Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

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Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
BRAC Home BRAC Facts & FAQ Transportation & Infrastructure Projects (Road and Transit Proposals) Business and Workforce Opportunities Walter Reed National Military Medical Center ( Environmental Impact Statement) Military and Veterans’ Health Care Issues (military medical transformation, TBI/PTSD) In the News (BRAC news, defense and vets health care, transportation and legislative issues) Resources (Government, Military, Business, Employment, Education and Community information) Community Involvement Moving to Montgomery County? Contact

Montgomery County Proudly Welcomes the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to Bethesda! *Please report any bad links*
		Next meeting of Montgomery County's BRAC Implementation Committee: Tuesday, December 16, 2008. 7:30 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center. More information on this and future meetings and summaries of previous meetings are on the Community Involvement Page

		MORE UPCOMING BRAC-RELATED EVENTS Look for Infrastructure Updates and Business and Workforce Opportunities!
		The lastest BRAC-related headlines! Check every day for news and updates! Business and Workforce Opportunities! Check every day for new opportunities and events!
		Updates on Traffic Projects in Bethesda! National Naval Medical Center BRAC Home Page! The lastest on the Forest Glen Annex! The latest on the National Geospatial- -Intelligence Agency HQ in Bethesda!

WHAT'S HOT IN BRAC AND RECENT UPDATES TO THIS WEB SITE:
	Participate in the Park & Planning Commission's "Growing Smarter" Initiative. Bring your best ideas to a public forum on 12-6-08. County planners drafting the 2009-2011 Growth Policy are rethinking how to manage growth, looking beyond basing it just on congestion relief and school capacity. Instead, planners will focus on ways to ehance quality of place in our communities. 11-19-08 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices: "Organizing State Efforts to Respond to Mission Growth" (17 pp) 11-14-08 Navy releases revised Draft Master Plan Update and Transportation Management Plan for NNMC Campus! The Navy has formally submitted its Draft Master Plan Update to the National Capital Planning Commission, which will hold hearings in February 2009. Last August the Navy published a preliminary document, but the newest version contains numerous changes. Go to the WALTER REED/EIS PAGE to read the revised Draft Master Plan Update, the Transportation Management Plan, and for further information about plans for the NNMC Campus. 10-31-08 Baltimore Examiner (Associated Press): Md. study focuses on minority businesses and BRAC 10-31-08 Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown News Release: Lt. Governor Brown Released the Maryland BRAC Small and Minority Business Opportunities Study 10-31-08 State of Maryland BRAC Small and Minority Business Opportunities Study (201 pp.) 10-31-08 Fact Sheet: BRAC Small and Minority Business Opportunities Study (2 pp.) 10-31-08 Montgomery County News Release: Leggett Unveils Findings of Veterans Study; Outlines Initiatives Aimed at Assisting Veterans 10-31-08 Remarks by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett 10-31-08 The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region has just released a study examining the feasibility of a community-based nonprofit response to meet the needs of local military troops and their families involved with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Fact Sheet White Paper CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS: October 14, 2008: President signs into law S.3001, the Defense Authorization bill. Among other things there is specific language establishing design and review benchmarks for the new military hospitals at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda and at Fort Belvoir that could affect the September 2011 deadline for these projects to be completed. September 24, 2008 -- Associated Press: Pentagon budget hits new record in spending bill September 24, 2008 -- Associated Press: Pentagon budget hits new record in spending bill Provision in bill that would prevent Walter Reed Army hospital from relocating to Bethesda and Fort Belvoir, but would allow the Secretary of Defense to waive this provision. Explanatory Statement expressing concern about design flaws, cost overruns, and traffic implications of BRAC moves to Bethesda and Fort Belvoir. Floor Remarks by Congressman John Murtha, Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, on the Walter Reed funding provisions September 17, 2008 -- Senate passes FY2009 Defense Authorization bill, which includes language to clarify how the Defense Access Road program should apply to urban areas like Bethesda. For more information about the Defense Access Roads program, go to the Transportation and Infrastructure Page.

