(January 21, 2011) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has the answer to rising gas prices!  To meet the growing regional ridesharing demand. SHA is opening a new expansion lot on US 340 near Elmer Derr Road and Mount Zion Road in Frederick County.  Weather permitting, the lot will open for use on Monday January 24.

Located near the existing 34 space lot that has reached vehicle capacity, the new lot provides 46 additional parking spaces.  In the existing lot, twenty spaces are now reassigned for MARC users.  SHA also improved access to the lots by adding a new deceleration lane on the north side of Elmer Derr Road and a shoulder bypass lane on the south side of the roadway.

“When gas prices rise we expect to see an increase in the demand for spaces at our ridesharing lots,” said David Coyne, SHA District 7 Engineer.  “With gas prices now above three dollars a gallon, the additional spaces at this lot are even more welcome.”

The $511,000 project was awarded to L. W. Wolfe Enterprises, Inc. of Myersville.  For more information on ridesharing lots visit www.roads.maryland.gov.  Click on “Park-N-Rides” under the Commuter &Travel tab at the top of the page.  Customers who have questions about traffic operations on US 340 or other State numbered routes in Frederick County may call SHA’s District 7 Office at 301-624-8100 or toll free at 1-800-635-5119. 

Ridesharing supports the efforts of the Smart, Green and Growing initiative introduced by Governor Martin O’Malley in 2008 to strengthen the state’s leadership role in fostering smarter, more sustainable growth and inspiring action among all Marylanders to achieve a more sustainable future. The initiative brings together state agencies, local governments, businesses and citizens to create more livable communities, improve transportation options, reduce the state’s carbon footprint, support resource based industry, invest in green technologies, preserve valuable resource lands and restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

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