MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION MCPB Item No. 7 Date: 03-24-16 Alternatives Review: Georgia Avenue (MD97) Montgomery Hills from Forest Glen Rd (MD192) to Sixteenth St (MD390) Larry Cole, Master Planner,
[email protected], 301-495-4528 LC Pamela Dunn, Chief,
[email protected], 301-650-5649 Completed: 03/17/16 Description The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is studying a reconstruction of Georgia Avenue (MD97) to establish a more balanced approach to transportation within the corridor by evaluating existing vehicular, pedestrian, and bicyclist mobility and safety, while accommodating proposed rapid transit enhancements and establishing a sense of place within the Montgomery Hills community. Summary We recommend that the Board approve this project with the following comments to SHA and request that response to these comments be provided with the Mandatory Referral submittal: We recognize that these recommendations would increase the cost of this project, however there are few locations that could compete with the documented problems here: • Georgia Avenue (MD97) is the highest volume non-Interstate roadway with the highest volume interchange in Maryland • The three major intersections within the project limits of just over a half-mile are rated as some of the most congested in Montgomery County, per the 2014 Mobility Assessment Report: o Georgia Avenue (MD97)/Sixteenth Street (MD390) - #7 o Georgia Avenue (MD97)/Forest Glen Road (MD192) - #32 o Georgia Avenue (MD97)/Seminary Road/Columbia Boulevard - #34 1 The expanded project would encompass two projects on the County’s priority list for State projects (see Attachment 6) , #12: MD97 (Georgia Avenue) and Forest Glen Road: pedestrian underpass and safety improvement, and #16: MD97 (Georgia Avenue), I-495 to MD390 (16 th Street) in the Construction program.