Duncan Transportation Budget Priorities: Added Bus Service, Congestion Relief Initiatives

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Contact: David Weaver, 301-217-6530; Robert Merryman, 301-217-2170

For Immediate Release: March 4, 1999

Duncan Transportation Budget Priorities:
Added Bus Service, Congestion Relief Initiatives

More than $1 million in added Ride On bus services and a $300,000 lane re-striping program -- aimed at increasing road and intersection traffic flow capacities, without widening existing roadways - will be among new congestion relief efforts introduced by Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan in his upcoming fiscal year 2000 operating budget.

Following up on a wide range of proposals first introduced in the Montgomery County Congestion Summit he hosted last fall, Duncan today also called for amendments to the County's six-year Capital Improvements Program that will expedite construction improvements on three key road and intersection projects.

"Our traffic congestion problems are taking a heavy toll on the quality of life of our residents, on the productivity of our workers and businesses, and on the environment," said Duncan. "Over the long haul, we will need to press forward with major regional transportation projects, such as the Metro Purple Line and a parkway-like road linking I-270 and I-95."

"But our commuters also need relief right now," said Duncan. "My upcoming transportation budget priorities - with their focus on such practical short-term solutions, such as increased bus service and targeted roadway improvements - will help to immediately reduce congestion on our current roads."

Included in the Executive's operating budget will be six new Ride On bus services, slated for introduction within the next year. These will include shuttle services in the downtown Silver Spring and Bethesda areas, three additional up-county rush hour routes and the extension of Sunday to Dorsey Mill area in Germantown. Also, a State grant to support the County's "Smart Moves 2000" campaign will provide funding for the creation of a Rockville Pike shuttle service.

The new road re-striping initiative is intended to increase the number of lanes on approaches to bottleneck intersections or sections of major roads, by re-striping with narrower lanes, where such changes are feasible and safe. Under this program, some 40 to 50 locations would be re-striped over the next year and another 50 to 60 would be evaluated for possible future efforts.

Planned intersection improvements include two new projects, totalling $3.6 million. These include work in the area of Great Seneca Highway at Muddy Branch Road and Sam Eig Highway, and near Christopher Avenue at Midcounty Highway and Montgomery Village Avenue, in Gaithersburg, and along Redland Road, from Crabbs Branch Way to Needwood Road in the Derwood area.

In addition, the Executive is proposing to start facility planning for improvements to Randolph Road, from Parklawn Drive to Rock Creek. Facility planning serves as a transition stage for a project, between the master plan, or conceptual phase, and its inclusion as a stand-alone project in the CIP.

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