Steve Burns
WMAL.com
POTOMAC, Md – (WMAL) Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is announcing a $100 million grant up for grabs as he seeks innovative ideas to keep traffic on Interstate 270 moving, though tolls, he said, are out of the question.
I-270 is routinely ranked as one of the most congested highways in the D.C. area and the country, serving as the main artery for commuters traveling from densely-populated suburbs in Montgomery and Frederick Counties into the District. Maryland has moved slower than neighboring Virginia on congestion mitigation, but Hogan said he’s ready to see proposals.
“We’re calling on the most creative minds in the transportation industry to step forward and offer real solutions,” Hogan told a crowd gathered on the side of the highway Monday afternoon. “I’m excited to see innovation in action when it comes to solving the problems of congestion here on I-270.”
He said bids will be reviewed later this year with the winner selected in February 2017, though Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn told reporters the money may not be spent if the state isn’t satisfied with the proposals.
Virginia has added High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes to its side of the Beltway, and is planning similar projects for Interstate 66 inside and outside the Beltway. Hogan, however, said tolling is not an option, telling reporters “it’s not something we’ve been talking about.”
That stance puts him at odds with local leaders in the Montgomery County Council, who have advocated for a Virginia-style approach for years.
“We are not philosophically opposed to (tolling), as the Governor appears to be,” Councilmember Roger Berliner told WMAL. “If you take (tolls) off the table, then you’re left with a state that’s scrambling for dollars, then less can happen.”
Berliner said there may be some cheap fixes, like reversible lanes, but sounded a skeptical tone that $100 million would be enough to make a real impact.
“Cynics say there’s nothing you can do for $100 million. Let’s wait and see. I think it’s a step in the right direction, and we can assess how transformative it’ll be once the bids come in.”
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved.
(Photo: WMAL)