	September 16, 2008 -- SHA updates on the Bethesda intersections project are on the Transportation and Infrastructure Page, under TRAFFIC MITIGATION PROJECTS UNDER WAY. Information includes a traffic simulation and a timeline for the project. September 16, 2008 On the Business and Workforce Opportunities Page: Maryland Daily Record: State to set aside $600K for job training to ease BRAC transition Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) -- Targeted for services: Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s Counties & Fort Belvoir, VA CLB will address the needs of returning warriors and veterans who are blind or visually impaired. These individuals are either receiving treatment and/or working at Fort Detrick, Fort Meade, National Naval Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, and Ft. Belvoir’s DeWitt. CLB and its partners will: Provide job training and support services to supplement what is already offered at these installations Supply job placement to those interested in leaving the military and/or will also assist military installations to became more visually accessible Monster.com’s Monster Government Solutions (MGS) -- Targeted for services: Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties & Southern MD Monster Government Solutions will create a targeted Community Portal website to address the needs and concerns of relocated military, civilian, and contractor spouses and family members. The website will provide a job and internship search and social networking capability to ease the relocation process to the “Region".
	September 10, 2008 -- MDOT announces deferral of $15.9 million, from $45.3 million of funds budgeted over the next six years, for improvement of major intersections near Bethesda Naval Hospital. This is part of $1.1 Billion affecting transportation projects statewide. The In The News Page has several articles dated Sept. 10-17, including the following: 9-11-08 Washington Post: Md. to Cut Funding Of Roads, Transit -- Revenue Drop Hits Several Projects In D.C. Suburbs 9-10-08 Maryland Department of Transportation News Release: NATIONAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IMPACTS MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM: Decrease in Revenue Requires Deferral of $1.1 Billion in Capital Projects Over Six Years -- Six-Year Capital Budget Still Provides $9.4 Billion for State and Local Priorities 9-10-08 MDOT: List of Projects Impacted by Revenue Adjustments 9-12-08 MDOT Detailed Memo: National economic downturn impacts on Maryland BRAC transportation projects

	August 8, 2008 -- NNMC releases Draft Master Plan Update and Transportation Management Plan, which are posted on the Walter Reed/EIS Page. The most recent approved NNMC Master Plan was completed in 1990. The purpose of updating the existing Master Plan is to address future anticipated development, including BRAC expansion mandated by law in 2005 establishing the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. The Draft Master Plan includes a Transportation Management Plan and will be finalized by the Navy later in 2008 after public hearings by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and other agencies.
	May 6, 2008: RECORD OF DECISION for NNMC BRAC has been signed and is posted on the Walter Reed/EIS Page. *This is the Navy's plan of action to implement the federal BRAC mandate to establish the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at the NNMC campus in Bethesda by September 15, 2011.*
	Projects to Address BRAC-related traffic near NNMC in Bethesda: Go to the Transportation and Infrastructure Page to see updates on ongoing or proposed projects, including improvements to major intersections, proposals to construct an east-side entrance to the Medical Center Metro station, construct turn lanes at the NNMC North Gate, proposed improvements to nearby pedestrian and bicycle paths, and NNMC transportation management plans.
	Why a Beltway Exit to the NNMC Campus is Not Feasible: 7-29-08 Technical Discussion Paper by MD State Highway Administration (SHA) on why a Beltway exit to NNMC is not feasible. Maps of I-270/Rockledge and FedEx Field interchanges -- illustrates use of collector-distributor lanes where interchanges are close together; construction of CD lanes for an NNMC exit would severely impact neighborhoods adjacent to Inner Loop between I-270 and Connecticut Avenue. Safety Improvements to FedEx Field interchange *-- CD lanes will be constructed to serve three Beltway intersections at MD 202, at Arena Drive, and at MD 214 in Prince George's County.* 9-14-08 Washington Post: John Kelly's Washington: Regarding the Beltway, Answer Man Straightens Out a Few Kinks and Curves -- Why does the Beltway between Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike have so many curves?

