Virtual Town Hall Meeting from Thursday, November 14, 2019
Marc Elrich Good afternoon, and thank you for joining me today! Let's get started.
Robin from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
What plans does your administration have in place to manage gridlock and overcrowding in the downtown Bethesda area, which will continue increase as the construction boom continues? Similarly, what plans are in place to prevent continued overdevelopment of the downtown Bethesda area, and what can concerned citizens do to share their concerns about the further development? Finally, are there any plans to encourage SHA to reconsider the 25 MPH speed limit recently enacted on Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard, and reinstate the respective 30 MPH and 35 MPH limits?
Marc Elrich Thanks for your question. As more people live and work in Bethesda, we are doing a number of things to manage gridlock and traffic. The Bethesda Downtown Plan includes recommendations for additional capacity at gateway intersections on 355 and Connecticut Avenue. The Downtown Plan also depends on the opening of the Purple Line and improved access to the Red Line provided by the South Entrance, which is funded by the County and is under construction.
Even with this new transit capacity, the plan requires an even greater shift to transit, reducing the use of single-occupancy vehicles to 55 percent of all trips. The plan that will allow the Downtown to achieve this target relies on bus rapid transit on 355, implementation of flex routes in the surrounding neighborhoods, expanded park-and-ride and express connections to Rock Spring and other areas and operating the free Bethesda Circulator.
Bethesda is a Transportation Management District with goals and programs to reduce the use of single-occupancy vehicles in a number of ways: This is done by providing ongoing assistance to employers and employees through training, education, and incentives; reaching out to employers, employees and residents about transportation options; working with developers to incorporate features in residential and commercial projects that make it easier for people to use transportation other than single-occupancy vehicles;and providing indoor bike storage facilities.
The County is also providing safer pedestrian and bicycle transportation options as recommended in the 2017 Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan. These options include the planned Capital Crescent Surface Trail (CCST), a separated two-way bike lane along the northern side of Bethesda Avenue between Woodmont Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue, MD 355. East of Wisconsin Avenue, the two-way separated bike lane will continue along the southern side of Willow Lane to 47th Street. A shared-use path is planned along the Elm Street Park’s 47th Street frontage. Separated Bikeway & Pedestrian Safety Improvements will also be added along: Woodmont Avenue from Norfolk Avenue south to Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355); Montgomery Lane/Avenue between Woodmont Avenue and Pearl Street. Additional bikeway and pedestrian improvements will be added along Norfolk Avenue/Cheltenham Drive between Woodmont Avenue and Tilbury Street as well as Pearl Street between East-West Highway and Sleaford Road.
The Capital Bikeshare program provides more than a dozen stations in Bethesda, and e-bikes and scooters are available throughout Downtown.
Development in Bethesda is capped under the Bethesda Master Plan, at 32.4 million square feet.
There are no plans to encourage SHA to raise speed limits on Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard. The 25 MPH limit was imposed to enhance traffic, pedestrian and bicyclist safety as the County moves towards its Vision Zero goal of reducing and eliminating traffic fatalities.
Ray from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
I read that Gov. HOGAN rejected your proposal to widen the beltway. A bottleneck at Wisconsin Ave. backs up traffic every since only two lanes ontinue going north. The beltway is also congested at the Mormon Temple in the morning. Every attempt to widen roads will only bringmore traffic. Is the solution to congestion to stop building more housing instead of roads?
Marc Elrich Thank you for reaching out. We didn't make a proposal to widen the Beltway between 95 and Wisconsin Ave. Our proposal was to use the existing ICC to divert the many drivers that are using the ICC to the Beltway down to the bridge. It would have relied on reversible lanes on 270 to take the ICC drivers down to the new bridge that's being proposed. Overall, we need to put in place more-robust transit options so that people have a choice not to drive. Not building more housing would create other problems for the County.
Melaine from
Rockville
I work in downtown Rockville near Town Center and curious as to why there is no McDonald's, Burger King, Chipotle or Qudoba in the Town Center. I think it would be a great addition to the Town Center because it would give the high school student and local workers a good low cost alternative to what is currently available in the area.
Thank you for your time.
Marc Elrich Thank you for reaching out. The County does not control zoning in Rockville; but more importantly, it's the property owners who determine who their tenants are. You would have to assume that the property owners have determined which fast food restaurants fit with the concepts for their respective properties.
Jay from
Mid County
QUESTION:
Why do payments made to the County go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Marc Elrich Thank you for your question. This was a contract that was bid, and the contractor in Pennsylvania is the one that won. I have proposed legislation that would give preference points for local businesses.
Carol from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
How are department managers and supervisors accountable for for day to day staff work assignments? I am particularly interested in MNCPPC duties. I am out in the park every day. Often the appearance is seeing a lot of employees and huge equipment out there doing nothing. I know there is a great deal to be done and the public view is otherwise.
Marc Elrich As County Executive, I do not supervise the work of the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), which is a state agency, but the County does provide a good portion of the funding for their work, which includes maintenance of Parks. You may want to contact the Parks Department directly https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/contact-us/ and it may be useful to let them know specifically what you have seen and work that you think needs to be done that is not currently being done.
