  This is especially true for the highway alternatives due to the extensive construction that could be required.  A decision to move forward with any project would come only after it is weighed against other statewide priorities as part of the state’s Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP).
 
“While we are financially constrained today given the current economic environment, it is important to continue to plan for tomorrow,” added Acting Secretary Swaim-Staley.  “This study details a menu of options that could be at the state’s disposal to address transportation and congestion challenges as they present themselves.  It is not intended to provide one ‘silver bullet’ solution.  Rather, the study is intended to provide a variety of tools, any one of which could potentially be used in the future to meet the needs of the region.”
 
Information on the I-270 Multi Modal Corridor Study can be found at the following link: www.i270multimodalstudy.com.  Written comments for inclusion in the project record may be submitted until Friday, July 31, 2009. The public can comment on-line at the following link: www.i270multimodalstudy.com/aaea-comment or mail comments to:
 
Mr. Russell Anderson, Project Manager
Maryland State Highway Administration
Project Management Division
707 North Calvert Street Mail Stop C-301
Baltimore, MD 21202