Almost a year ago, this past July, I joined Governor Hogan to announce his commitment of $100 million in state funds to help us relieve congestion on I-270.

Today, I thank him for funding the I-270 Innovative Congestion Management Project and for his attention to this critical corridor. This investment puts real money on the table to address the real challenges posed by traffic gridlock.

I-270 is the “spine” of Montgomery County. It serves the region’s major tech and life sciences corridors. In sum: it is the economic engine of the County and State.

The I-270 Corridor includes a wide variety of centers that serve separate and often unique roles. These centers include clusters of biotechnology and advanced technology industries, centers with significant housing resources, central business districts, and corridor cities.

As those of us who drive this corridor know all too well, traffic congestion is a major problem that impacts the daily lives of tens of thousands of commuters, as well as our local businesses.

To stay competitive, we must reduce congestion on this crucial roadway.

The economic vitality of both the County and the State depend on it – and on greater transportation investments to accommodate more residents and to encourage job growth.

Easing congestion won’t only improve the quality of life of so many Montgomery County residents; it will also spur economic development by making our region more attractive for new and expanding businesses to locate.

Once we have received the details about the measures this project is proposing to improve travel reliability, my staff can work closely with the Governor’s office to review and comment on the specifics.

That said, I applaud the Governor’s efforts to provide fast-tracked relief for congestion, and look forward to working with the administration to implement this plan for innovative traffic management solutions on one of our busiest roadways.

Thank you!

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