Montgomery County, MD

CONGRESSIONAL & FEDERAL SUPPORT OF BRAC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN BETHESDA  

 

 Go HERE for details on Defense Access Road program funding in Bethesda

• 9-20-16 Montgomery County Government:  MCDOT Awards Contract for Pedestrian Crossing and High Speed Elevators at Medical Center Metro Station in Bethesda
  
  
• 4-16-15 Association of Defense Communities:  Funding Needed to Alleviate Gridlock outside Bases, Washington State Lawmaker Testifies
  • 5-18-15 Lakewood (WA) Suburban Times:  Funding for I-5 improvements around JBLM in FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act -- Friday the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, which included an amendment that would provide funding for roads in urban areas around military installations such as Interstate 5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The amendment from Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) authorizes $25 million to be made available through the Office of Economic Adjustment for “transportation infrastructure improvements associated with congestion mitigation in urban areas related to recommendations of the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.”
     
• 6-13-14 & 7-7-14:  Report Language for FY2015 Defense Appropriations Bill:  Unobligated balances of $300 million BRAC-related appropriations from FY2011 shall be retained for their intended purpose, to improve access to DOD military treatment facilities that were impacted by the 2005 BRAC law.
  • 3-20-15:  DOD Follow-Up Report to House Armed Services Committee on OEA Unobligated Balances
     
• 1-3-13 U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen News Release:  Van Hollen, Mikulski, Cardin Announce Release of $12.6 million in Federal Funds for BRAC-Related Transportation Project in Bethesda -- Federal Funds to Improve Access to Walter Reed National Military Center, Ease Congestion in Surrounding Community -- Funds for SHA Intersection Improvement projects at Maryland Route 355 (Rockville Pike) and West Cedar Lane/Cedar Lane, and at Maryland 355 and Jones Bridge Road/Center Drive. 
   
• 12-11-12 Bethesda Patch:  Funds Released for Improvements to Major Chevy Chase Intersection -- This is the second set of funds released for specific transportation improvements to help ease traffic problems on roads leading to the Bethesda medical campuses
  • 12-11-12 U.S. Department of Defense News Release:  DOD Approves $129 Million in Grants for Transportation Improvements and to Replace Schools Located on Military Installations -- The Department of Defense announced today five grants from the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), including a $18.3 million grant to the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration to improve access to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. 
     
• 9-17-12 BethesdaNow.com:  State Awarded $7.3 Million For BRAC-Related Intersection Improvement
  • 9-17-12 U.S. Department of Defense News Release:  DoD Approves $25 Million Grant to the State of Texas and a $7.3 Million Grant to the State of Maryland for Transportation Improvements, and a $37,134,368 Grant to Lawton Public Schools to Replace Schools on Fort Sill, Okla. -- MD funds for Intersection Improvements in Bethesda at Old Georgetown Road and West Cedar Lane
     
• 8-6-12 U.S. Department of Defense News Release:  DOD Approves $40 Million Grant to Montgomery County, Md.
   
• 11-1-11 U.S. Department of Defense News Release:  Defense Officials Distribute BRAC Traffic Money
  • 11-1-11 Montgomery County News Release:  Leggett Praises $90 Million Federal Funding for Transit, Road & Pedestrian Improvements in Bethesda; Projects will address increased traffic related to BRAC at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
  • 11-2-11 Washington Post:  Pentagon to fund millions in BRAC-related transportation projects
     
• 10-10-11 Bethesda Patch:  County, State Want $90 Million For Bethesda BRAC Improvements -- Bethesda is among several communities vying for $300 million in federal transportation funds
  • 7-21-11  Federal Register: Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity from the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), U.S. Department of Defense  (3 pp)
  • 9-9-11 Federal Register (Vol. 76, No. 175): Revisions to Selection Criteria for Federal Funding Opportunity from the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements associated with BRAC-impacted military medical faciltiies
    • 10-7-11  MCDOT Proposal:  $40 million to supplement $28 million in Defense Access Road (DAR) funds for Maryland Route 355 Crossing Project  (20 pp)
    • 10-7-11  SHA Proposal:  $19 million for unfunded phases of Intersection Improvements at MD 355 (Rockville Pike) and Cedar Lane/West Cedar Lane  (20 pp)
    • 10-7-11  SHA Proposal:  $18.3 million for unfunded phases of Intersection Improvements at MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue and Jones Bridge Road/Kensington Parkway  (19 pp)
    • 10-7-11  SHA Proposal:  $7.3 million for Intersection Improvemtns at MD 187 (Old Georgetown Road) and West Cedar Lane/Oakmont Ave.  (17 pp)
    • 10-7-11  SHA Proposal:  $1.1 million for Bethesda Trolley Trail extension and passenger drop-off loop along MD 187 (Old Georgetown Rd.)  (18 pp)
    • 10-7-11  SHA Proposal:  $4.3 million for unfunded phases of Intersection Improvements at MD 355 (Rockville Pike) and Jones Bridge Road/Center Drive  (17 pp)
       