	7-20-08 Washington Post Editorial: A Roadblock in Bethesda -- The Pentagon shouldn't let traffic impede the success of a key military hospital's expansion Articles about the BRAC groundbreaking at NNMC, dated 7-3 and 7-4-08, are on the *In The News Page* . Some of the articles cover BRAC-related traffic issues.
	7-17-08 Defense Department Will Pay for Turn Lanes as Naval Hospital Expands 7-16-08 Statement by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on Defense Department Decision to Address Bethesda Naval Traffic Needs 7-15-08 Mikulski, Cardin Applaud DOD Commitment to Naval Bethesda Transportation Concerns Go to the Transportation Page for more information about this project!
	BRAC Construction Hot Line: 301-319-BRAC (2722). The Hot Line, which is posted on the NNMC web site, allows the community to contact NNMC and express concerns about day-to-day issues related to construction, including safety, noise and other factors that might negatively impact the quality of life for those who live and work near the NNMC campus. The phone will be staffed weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM with an answering machine taking calls at off-hours. The hours may be adjusted during the construction process. Commuting Information to NNMC Campus During Construction Disruption
	Information about Montgomery County's priorities for the State's 2009 Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) -- including BRAC projects -- is on the Transportation and Infrastructure Page, under COUNTY PRIORITIES. There is a 6-19-08 Park & Planning Memo, a 6-25-08 letter from the BRAC Implementation Committee to County Executive Leggett and Mr. Leggett's response dated 7-10-08, a 7-7-08 County Council brief which includes a draft letter to the County's delegation in Annapolis, and the final 7-16-08 letter.
	A new Business & Workforce Opportunities Page has been added! This page has Featured Links to BRAC-related opportunities. This new page will also direct you to the Resources Page and Home Page with information on opportunities with defense and federal, state and local government agencies, major employers, business organizations and educational institutions, as well as information on Grants and other funding sources.
	The In The News Page is always hot! This page is updated daily with the latest news about BRAC, military and veterans' health care, transportation and legislative initiatives.
	Who are my Representatives in Annapolis and on Capitol Hill? (Find out on the *Resources Page*.)

	UPCOMING EVENTS: (back to top)

	Saturday, December 6, 2008. 10:00 a.m.-noon: Park & Planning Commission's "Growing Smarter" open forum. County planners drafting the 2009-2011 Growth Policy are rethinking how to manage growth, looking beyond basing it just on congestion relief and school capacity. Instead, planners will focus on ways to enhance quality of place in our communities. Thursday, December 11, 2008: Business and Workforce Development -- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce breakfast event at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville: "Fort Detrick and National Cancer Institute Expansion Means New Opportunities For Business." Join this combined meeting of the Chamber's Education & Workforce Preparation Committee, the Economic Development Committee and GovConNet as we explore expansion, workforce needs, and economic development in the Fort Detrick region and how your company can capitalize on growth opportunities. Don't miss this unique chance to gain key insights into Fort Detrick and National Cancer Institute procurement priorities and regional workforce and economic development needs. Thursday, December 11, 2008: Governor's BRAC Subcabinet Local Government Subcommittee meeting in Annapolis, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Location and Agenda TBA. Tuesday, December 16, 2008: Next Meeting of the County's BRAC Implementation Committee. 7:30 p.m. *at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center. More info on the Community Involvement Page.* QUICK LINKS FOR BRAC PROCESS IN BETHESDA (go to *Walter Reed/EIS* and *Transportation* Pages for full info) Timeline for Closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and Realignment to Bethesda and Fort Belvoir Overview of the Environmental Impact Study at NNMC BRAC in Bethesda: Profile by DoD Office of Economic Adjustment Map of Impacted Communities and Intersections near Bethesda Naval Hospital (pdf) NNMC BRAC Home Page NNMC EIS Page NNMC BRAC FAQ (includes impact on local community) Fact Sheets: NNMC WRAM

Last edited: 12/3/2008