George from
Up County
Thanks for visiting Upcounty last week (November 7, 2019) to share your comments about the 2020 budget. First, thank you taking the time visit our area. My questions today are about Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). I noticed their budget is almost half the budget in the county ($2,000,000,000+). Question 1, Are you okay with this? At the time you said this last week, I just shook my head at that number but I visited Clarksburg H.S. on November 12, 2019 for an MDOT P3 Workshop and visited the mens/boys room. It had no mirrors, toilet was broken and the room smelled so bad I was unable to use it. Question 2, do you have powers to at least regulate how MCPS are spending the money? I want to make sure STUDENTS are benefiting directly from county's investments.
Marc Elrich Thank you for reaching out. I'm okay with the spending. We have a growing student population and growing needs. In addition, State law requires Maintenance of Effort, which means that every county has to factor into each year's school budget both increases in population and inflation. Having a good school system is good for the County. It attracts people and businesses to come here as it positively impacts perceptions of the County.
Regarding the bathrooms, they should be part of a regular maintenance program, and I will forward your question to the school system in the hope that it can be addressed in a timely manner.
The County Government has no power to regulate how money is spent in MCPS. It is a State agency, not a County agency. Your elected school board has oversight over how MCPS spends money.
Linda from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
In recent years there have been a lot of home renovations and new construction in our neighborhood. Builders have taken down trees, paved driveways, and created much larger footprints. In the same period, we have had heavy rains that are unlike what we’ve seen in the past. However, there doesn’t seem to be any requirements for builders to provide drainage for water running into neighboring yards. This has caused flooding the likes of which we’ve never seen throughout our neighborhood. I and my neighbors have had to spend many thousands of dollars for water maintenance on our properties. Isn’t it time to modernize our permit requirements for water maintenance as it affects surrounding properties in this time of climate change and water displacement by builders?
Marc Elrich Thank you for reaching out. We are looking at the problem caused by the impact of expanding the footprints of houses on neighboring properties. We will be looking at legislation that will require new construction to meet stricter standards for stormwater management.
Patrick from
Silver Spring
What is wrong with a flag that shows support for our neighbors that put their lives on the line every day to make our Community a safer place?
Marc Elrich First of all, I support the officers who do put their lives on the line every day. And as I said, when I made the decision, I understand both sides of the issue. The problem is, through no fault of the officers nor the people who offered the gift, that the Thin Blue Line flag has been appropriated by the Blue Lives Matter group who have flown that flag in rallies that support racial intolerance. As soon as the original posting was made, we started getting responses from residents who were upset that we would show a flag that's associated with those rallies. My job is to try to improve the relationships between police and communities. We are working to overcome a sense of distrust that many residents feel; and I felt that the flag, unfortunately, would be a flashpoint and increase tensions between our residents and the police. Unfortunately, the misappropriation of the flag as a symbol of intolerance makes it difficult for the County to display it publicly and honor the men and women it is supposed to represent.
Anthony D. Hinnant from
Silver Spring
Hello Peace to you. Thank you for your continued effords for this community and the DMV as a whole.
I'm A resident of Progress Place 4th Floor. I had hope to see you have a meal at Progress Place with us. You Pick the Time and Let Us Know When. I would love to show you what they have done with the place. Place make a date to come see us for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner for ordinary time or of a holiday.
We hope to see you then. til Then God Bless Be safe.
Mr. Anthony D. Hinnant
8106 georgia Ave #415
Silver Spring Maryland. 20910
@anthonyHinnant
Marc Elrich Thank you for your offer. I have actually been there before and served dinner. I look forward to meeting you during my next visit.
Ed from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Dear Mr. Elrich -
I encountered so many lane closures in Bethesda this week that what is usually a 15-minute trip within Bethesda turned into a 30-minute trip. I guess with all the construction in Bethesda, it's going to be like this for a while. Many of my neighbors and I are wondering whether the companies that are closing these roads have obtained the proper permit.
1. For instance, while driving west on Dorset Ave. on November 4 at 5:30 pm, I noticed Dorset was completely closed at Little Falls Parkway, where Dorset enters Kenwood. Was a permit issued for the closing?
2. How can a resident obtain copies of road closure permits from Montgomery County (both for the past -- to see if the workers really obtained a permit -- and for the future, so we can have adequate notice)?
3. I realize that some area roads, like Old Georgetown Road, are state roads. Does the state issue permits for closing those roads?
4, If so, how can one get copies of those permits from the state?
Marc Elrich Thank you for reaching out. This is a more complicated issue than I can answer here in the time remaining; but I will forward this to the appropriate departments and have them provide you an answer.
Jay from
Silver Spring
Good Afternoon Mr Elrich
All my life i have lived in Montgomery County. I've gone to school and worked in the county. There isn't palce i rather be other than Montgomery county. Unfortunately rent prices are increasing more and more. I personally do not know anyone who works 40 hours plus and only has one job. All my friends have move other places like Fredrick and out of State. Will you be doing anything to make renting in Montgomery County more affordable?
Marc Elrich Good afternoon. I am glad you are happy to be in and want to stay in Montgomery County. I love it too and I understand the challenge of rising rents. While there is no one magic solution, I believe we have an obligation to explore as many solutions as possible. That is why I support the Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program and we are looking at ways of using County property to increase the stock of affordable apartments and to make them available to a broader income range. And I too am troubled by the loss of affordable rental housing and the impacts it's having on people trying to find a decent and affordable place to live in the County.
Marc Elrich Thanks again for joining me. I look forward to hearing from all of you next month.