• 10-21-11 Federal Highway Administration advice of DAR funds available for obligation from U.S. Dept. of Defense
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  5-13-11 Federal Highway Administration approves Categorical Exclusion for Maryland Route 355 Crossing Project at Medical Center Metro Station, qualifying it for federal funding  (14 pp)

• 5-12-11 U.S. Representative James Moran News Release: FY’12 Defense Bill to Grant DoD Authority to Delay BRAC Moves -- Moran asks Secretary Gates to include Mark Center in delayed list

• 4-20-11 Gazette.Net:  Bethesda seeks piece of $300M pie -- Federal budget extension opens door for transportation funding
  • 4-19-11 Chevy Chase Patch:  Federal Funds Secured for BRAC-Related Transportation Improvements -- New bike lanes and an underground pedestrian walkway under Route 355 will help ease traffic congestion when the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center moves in with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda later this year
  • 4-18-11 Montgomery County News Release:  Leggett Thanks Federal Delegation for New Funding to Address BRAC-Related Traffic in Bethesda
  • 4-15-11 Language in Public Law 112-10, "The Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011" that provides $300 million for BRAC-related transportation improvements near military medical facilities and ensures the funds will be available until they are expended.

• 4-5-11 Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett News Release:  Leggett to Testify on Local Transportation Priorities at Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works -- He will discuss the impacts BRAC is already having on the Bethesda area and stress the importance of Congress continuing the New Starts Program so the County can advance the Corridor Cities Transitway, the Purple Line and a Bus Rapid Transit system.

• 4-6-11 Statement of the County Executive Isiah Leggett Before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on State and Local Perspectives on Transportation 
   
•  2-8-11 Washington Post:  Study: Pentagon should pay for transportation improvements necessitated by BRAC
  • 2-16-11 Gazette.Net:  National report says Feds should help pay for Bethesda BRAC projects -- Montgomery official: ‘It's exactly what we've been saying for years'
  • 2-8-11 The State Column:  Maryland and Virginia congressional delegations comment on National Academy of Sciences DOD findings
  • 2-7-11 WTOP 103.5 FM (Associated Press):  Report: Pentagon should help traffic at 6 bases
    • 2-7-11 Federal Funding of Transportation Improvements in BRAC Cases -- Report of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies  (106 pp)
      • Executive Summary  (4 pp)         
      • 2-7-11 WMAR/ABC2-TV:  BRAC: Naval Medical Center traffic infrastructure
      • 2-8-11 Washington Post:  (GRAPHIC)  More Pentagon funding for BRAC transportation projects
         
• 6-30-10 Van Hollen Amendment to the Senate Version of HR 4899, the FY2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.  This language ensures the availability of $300 million appropriated in December 2009 for BRAC-related transportation projects around military hospitals at NNMC Bethesda and Fort Belvoir. 
   
• 4-27-10 USA TODAY:  Troops' care facility listed critical -- The Pentagon effort to consolidate two premier hospitals for treating wounded troops has more than doubled in price and is so rudderless that an independent review and a bipartisan group of legislators say the care could suffer.
  • 4-23-10 U.S. Department of Defense:  Comprehensive Master Plan for the National Capital Region Medical -- Creating a World-Class, Integrated Healthcare Delivery System in the National Capital Region  (189 pp)
  • 1-22-10 Correspondence from House Armed Services Committee  
  • 3-25-10 H.R. 4949, a Bill to establish within the Office of the Secretary of Defense an office responsible for implementing all recommendations and requirements regarding military medical facilities in the National Capital Region.
  • May 2009:  "ACHIEVING WORLD CLASS: An Independent Review of the Design Plans for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital"  (68 pp)
  • "What is a World-Class Medical Facility?"  Commentary by Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, American Journal of Medical Quality, February 9, 2010
     
• 4-6-10 U.S. Dept. of Defense response re: Dec. 2009 $300 million Congressional earmark to mitigate transportation issues around NNMC Bethesda and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
   
• 3-18-10 1500 AM Federal News Radio:  (AUDIO)  House panel learns BRAC is in the home stretch: 

  In recent months, there have been reports of other construction delays at the new joint Army-Navy "Walter Reed National Medical Center", which is being built on the campus of the existing Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In addition, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D.-Md.), whose district includes the Walter Reed campus, continues to lobby for funds to expand surrounding roadways, and fund a pedestrian tunnel across Route 355 to the NIH Metrorail station.

