• TRANSPORTATION PROJECT UPDATES:
  
  
  • BRAC Transportation Project Matrix
    Status of projects underway or proposed to mitigate BRAC-related traffic around NNMC.    Matrix will be updated periodically.
    
    
  • 11-17-09 MDOT/MC-DOT Transportation Investment Priorities: BRAC Projects based on available, projected, and/or requested funding  (33 pp)
    
    
  • 10-5-09 Overview of Coordinated BRAC Implementation Effort -- MDOT Presentation to Community Leaders  (20 pp) 
    
    
  • 9-25-09 Bethesda BRAC Transportation Investment Priorities:  A joint MDOT/MC-DOT memo listing phased implementation of projects and funding streams
    • 10-9-09 Gazette.Net:  Easing the BRAC transition in Bethesda -- Commentary by Anthony Brown, Maryland's lieutenant governor and chairman of the governor's Subcabinet on Base Realignment and Closure
      
      
  • Pedestrian Access Project Update as of 10-12-09
    
    
  • 10-7-09 Congress Approves FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill -- includes specific language about Bethesda BRAC traffic, transit and pedestrian access issues
    
    
  • 9-29-09 Dept. of Defense certifies Medical Center Metro station pedestrian access project for Defense Access Road (DAR) funding, a significant step towards federal funding for the project.
    •  Defense Access Road (DAR) Program:  Information on the program generally and efforts to fund an east-side entrance to the Metro station at NNMC.  For complete info on the DAR program and DAR proposals for Bethesda, fo to the Transportation and Infrastructure Page.
    • DEPT. OF THE NAVY'S FORMAL REQUEST THAT DoD CERTIFY TWO PROJECTS AS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR DAR FUNDING, 5-2-08  (16 page pdf)
      
      
  • 10-7-09 Montgomery County statement regarding the Medical Center pedestrian access project.
    
    • 10-8-09 Maryland Politics Watch blog:  Let’s Make this BRAC Work -- commentary by Ilaya Rome Hopkins, Chair of the Coalition of Military Medical Center Neighbors and member of the BRAC Implementation Committee representing the East Bethesda Citizens Association
      
      
  • 9-16-09 Gazette.Net:  County proposes underpass for Medical Center Metro station -- Pedestrian, bike path would cut under Rockville Pike; estimated cost is $30 million
    
              Go to the Transportation Page for more information on the Metro Station pedestrian access project
    
    
    
  • 10-6-09 "Statewide Vision & BRAC: Transportation Choices" -- Presentation by MDOT Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley to the General Assembly Joint Committee on BRAC
    
    
    
• HOT NEWS:
  
  
• 11-15-09 Audit reviews BRAC savings -- GAO Report: 2005 round of base closures to cost more, save less
  • 11-13-09 Government Accountability Office Report GAO-10-98R:  Military Base Realignments and Closures: Estimated Costs Have Increased While Savings Estimates Have Decreased Since Fiscal Year 2009  (23 pp)
    • One-page summary
      
      
• DRAFT FY2010-15 MDOT Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP)
  The Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) is Maryland's six-year capital budget for transportation projects.  The Capital Program includes major and minor projects for the Maryland Department of Transportation and the modal agencies and related authorities within the Department, including the Maryland Aviation Administration, the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Maryland Transit Administration, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Maryland Port Administration, and the Maryland Transportation Authority.  An expanded description is shown for each major project, along with a list of minor capital projects.   
   
  
• Thursday, October 8, 2009, Grand Opening of WRAMC BRAC Career Transition Center, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, WRAMC Delano Hall Bldg. Room 1-96, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington DC.
  
  
• 9-9-09 GAO Report (U.S. Government Accountability Office):  GAO-09-750 -- Military Base Realignments and Closures: Transporation Impact of Personnel Increases Will Be Significant, but Long-Term Costs Are Uncertain and Direct Federal Support Is Limited
  
  
  • 9-9-09 WTOP 103.5 FM News Radio:  GAO: BRAC to create congestion problems
    
  • 9-10-09 Federal News Radio 1500 AM:  (AUDIO)  GAO: Long-term costs of BRAC uncertain
    
  • 9-10-09 Federal News Radio 1500 AM:  (AUDIO)  Montgomery County BRAC coordinator reacts to GAO report
    

  • 9-10-09 WTOP 103.5 FM News Radio:  GAO: BRAC to create congestion problems

    • 9-9-09 GAO Report (U.S. Government Accountability Office):  GAO-09-750 -- Military Base Realignments and Closures: Transporation Impact of Personnel Increases Will Be Significant, but Long-Term Costs Are Uncertain and Direct Federal Support Is Limited
      • 9-9-09 GAO-09-750 Report:  Highlight Page
      • 9-9-09 GAO-09-750 Report:  Full Report  (42 pp)

• 9-8-09 Washington Business Journal:  D.C. may get surplus Walter Reed land after all
  
  
• 8-26-09 Gazette.Net:  Funding OK'd for design of paths near Navy Med -- $750,000 study will plan sidewalks, bike lanes
  
  
  • 8-14-09 Montgomery County Dept. of Transportation:  New Ped and Bike Facilities Planned for Medical Center Area
    
    
• 7-29-09 WMATA FINAL REPORT:  Evaluation of Medical Center Metro station pedestrian access
  
  • Excerpt:  Executive Summary
    
  • 8-3-09 Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett News Release:  Leggett Urges Action on Approaching Bethesda Naval Pedestrian, Traffic Impacts -- Final WMATA Report Details Rockville Pike Impacts of Walter Reed Transfer
    
