Congestion Relief Highlights Duncan's New Capital Construction Budget

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Contact: David Weaver, 240-777-6530
Robert Kendal, 240-777-2789

For Immediate Release: January 13, 2000

CONGESTION RELIEF HIGHLIGHTS
DUNCAN'S NEW CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION BUDGET

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today unveiled his new six-year capital construction budget for next year. The $1.7 billion capital program focuses on investing in the future, building and maintaining Montgomery County's infrastructure, and improving transportation to relieve traffic congestion.

Duncan's recommended Capital Improvements Program (CIP) will significantly boost the Montgomery County Public School's budget to accommodate the increasing student population and to accelerate school modernizations. The budget will also improve the economic vitality of business districts and neighborhoods; launch a new environmental initiative to conserve forests; construct and renovate police and fire stations; fund a new Public Safety Radio System; and provide new and improved recreational facilities, including a world-class concert hall, recreation centers, libraries, and ballfields.

"This fiscal plan responds to the needs of today and prepares us for the demands of tomorrow, by making investments in children and schools, transportation, the environment, and our neighborhoods and people," said Duncan. "To continue to improve the quality of life for our citizens, this budget supports essential services, facilities and projects that will strengthen the infrastructure to keep pace with our extraordinary growth."

Investing in Children and Schools

Duncan's recommendation for the Montgomery County Public Schools is $619.8 million over the six-year program, a $52.6 million increase. To meet his commitment to improving education, the budget contains the entire Board of Education request for additional school capacity and modernizations, including acceleration of modernizations for elementary and middle schools. Included are construction of ten new school additions, and at selected schools as needed, improved access, fire code safety upgrades, and indoor air quality improvements. To achieve these ambitious goals, the County will seek at least $50 million a year in State education funding over the next six years.

The CIP fully supports the Montgomery College Board of Trustees' request for expansion of the Takoma Park campus (a total cost of $70.1 million). Continued improvements to the college's information technology program will be considered with the College's operating budget request in the spring.

Two library projects are included in the CIP -- a new Rockville Regional Library and library system administrative offices (total cost $21 million), and a new Germantown Library ($17.4 million six-year cost), to be located in the Town Center. A portion of Main St. in Germantown will be constructed in conjunction with the library project.

Investing in Transportation

Duncan's CIP places an emphasis on congestion mitigation efforts and makes good on his pledge to begin funding the new Traffic Relief Investment Program, which supports a variety of approaches to reducing congestion problems. The program includes a six-year total of more than $445 million for roadway, bridge and intersection improvements, transit centers, Metro garages, and pedestrian and bikeway facilities.

Upcounty road projects include the design for Woodfield Road ($415,000), connecting MD Rt. 27 and MD Rt. 124 with the I-270 corridor, which will alleviate congestion in the Damascus business district; completion of Valley Park Drive ($4.4 million total cost), connecting MD Rt. 27 and MD Rt. 124; construction of Schaeffer Rd. ($3.4 million total cost) to coincide with the opening of the South Germantown Recreational Park and Soccerplex; and the planning for an extension to Father Hurley Blvd.

Projects focusing on the Bethesda area include the construction of the Montrose Parkway (total cost of $63 million) to relieve congestion and reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic; intersection improvements to improve safety and traffic flow for Old Georgetown Rd. ($2.6 million) and Jones Bridge Rd. at Rockville Pike ($1.1 million); and eleven intersection improvements to support the planned Conference Center ($2.2 million).

In the eastern county, development of Greencastle Rd. ($2.6 million) will provide improved safety and better access to Fairland Regional Park.

Improvements at six Silver Spring intersections, four of which are funded by the County ($4.4 million) will support the downtown business district development. In addition, the Silver Circle and Town Square Parking Garages will add 3,200 parking spaces to Silver Spring.

Construction of new parking garages at the Shady Grove and Grosvenor Metro Stations ($49.2 million), development of the Silver Spring Transit Center ($39.9 million), and construction of the new Takoma-Langley Crossroads Transit Terminal ($1.1 million) will encourage commuters to take advantage of mass transit options.

The County's state-of-the-art Advanced Transportation Management System will be enhanced to improve integration of the transit and traffic systems and maximize the efficiency of the existing transportation infrastructure.

Investing in the County's Ecosystems and Environment

To protect and rehabilitate the County's natural resources, the CIP seeks to replace reductions in State funding for the countywide stream restoration and protection program with local funds. Reinstatement of State funding commitments will be sought.

Another environmental protection effort, the Advance Reforestation Project

($300,000), will support the County's Forest Conservation law by starting a "tree bank" to mitigate the effect of future highway construction projects.