  Chairman Edwards says he's confident that Walter Reed, and a new base medical facility at Fort Belvoir, will provide "world class care, cutting edge facilities unlike anything we've seen before. It appears that some of the construction challenges at Fort Belvoir are going to require some additional spending, in order to meet the deadline. I'm still not sure we've solved all the traffic problems that are going to be caused by the expansion at Bethesda and at Fort Belvoir."

  Edwards also believes the lack of funding to provide for local traffic and other infrastructure improvements to deal with additional traffic resulting from BRAC-mandated facility changes is "a real fault of the current BRAC process. It does not take into account the need to invest in roads that are not directly located on a military site, but will be directly impacted by a DoD facility."

• 12-10-09 A House-Senate Conference Committee has reached agreement on an omnibus appropriations bill that will fund numerous federal agencies through Fiscal Year 2010 (through September 30, 2010).  Funding for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation includes $4.4 million designated for the intersection mprovements relating to BRAC at NNMC Bethesda.  In addition, the Military Construction portion of the bill includes funding to study transportation issues in BRAC-growth communities, and to help determine ways to make the Defense Access Road (DAR) program more applicable to transit and other alternative modes of transportation.  This is a direct result of issues raised by Montgomery County and DOD’s decision to consider transit improvements when it certified Rockville Pike at NNMC Bethesda for certification under the DAR program.
  • 12-11-09 WTOP 103.5 FM:  Roads near Bethesda Naval expected to see improvements
  • FY2010 Transportation funding for MD 355 project  (Scroll to pager 161)
  • FY2010 Military Construction language re: DAR Program (pp 10-11)
     

• 10-7-09 Congress Approves FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill -- includes specific language about Bethesda BRAC traffic, transit and pedestrian access issues
   

• 6-5-09  Representative Chris Van Hollen letter to SHA re: bicycle and pedestrian improvements
   

• 6-24-08 Statement of Chairman Chet Edwards -- FY09 VA-Military Construction Bill Builds on Historic FY08 Funding Increases 

  • EXTRACTED BILL  LANGUAGE:  Traffic Impacts at BRAC-Affected Installations.-The Committee is concerned about the potential for increased traffic congestion at the new military medical facility to be constructed in Bethesda, Maryland through the Base Realignment and Closure process. The Committee supports the responsible commander's decision to request certification for two projects under the Defense Access Roads (DAR) program, and urges the Department to expeditiously review this request.  COMPLETE DAR LANGUAGE.
     
• FY2009 Defense Authorization bill:  Senate DAR language (2 pp.)
  • FY2009 Defense Appropriations bill:  Delay Walter Reed closure language  (2 pp.)
  • FY2009 Defense Appropriations Bill: Congressman John Murtha Press Release  (3 pp.)
  • FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill:  Design and construction benchmarks language  (2 pp.) 
     
• ADDITIONAL $9.4 million for SHA Intersections Program, FY 2008-2010:
  • Additional FY10 $4.4 million Congressional funding:  (Scroll to pager 161)
  • Additional FY09 $3 million Congressional funding:  3-12-09 Baltimore Business Journal:  BRAC work in Maryland getting $57M federal infusion
    • 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
  • 12-20-07 Congress approves $1.97 million in FY2008 funds for BRAC-related Transportation Study along Route 355 Corridor near NNMC.
     
• 12-16-09 Congressman Chris Van Hollen News Release:  Van Hollen, Mikulski & Cardin Fighting for $300 Million for BRAC Traffic Fix in National Capital Region -- House Defense Bill Includes Transportation Upgrades Connecting New Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir Hospitals to Surrounding Communities; Senate vote expected in coming days
  • Language from FY2010 Defense Appropriations bill detailing the $300 million designated for transportation mitigation projects at NNMC Bethesda and Fort Belvoir
    • Defense Health Board -- National Capital Region Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Health Systems External Advisory Subcommittee
  • May 2009:  "ACHIEVING WORLD CLASS: An Independent Review of the Design Plans for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital"
  • 10-2-09 Joint Letter from County Executive Leggett and Lt. Gov. Brown to Congressman Van Hollen describing  project funding priorities
  • 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
  • 11-17-09 MDOT/MC-DOT Transportation Investment Priorities: BRAC Projects implementation based on available, projected, and/or requested funding  (33 pp)
  • BRAC Transportation Priorities -- Tiers and Phases based on funding streams
  • 12-18-09 Washington Examiner:  House OKs $300M for roads near Bethesda Naval, Fort Belvoir
  • 12-23-09 Washington Post:  Montgomery, Fairfax get funds to handle base relocation traffic 
     

 

• DEFENSE ACCESS ROAD (DAR) PROGRAM REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR METRO ACCESS PROJECT AT NNMC:

