Subject
title
Approval of a Letter from the City of Rockville to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board and the Maryland Department of Transportation Regarding the I-270 Op Lanes Freeway Expansion Project and its Inclusion in Visualize 2050: National Capital Region Transportation Plan.
endDepartment
PW - Traffic & Transportation
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Mayor and Council approve the letter to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (MWCOG) Transportation Planning Board and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) regarding the I-270 Op Lanes freeway expansion project and its inclusion in Visualize 2050: National Capital Region Transportation Plan.
Discussion
Visualize 2050 is the MWCOG long-range transportation plan update, which updates Visualize 2045. This update has not yet been approved by the Transportation Planning Board. The long-range transportation plan demonstrates the region’s collective plans to operate, maintain, fund, and expand the transportation network over the following 25 years. It is also used to inform the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which provides the schedule over the next four years for distributing federal, state, and local funds for transportation projects. The long-range plan and TIP must demonstrate how the region will attain its air quality requirements.
The Op Lanes Maryland project, which is included in Visualize 2050, is a managed toll road project that seeks to widen I-270 between I-70 and I-495 as well as I-495 between the American Legion Bridge and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Managed toll lanes are toll roads in which the cost of the toll varies to manage the demand for its use. This project is divided into multiple segments, Segment D includes Rockville and spans I-270 from the top of I-270 spur to I-370.
The Op Lanes Maryland project within Visualize 2050 includes repurposing the existing lanes of Segment D, from 8-11 general purpose lanes, 1 of which operates as a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in the peak direction during the peak hour, into 7-10 general purpose lanes and 4 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. This is the same proposal included within Visualize 2045. The proposed modification also includes repurposing the existing HOV 2+ lane as a HOT 3+ lane, which will result in users, likely to include Rockville residents, being required to pay the toll to use the repurposed lane.
Since the completion of the Visualize 2045 Plan and based on prior feedback from the city, MDOT has indicated they would “deemphasize” Segment D. However, this would result in a phased construction approach in which managed toll lanes would be constructed to the south and possibly north of Rockville, but not within the city. It is not clear how a phased approach would impact Rockville. More information related to transitioning between toll lane and non-toll lane areas is necessary, as well as information related to the impacts to the existing local access lanes and traffic operations within the city. If Visualize 2050 includes the proposed managed toll lanes as the approved concept for the project, it will likely not be possible to further compel study of the impact of this phased approach.
Despite the indication by MDOT, that Segment D has been “deemphasized,” the Visualize 2050 does not downgrade the segment to indicate further study is necessary. The proposed modifications within Segment D in Visualize 2050 are unchanged from the Visualize 2045 plan. To formalize the deemphasized classification and compel further analysis by MDOT, it is necessary to update Visualize 2050 to study Segment D. This will also provide further opportunity for collaboration between MDOT and regional stakeholders.
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time that the I-270 Op Lanes project has been raised with this Mayor and Council. The preceding Mayor and Council has unequivocally stated its opposition to the I-270 Op Lanes project and has sent multiple letters to the Maryland Department of Transportation, and U.S. Department of Transportation, among other agencies, reiterating the City’s opposition to the project in general and raising concerns related to potential impacts of widening I-270 and public engagement surrounding the project. All letters are available on the city’s website(<https://rockvillemd.gov/2371/I-495-and-I-270-Managed-Lanes-Project>).
Public Notification and Engagement
This project is managed by the Maryland Department of Transportation who has held multiple information sessions with the public throughout this project’s history, most recently in December 2023.
The city’s website includes a webpage with a timeline of the project, correspondence related to the project between the Mayor and Council and relevant entities involved in the project, and correspondence between the Mayor and Council and city residents.
Next Steps
Should the Mayor and Council approve the letter, it will be sent to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board and to the Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary.