Steve Burns
WMAL.com
POTOMAC – (WMAL) Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Wednesday gave a formal introduction to his plans to unclog and decongest Interstate 270 through Montgomery County, even as some county leaders and transportation advocates criticized it for not doing nearly enough.
“These traffic congestion-relieving solutions will help us achieve a more modern and more adaptable I-270 by creating a sophisticated, automated smart traffic system,” Hogan said at a press conference overlooking the highway Wednesday. “It will save commuters about 30 minutes just on their morning commute, just between I-270 and 495.”
The plan calls for adding new lanes through certain stretches, reconfiguring entrance and exit ramps, and adding traffic lights at on-ramps to better space out traffic. It falls short of the expectations of some transportation advocates, however, by making little investment in transit and carpooling.
Hogan had earlier made $100 million available for what he called the most “innovative, out-of-the-box” idea. However, the Action Committee for Transit has called the plan a double-down on proven failures, and ATU Local 689, the largest union of Metro employees, said the plans are “hardly innovative and will not ease congestion.”
Hogan defended his plan, but also acknowledged it will not make every backup disappear.
“This certainly will provide some noticeable relief from congestion as we continue to work with our federal and local partners on long-term solutions,” Hogan said. “Ideally, we’d like to have more lanes on 270, some kind of transit solution, but that’s not going to happen.”
Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner, who had earlier called Hogan’s plan “not all that innovative,” made clear he hopes the Governor’s plan is just the start.
“My hope and the hope of my colleagues is that this is the beginning of the story, not the end of the story,” Berliner said. “(I hope) we will see much more robust improvements on 270 all the way to the American Legion Bridge…to improve transit opportunities, (High Occupancy Toll) reversible lanes.”
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett also defended Hogan, saying 270 needs all the help it can get.
“We could’ve been bolder, but boldness would’ve had us waiting much longer,” Leggett said. “I’d much rather solve some of the problems now, rather than wait for a plan that solves all of the problems sometime far in the future.”
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