    
• 8-27-09 Defense Industry Daily:  Up to $197M to Whiting-Turner for Construction of Walter Reed Facilities
  
  • 8-27-09 NNMC Journal:  Contract awarded for Phase II of BRAC -- Transitional support facilities to be added to future WRNNMC
    
    
• BRAC Public Transportation Report: Montgomery County excerpt -- Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) June 2009  (12 pp)
  
  
• DEFENSE DEPT. BUDGET INCLUDES PROJECT FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM NAVY MED CAMPUS TO MEDICAL CENTER METRO STATION:
  
  
  • May 2009 Excerpt from FY2011 DOD budget showing "placeholder" for Defense Access Road (DAR) funding for Bethesda BRAC Metro entrance/pedestrian access project
    
    
  • 6-18-09 Gazette.Net:  Study to look at biker, walker paths near BRAC in Bethesda -- Sidewalk, intersection, Metro upgrades meant to ease traffic near Navy Med, NIH
    
    
  • 5-27-09 Gazette.Net:  Budget marks $20M for new station entrance -- Defense outlines funds for changes at Medical Center Metro
    
    
  • 5-26-09 Corridor Inc. (Montgomery County News Release):  Leggett hails inclusion of $20M in DOD budget request for new metro entrance at Bethesda Naval
    
    
  • 5-20-09 Washington Post:  Bethesda -- Officials Aim to Improve Medical Campus Access 
    
    
  • 6-2-09 Letter from WMATA General Manager John Catoe supporting Pedestrian Underpass at Medical Center Metro station
    
    
    
• State Highway Administration (SHA)'s Bethesda BRAC Intersections Improvement Project:   
  
  
• • Summary details as of April 2, 2009;   Maps as of April 2, 2009.  

SHA Summary Report, February 2009:  Traffic and Intersection Improvement Studies for Base Realignment and Closure -- Bethesda National Naval Medical Center:  Go to this site's TRANSPORTATION PAGE and scroll down to "Projects Under Way - Major Intersection Improvements."  This study describes traffic problems and potential improvements at the major intersections that serve NNMC.

Community Responses to SHA proposals presented at April 2 Public Workshop can be also be seen on the TRANSPORTATION PAGE, or on the COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PAGE -- scroll down to the Meeting Summary for April 21, 2009.

 

• Fort Meade Regional Welcome BRAC site -- includes info on business and employment opportunities
  
  
• Park-N-Ride Lots in Montgomery County -- List of Lots and Bus Routes Served
  Commuters may park their vehicles in the Montgomery County Park-N-Ride lots described below at no cost. There are a few, however, that may require a parking permit and fee. You can meet your carpools or vanpools at these lots, or transfer to public tranportation from these lots.
  
  
• FAQ on Transit and Commuting to NNMC Bethesda (as of May 1, 2009)
  
  
• Non-BRAC Projects in the Area
  State or County transportation agencies are always repairing or improving roads and sidewalks in the area.  These projects should not be confused with BRAC-related traffic improvements.  In any case, it is important to note that state and local agencies coordinate their work to have the least impact on affected neighborhoods.
             Cedar Lane-Rock Creek bridge project  
  
  
• 2-5-09 Associated Press:   Base realignment boon becomes burden in recession
  
  
• DISA BRAC Information Portal: 
  Everything you need to know about the relocation of the Defense Information Systems Agency to Fort Meade.
  
  
  
• Mental Health Helpline for Montgomery County Veterans and Their Families:  301-738-7176
  Montgomery County service members, veterans and their families can now call the County’s Military Helpline at 301-738-7176?to find out about mental health services, family readiness organizations and housing, employment and transition assistance resources. The Helpline, operated by the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, is available free of charge Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
  
  
• Participate in the Park & Planning Commission's "Growing Smarter" Initiative:
  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.
  
  
  

CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS:

•  3-11-09 Washington Post:  Senate Approves $410 Billion Bill to Fund Federal Government

  • 3-10-09 Senator Barbara Mikulski News Release:  MIKULSKI DELIVERS ON COMMITMENT TO BRAC-RELATED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS -- Secures $56.7 million for Maryland priorities

• 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. 
  

• Why a Beltway Exit to the NNMC Campus May Not Be Feasible:
  
  
  • 7-29-08 Technical Discussion Paper by MD State Highway Administration (SHA) on why a Beltway exit to NNMC may not be 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
  • 7-4-08 Washington Post:  Bush Opens New Chapter for Hospital -- Ground Broken in Bethesda for Facility to Replace Aging Walter Reed Center
  • 7-4-08 Baltimore Sun:  New Walter Reed is begun -- Bush presides at groundbreaking for military hospital
  • 7-3-08 Baltimore Sun:  BRAC needs worry officials -- Localities lack federal help for schools, roads and utilities
  • 7-3-08 NNMC Journal:  Shovels Hit Dirt Today to Usher in New Era 
     

• 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
     

• 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)

• Tuesday, December 15, 2009:  Meeting of Montgomery County's BRAC Implementation Committee.  7:30 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center.   Agenda, directions and more info on the Community Involvement Page.
  
  
• TBA:  Maryland Military Installations Council, 8:00-11:30 a.m., 100 Community Place, Crownsville MD.   More Information: 
• • MD Dept. of Business & Economic Development's Office of Military Affairs
  • Maryland Military Installations Council
  • Maryland Military Installations
  • Maryland Military Alliances
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

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