Leopold Seeks Input On Transportation Plan

County Executive John R. Leopold has announced a public meeting to solicit input regarding a Draft Transportation Functional Master Plan (TFMP). The meeting will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 19, 2012 at Severna Park Middle School.

“The TFMP examines all viable modes of travel including rail, bus, ridesharing, biking and walking,” said Mr. Leopold. “Public involvement is key to making the process successful and implementing a plan that meets the priorities of the citizens who utilize the transportation in the targeted areas.”

County Executive Leopold appointed a seven member Citizen Advisory Committee to provide insight about the analysis, findings, and recommendations developed over the course of the study. Additionally, the County conducted a series of public and community meetings throughout the study.

The draft report is the culmination of an eighteen month study aimed at identifying strategies to reduce traffic congestion along nine major highway corridors in the County plus four secondary corridors. The General Development Plan, adopted in April 2009, observed that the ability to further increase highway capacity on these and other roadways in the County is limited due to land availability, environmental constraints, and impacts to adjacent communities.

The study is being conducted with technical assistance by a consultant team under the direction of the County Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ). Larry Tom, Director of OPZ observed that “Ongoing economic constraints make it unlikely we will see significant new programs or construction projects in the next several years. Nonetheless, this is an ideal time to examine our priorities so that the County is successful in seeking Federal and State assistance when funding does become available.” Background reports and technical analyses are available on the County’s project website at www.aacounty.org/PlanZone/TransPlan.

The nine major study corridors are:

US 50: Prince George’s County Line to WP Lane Memorial (Chesapeake Bay)Bridge
MD 2: Central Avenue (MD 214) to West Street (MD 450)
MD 2: US 50 to I-695
I-97: US 50 to I-695
MD 32: I-97 to Howard County
MD 100: MD 648 to Howard County Line
MD 295: Prince George’s County to I-695
MD 3: Prince George’s County to MD 32
Magothy Bridge Rd to Hog Neck Rd (MD 607) to Ft. Smallwood Rd (MD 173) to Baltimore City Line

The four secondary study corridors are: