Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 12, 2020

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the State Highway Administration (SHA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will jointly host two in-person and four virtual public hearings in August and September on the I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The managed lanes study is examining the feasibility of adding tolled lanes to portions of I-495 and I-270.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will participate in the virtual public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

One in-person event each is scheduled in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. For both the in-person and virtual public hearings, residents will have three minutes to provide testimony and registration is required in advance. Hearing materials can be viewed at the document availability locations or on the event page website.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich sent a letter to MDOT Secretary Greg Slater in late July asking the State to extend the comment period to at least 120 days to give the community more time to review and respond to the complex and lengthy DEIS. County Executive Elrich wrote that the currently recommended 90-day study period is inadequate, especially due to the complications of the COVID-19 health crisis.

“Reading, reviewing and analyzing this report is a substantial additional burden at this time,” the County Executive wrote. “My bigger concern is that you are expecting the community, as well as volunteer organizations, to read and digest almost 18,000 pages in 90 days.”

The State’s hearings are proceeding as originally planned.

Virtual/Online Hearings

Virtual hearings will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Thursday, Aug. 20, Tuesday, Aug. 25 (Oﬃcial USACE Hearing) and Thursday, Sept. 3. There will be three sessions each day: From 9 a.m.-noon; from 1-4 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m.

To register to provide virtual testimony, go to 495-270-p3.com/DEIS. Email instructions will be sent for approved session time.

The virtual public hearings can be viewed via live streaming at 495-270-p3.com/virtual-hearing. Closed captioning will be available.

The hearings also can be heard via phone. To access:

Call 855-432-1483. Press * to hear options.
Listen to the virtual hearing live.
Leave your testimony by voicemail on the hearing dates between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

In-person hearings

Two in-person hearings. Each will be held from noon-9 p.m. on the following schedule:

Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Prince George’s County: Homewood Suites by Hilton, 9103 Basil Ct., Largo.
Thursday, Sept. 10 in Montgomery County: Hilton Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike,
Rockville.

Residents can provide public comment or one-on-one testimony by appointment only. To register:

Call 833-858-5960.
Choose public testimony to panelists or one-on-one testimony to court reporter.
Registered participants will be placed in time slots and may listen to public testimony. Limited staff will be available to answer questions.
Registered participants will receive the same brochure that is on the program website.
Social distancing protocols will be strictly enforced, including required face coverings, hand sanitizing stations and limited capacity in the hearing room.
Call 855-432-1483 to listen live and/or leave testimony by voicemail on hearing dates from 12-9 p.m.

MDOT SHA will make the hearing transcripts available on the program website after the hearings have been concluded. It cautions that hearings could be postponed if COVID-19 conditions change.

The English language informational flyer can be viewed here. It also can be viewed in Amharic, French and Spanish.

For ongoing updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, subscribe to MCDOT news releases or subscribe to MCDOT’s ‘Go Montgomery!’ newsletter.

Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD

Release ID: 20-152
Media Contact: Hannah Henn 240-777-8389