For Immediate Release: January 14, 2002

Duncan Urges Council Approval of ICC,
Montrose Parkway Initiatives;
Unveils Other Transportation Items in Capital Construction
Budget

At a press conference today to unveil his $391.8 million transportation construction budget for transportation, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan called on the Montgomery County Council to help restart the InterCounty Connector (ICC) by supporting completion of a federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). He also urged the Council to approve construction of the $57.6 million Montrose Parkway. The Montgomery County Planning Board voted last Wednesday to support completion of the EIS for the ICC's master plan alignment and the Montrose Parkway, with an extension all the way to Viers Mill Road. The Board will forward their final recommendations to the County Council tomorrow.

"Constructing the InterCounty Connector is the only way we can conquer and defeat traffic congestion and future gridlock," said Duncan. "The debate about the ICC has gone on entirely too long. Completing an Environmental Impact Statement would be a major step forward in the fight to relieve east-west traffic congestion."

Duncan also stated that his capital improvements program (CIP) for fiscal years 2003 to 2008 calls for fully funding the land acquisition and construction of the Montrose Parkway. He urged the County Council to approve this long-overdue measure that will provide congestion relief along Rockville Pike.

"We can no longer delay building the Montrose Parkway, which is the most studied County road project in Montgomery's history," said Duncan. "Through the master planning process, the Council has crafted a vision for the future of North Bethesda that will double the residential and employment development. Congestion is reaching intolerable levels - we must allocate the funds to build the transportation network that will support this planned development now."

Duncan previewed over $117 million in pedestrian safety measures, including $1.2 million in new spending. Consistent with the advice of Duncan's Blue Ribbon Panel on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, this CIP will enhance pedestrian safety and recognize the priority of "walkability" as a much-desired feature of neighborhoods. Building on successful work in residential communities, this budget includes a Main Street Montgomery initiative to improve safety and refresh selected business district roadways.

To encourage walking and biking as alternate forms of transportation, the budget includes the planning and design of major bikeways and pedestrian facilities connecting residential areas to business districts and commuter rail and other mass transit. To make walking safer, a new pedestrian safety program will install physical structures and/or traffic control devices to improve walkability along County roadways with high concentrations of pedestrians and mass transit ridership.

Eleven existing programs receive over $6 million in new funding, with a greater focus on pedestrian safety, including compliance with the transportation aspects related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the annual sidewalk program, bus stop improvements, intersection and spot improvements, neighborhood traffic calming, transportation improvements for new schools, resurfacing of primary and arterial roadways, sidewalk and infrastructure revitalization, streetlighting, traffic signals, and the Advanced Traffic Management System.

Duncan highlighted other transportation measures that he will present in the CIP, including: · $1.8 million to extend Citadel Avenue to provide a direct link between the White Flint Metro and nearby business destinations.

· $28.2 million to complete Norbeck Road Extended by the end of 2002.

· $27.4 million to open the Shady Grove Metro parking garage in the Fall 2002.

· $27.4 million to fund construction of the Grosvenor Metro garage to open in early
2004 along with the Strathmore Concert Hall.

· $5 million to add a bridge preservation project to prevent long-term structural
problems to reduce future repair and replacement costs.

· $2.5 million to study and prioritize noise abatement measures along publicly-owned
and maintained roads in Montgomery County.

· Leveraging federal and state funds to implement Federal Aviation Administration
recommended air navigation and ground property safety improvements at the
Montgomery County Airpark.

Last week, the Montgomery County Planning Board agreed that regardless of whether
the federal government approves the ICC, they would support constructing the end
sections of the road, known as the eastern and western parkways. The Planning Board
also voted to support widening of Norbeck Road to four lanes between Georgia Avenue
and U.S. Route 29.