Widening the beltway

The notice below from a nearby civic association may be an interest to the community. This is the first that I have heard about the possibility of widening the beltway (I think for toll roads).

There is definitely a trend to pave over more and more of the lower county to fuel the sprawl development that is occurring in the region. Widening the beltway could result in significant increases in traffic and congestion in the local roads around our community and a reduction in the quality of life in our neighborhoods, so the community should be following this.

There are different alternatives being proposed that would help reduce congestion on the beltway without paving over the lower county and adding congestion to our already over burden local roads. I hope the community will take the time to learn the issues and will respond during the comment periods to the SHA. Unfortunately, there is a lot of money to be made to continue the sprawl development (at taxpayers expense) in our region. Make sure those who financially benefit from all this are not the only one's heard from. If someone could follow this and update the community periodically, that would be great.

Beltway Widening

It will be on 2/23 at the Indian Spring Rec Center, 9717 Lawndale Drive at 7:30 p.m. We would like as big a turnout as possible to show them of our interest. Please feel free to pass on this invitation to others who are not ISCA residents. Sue Rajan, the project manager from SHA, Alex Hekimian from the Planning Board, and Webb Smedley from the Purple Line Coalition, will be the speakers. We have invited some of the County Council members to the meeting.

The president of Indian Spring Citizens Association recently received a letter from the State Highway Administration. They list the following web site as a source of information

This has quite a bit of useful information. Look at the link to toll lanes and the project schedule among others.

I spoke to Sue Rajan, the Project manager for the State Highway Administration, for the Beltway widening. Here are her answers to my questions.

• Construction will not start for at least 7 years.
• The widening will cover the entire portion of the beltway in Maryland from the Wilson to American Legion bridges
• They may have to move the noise barrier up to 5-10 feet. Letters have recently been sent to homeowners that may be affected. Did anyone get these letters.
• If necessary they could rebuild the University Blvd bridge
• Do not know if building purple line first or afterwards will make a difference. She will consider my request to study this issue.
• She will provide more detailed answers in writing.
• I have a letter from the County Council to SHA and they recommend that the purple line be pursued first before the Beltway widening. Note that the Purple Line coalition feels that widening the Beltway first before adding the purple line, will detract from the use of the purple line.