Three new local storm drains ($1.5 million) in the Battery Park (Bethesda), Emory Lane (Olney), and Ken Branch (Potomac/Travilah) areas are recommended to improve quality of life in those neighborhoods.

Investing in Neighborhoods and Business Centers

The County commitment to Silver Spring redevelopment is ongoing -- all land has been acquired for the Silver Spring Redevelopment area and the County's private partner has begun construction. Federal, State and local grant funds will be used to restore and reuse the Silver Spring Railroad Station. Parking for the Transit Center, and enhanced streetlighting, streetscaping, and traffic improvements also support the Silver Spring effort. In addition, the grand openings of the Round House and Silver Theaters are anticipated in FY02.

Duncan's budget recommendations include continued investment in the revitalization of neighborhoods and business centers by targeting Fenton Street Village, Four Corners, Gaithersburg, Glenmont, Kensington, and South Silver Spring.

Both the Maryland Technology Development Center and the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center have been so successful that they are at capacity. This CIP includes an expansion of the Technology Center ($900,000), which will leverage an additional $250,000 from the State. The expansion will accommodate up to 20 more information technology start-up firms. The budget also includes a study to determine if the density at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center can be increased or if the center can be replicated at another site.

Investing in Recreation and Parks

Duncan recommends construction of a new 2,000 seat concert hall and arts education center at the Strathmore Hall Arts Center ($88.9 million), that will provide Montgomery County with a regional landmark and cultural centerpiece. State funding will be sought to support half of the total cost of the project.

To meet growing demand for new recreational facilities, the CIP includes four new community recreation centers (at about $8 million each) for the Mid-County, North Bethesda, White Oak/Kemp Mill, and North Potomac areas; ballfield improvements, including construction of 22 new fields and facility planning for another 11 fields ($5.9 million); construction of a miniature golf and a splash park at the South Germantown Recreational Park ($4.7 million); and upgrades to the Falls Road, Laytonsville, Poolesville, and Rattlewood Golf Courses to offer more challenges for all skill levels.

An initial funding level of $15 million over six years to support the Legacy 2000 land acquisition program, proposed by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will safeguard exemplary and diverse natural resources; help protect the water supply; protect farmland and rural open spaces; and create green boulevards in urban areas.

Investing in the People of Montgomery County

Public Safety:
Two new fire stations in the CIP, one in East Germantown ($6 million) and one in West Germantown ($4 million), will improve service to upcounty residents. The County will also provide partial funding ($500,000) to help renovate the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department's Fire Station 3.

The new Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village Police District Station ($9 million)

will serve as the permanent home for the new sixth district. Preliminary design and site investigation for a replacement to the Silver Spring Police District Station is also included in the CIP.

A new Police Vehicle Recovery Facility ($3.4 million) will co-locate police units for auto theft, abandoned vehicles, and collision reconstruction -- increasing efficiency and streamlining performance.

The budget includes design for the permanent central processing unit and reuse of the Montgomery County Detention Center. These projects will begin after the new Montgomery County correctional facility is completed due to the potential for security risks during construction.

Communications Infrastructure:
To upgrade communications technology for citizens and public safety staff, the CIP includes final design and installation of the Public Safety Radio System ($50.5 million) - scheduled to be ready for full operation in two years; a new radio repair shop to support the technology infrastructure; and a Fibernet high-speed network for public safety sites and other County facilities.

Other Program Highlights

Historic renovation and reuse of the Moneysworth Farm in Clarksburg and placement of relocatable classrooms on the site for the Kingsley Wilderness project is included in Duncan's recommended CIP.

In addition, local funding ($250,000 per year) to supplement Federal grants will address ongoing maintenance and improvements at public housing units owned and operated by the Housing Opportunities Commission.

Fiscal Highlights

The total tax-supported portion of the recommended CIP is $1.745 billion, which represents a modest increase over the current budget. No increase in taxes or water and sewer rates are necessary to fund Duncan's recommendations. Tax supported borrowing stays within prudent limits, consistent with both County general obligation bonds and Park and Planning Spending Affordability Guidelines adopted by the County Council. In addition, the budget recommendation is consistent with debt levels necessary to ensure continuation of Montgomery County's AAA credit rating.

As is required in even-numbered calendar years under the biennial Capital Improvements Program, Duncan's recommendation for this year is a full capital program. The recommended CIP will be accessible to the public via the Internet. Internet users can access CIP information by logging onto the County's homepage (http://www.co.mo.md.us), clicking on Budget, and then clicking on CIP/Capital Budget.

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