• 12-13-11 Association of Defense Communities:  Policy Bill Requires DOD to Find New Funding Sources for Road Improvements
  • Defense Access Road language in Conference Report to HR 1540, the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act
     
• 6-10-11 DOD notification of intent to reprogram additional $8.174 million in DAR funding for the Rockville Pike Crossing Project at the Medical Center Metro Station
   
• 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 DEPT. BUDGET INCLUDES DAR PROJECT FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM NAVY MED CAMPUS TO MEDICAL CENTER METRO STATION:
  • Excerpt from FY2010 DOD budget -- includes Defense Access Road (DAR) Metro Access project at NNMC for FY2011
  • 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 John Catoe, WMATA General Manager, to Congressman Chris Van Hollen supporting pedestrian underpass project at Medical Center Metro Station
   
• DEPT. OF THE NAVY'S FORMAL REQUEST THAT DoD CERTIFY TWO PROJECTS AS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR DAR FUNDING, 5-2-08  (16 page pdf) 
   
• Congressional Briefing, April 29, 2008, by U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine & Surgery on BRAC action at NNMC, with emphasis on DAR project mitigations  (8 -page pdf)
   
• 6-12-08 Memo from SDDC to NNMC on status of DAR requests
  • 6-9-08 Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin News Release:  Mikulski, Cardin Fight for Federal Investment in BRAC-Related Transportation Costs
     
  • 6-16-08  Van Hollen Commends Defense Department for Working to Mitigate Traffic Problems Caused by BRAC Relocation -- Calls for Continued Cooperation
     
• 7-3-08 Baltimore Sun:  BRAC needs worry officials -- Localities lack federal help for schools, roads and utilities
   

• DEFENSE ACCESS ROADS (DAR) PROGRAM

• DEPT. OF THE NAVY'S FORMAL REQUEST THAT DoD CERTIFY TWO PROJECTS AS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR DAR FUNDING, 5-2-08  (16 page pdf)
   
• METRO ENTRANCE AT NNMC:  Proposed east-side entrance to Medical Center Red Line Metro Station, WMATA presentation, 6-19-07
   
• TURN LANE IMPROVEMENTS AND POSSIBLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT WISCONSIN AVENUE @ NORTH WOOD DRIVE (NNMC's north entrance and NIH truck inspection facility).
   
• Congressional Briefing, April 29, 2008, by U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine & Surgery on BRAC action at NNMC, with emphasis on DAR project mitigations  (8 -page pdf)
  • Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), U.S. Army
  • U.S. Navy, Bureau of Medicine & Surgery (BUMED)
  • John J. Young, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics
  • B.J. Penn, Asst. Secretary of the Navy (Installations & Environment)
  • Wayne Arny, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Installations & Environment)
     
• 6-9-08 Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin News Release:  Mikulski, Cardin Fight for Federal Investment in BRAC-Related Transportation Costs
   
• ROD Extract:  Traffic Mitigations, 5-6-08  (6-page pdf)  This includes two proposed federally-funded Defense Access Road (DAR) projects outside the campus:  an entrance to the Medical Center Metro station from the east side of Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355), and turn lanes and other improvements along MD 355 at North Wood Drive.  NOTE: the DAR projects identified in the Final EIS have been altered in the ROD.
   
• Extract from Final EIS:  4.7.3 Potential Measures to Address Impacts from NNMC Action -- includes Potential Roadway Improvements External to NNMC for DAR Certification, 4-4-08 (6 pp)
   
• GAO Report 08-665, June 17, 2008:  "Defense Infrastructure:  High-Level Leadership Needed to Help Communities Address Challenges Caused by DOD-Related Growth" (55 pp pdf)
   
• GAO Report 08-602R, April 1, 2008:  "Defense Infrastructure: DOD Funding for Infrastructure and Road Improvements Surrounding Growth Installations"
  • Summary
  • Full Report (23-page pdf)
     
• Congressional Research Service Memorandum, Jan. 11, 2008:  "There are no hard-and-fast traffic-related benchmarks that trigger the initiation of a DAR project."
  • Example: FY2000 Mil Con Appropriations (H.Report 106-266)
  • FHwA CFR DAR Regulations
  • DOD Transportation Engineering Program
  • Air Force Biennial Budget Estimates, FY2000-2001
    
     
• 6-10-11 DOD notification of intent to reprogram additional $28 million in DAR funding for the Rockville Pike Crossing Project at the Medical Center Metro Station
  • 10-21-11 Federal Highway Administration advice of DAR funds available for obligation from U.S. Dept. of Defense
     

• 1-26-11 Government Accountability Office:  GAO Report 11-165: Defense Infrastructure -- High-Level Federal Interagency Coordination Is Warranted to Address Transportation Needs beyond the Scope of the Defense Access Roads Program  (51 pp)

  • Summary

  • Highlights  (1 page)

 

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