Thursday, May 28, 2009

Corridor Cities Transitway Plans Ready for Public Comments

Now is your chance to comment on the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT), the planned rapid transit system that will run from the Shady Grove Metro station to Clarksburg and eventually Frederick County. Don’t let the project’s formal name, I-270/US 15 Highway and Transit Improvements Study, confuse you. This study does include the CCT in addition to other improvements for the Upcounty corridor.

Possible transportation alternatives include several combinations of transit and highway strategies including Express Toll Lanes, light rail, bus rapid transit and more. For detailed information, take a look at the Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Assessment.

I encourage you to take advantage of the public review period and learn more about the project and offer your comments. Written comments are due to the State Highway Administration by July 31. Alternately, you can speak at one of these two public hearings:

June 16
Gaithersburg Middle School
2 Teachers Way
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

June 18
Monocacy Middle School
8009 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702

At both locations, a time to review maps and displays will take place 5:00-9:00 p.m. Public testimony will begin at 7:00 p.m. To register or learn more about the process, visit the State Highway Administration.

The CCT concept has met with broad community support, and right-of-way already has been set aside. Construction could begin by 2012, once funding is available.

The County Planning Board and the County Council will consider the options later this year, so let me know what you think.

1 comment:

Don O'Brien said...

As a lifelong MC resident, I am quite excited to see the CCT finally beginning to get started. I have lived in Germantown for 9 years and have worked on Century Blvd for the past three, so the CCT will directly impact me.

So I have this one point to stress. Please make sure the CCT is a Light Rail transitway and not a Rapid Bus.

If we just needed another bus, we could add a few more Ride-On routes and be done with it. But the CCT requires long term appreciation. Do you think that the red-line from Shady Grove down to DC could be successful as a Rapid Bus Route. (I know, quit laughing, of course it couldn't) The same is true of the CCT. Buses are fine for reaching out into sprawling neighborhoods, but not for planned high density high end development such as the Germantown Master Plan and the Science City. Light rail endures better overtime, carries higher quantities of passengers, and provides a more comfortable passenger experience.