(March 9, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) announces a series of public meetings to present citizens with proposed intersection improvements associated with the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) consolidations. The proposed BRAC-related intersection improvements will address safety, capacity and operational issues on local roadways to accommodate an influx of workers arriving in the region by September 2011.
“BRAC will bring tens of thousands of jobs to Maryland by the fall of 2011, a welcome boost to our economy,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari. “Maryland remains committed to supporting these job centers – both with short-term initiatives and larger scale projects implemented over time. This BRAC Intersection Program is a key strategy to provide transportation improvements in the near term.”
An initiative of MDOT/SHA, the BRAC Intersection Program is evaluating potential improvements at key intersections near military installations, with the goal of planning, designing and constructing projects by late 2011. It is part of the State of Maryland BRAC Action Plan, adopted by Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown. While Maryland’s Transportation Trust Fund revenues have been severely impacted by the downturn in the national economy, $94.8 million remains programmed for short-term intersection projects in the FY 2009-1014 Consolidated Transportation Program.
“Public input is an important part of the process of developing these projects,” said Neil Pedersen, Maryland State Highway Administrator. “These meetings represent an important step in our progress on BRAC intersection projects, showing completion of preliminary engineering activities.” Following the public meetings, priority improvements will be identified, based on the funds available. Right-of-Way acquisitions could begin this summer, with construction contracts advertised in 2010, depending on funding availability.
Three meetings are scheduled to address projects near Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort George G. Meade and the National Naval Medical Center-Bethesda. Utilizing an informal, open-house format, attendees will be able to gather timely project-related information and provide comment on the intersection improvements planned respectively in Anne Arundel, Harford and Montgomery counties. They also will have the opportunity to speak directly with SHA representatives who will be available to discuss system preservation, safety enhancement, mobility and access improvements.
The meeting dates are:
Thursday, March 26
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Aberdeen Middle School
Cafeteria/Auditorium
111 Mount Royal School
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Thursday, April 2
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Chevy Chase High School
Cafeteria/Auditorium
4301 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814 | Tuesday, March 31
5:30 – 7:30 p.m
Meade Middle School
Cafeteria/Auditorium
1103 26th Street
Fort Meade, MD 20755 |
For more information or special accommodations, the public may contact Barb Solberg, SHA Project Manager at 410-545-8830; toll free at 1-888-228-5003 or via e-mail to bsolberg@sha.state.md.us. Information on MDOT’s plans to address BRAC through highway, transit and Smart Growth initiatives is available at www.marylandtransportation.com. Information on other BRAC issues in Maryland is available at www.brac.maryland.gov.
Contact:
Jack Cahalan
Erin Henson
MDOT
410-865-1025
David Buck
Sandra Dobson
SHA
410-545-0303 |
