Washington, D.C. - United States Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced today that the House-Senate Transportation Equity Act Conference Report (H.R.3) includes more than $46 million for projects important to the Eighth Congressional District and the State of Maryland. It also provides “New Start” authority for two major transit projects.
Van Hollen stated, "This is good news for our community. This funding will support a range of important transportation initiatives that are essential to relieving traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, and improving the quality of life in our community."
Funding for Roads and Highways
The Transportation bill includes the following amounts for projects requested by Rep. Van Hollen:
$18 million for design and engineering of an environmentally sound InterCounty Connector (ICC). This funding includes $8 direct earmarks as a high priority highway project and $10 million under the National Corridor Infrastructure Improvement Program. In addition, the bill designates it a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System, making it eligible for further federal funding. The ICC is a new limited access roadway that would connect the I-270 corridor in Montgomery County and I-95/US 1 corridors in Prince George's County. The ICC must be built in an environmentally compatible manner. Federal and state agencies are currently conducting an environmental review of the ICC. In order to achieve its objective of easing traffic congestion, it is essential that the ICC be a limited access highway, and that it not become a development corridor.
$1.6 million for engineering and construction of the MD Route 355 at Montrose Road/Randolph Road Interchange in Rockville. This funding is essential to relieving gridlock at this intersection.
$1.1 million for the Olde Towne Revitalization/Intermodal Connector in the City of Gaithersburg. This project will improve and extend Teachers Way from its current terminus over approximately one-half mile to a termination point at East Diamond Avenue
Funding for Transit Projects
$21 million for the Silver Spring Transit Center in Montgomery County. The Transit Center will provide improved access to Metrorail, Metrobus, Ride-On bus, and commuter rail, and will also provide incentives for significant transit-oriented, "smart growth" development.
$3.2 million for the Maryland Avenue and Market Street Intermodal Access Project in the City of Rockville. This project will create a transit-accessible and pedestrian-friendly urban core and is an essential component of the "Rockville Renaissance."
$418,000 for intermodal access programs in the Wheaton Central Business District in Montgomery County. This project is designed to improve access to the Wheaton Central Business District (CBD), which is a major light rail and metrobus transportation hub with burgeoning transit-oriented housing and commercial development.
$376,200 for the current developmental phase and initial construction work for the Intermodal Center in the City of Mount Rainier. This project will improve the City's pedestrian mobility and reduce vehicular traffic within the Mixed Use Town Center (MUTC) and Downtown Business District (DBD).
$112,000 for the City of Gaithersburg Bus and Para-transit for senior citizens. This project will be used to purchase vehicles for seniors and those with disabilities.
"New Start" Designations for Transit Projects
The Committee also approved Rep. Van Hollen's request that the Corridor Cities Transitway be designated as a "New Start,” making it eligible for federal funding. The Committee authorized the project to receive federal funds for preliminary engineering. The Corridor Cities Transitway will effectively extend the Red Line north from Shady Grove to Clarksburg, and eventually to Frederick by providing a light rail or bus rapid transit link.
Van Hollen stated, "I am very pleased that the federal government has given a green light to the Corridor Cities Transitway. It is essential for relieving traffic congestion along the I-270 corridor."
The Committee approved the joint request by Representatives Van Hollen and Wynn that the Bi-County Transitway (also known as the Purple Line) be designated as a "New Start." The Bi-County Transitway would be a light rail connecting New Carrolton, Maryland, to the Bethesda-Shady Grove side of the Metro Red Line. The Committee authorized the project to receive federal funding for alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering. The Committee specified that any such transitway must be designed in a way that protects the Georgetown Branch hiker-biker trail.
Van Hollen stated, "This is an important step forward, but I want to emphasize that any light rail line must be designed in a way that protects the Capital Crescent hiker-biker trail."