For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
The Transportation and Environment Committee will meet virtually at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for committee review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current committee agendas can be viewed at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) and on Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil) and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on channels 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) and 996 (Xfinity).
Meeting: Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
T&E Committee: Council President Tom Hucker (Chair) and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer
Topic:
Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2021-2026 Capital Improvements Program-Transportation
The T&E Committee will review amendments to the FY21-26 CIP for transportation projects. On January 15, the County Executive recommended several amendments to the FY21-26 CIP. Overall, the County Executive is recommending a reduction of $168,674,000 or 5.1 percent from the FY21-26 CIP. Transportation project spending would be reduced by $30.4 million, or three percent. This understates the magnitude of the disinvestment in transportation. However, a net additional $42.9 million of transportation spending that was to occur in FY20 has been deferred into FY21 and later. Therefore, a more accurate assessment shows a reduction of $73.3 million or 7.2 percent. A table with the proposed reductions by category can be found on page two of the Council staff report.
Those expected to provide information include: Christopher Conklin, director, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (DOT); Hannah Henn, deputy director for Transportation Policy, DOT; Emil Wolanin, deputy director, DOT; Tim Cupples, chief, Transportation Engineering, DOT; Richard Dorsey, chief, Highway Services, DOT; Dan Hibbert, chief, Transit Services, DOT; Michael Paylor, chief, Traffic Engineering and Operations, DOT; Brady Goldsmith, Senior Budget Analyst, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Facility planning review of the Fenton Street Cycletrack Project
The T&E Committee will review the facility planning for the Fenton Street Cycletrack Project. Montgomery County DOT has completed the feasibility phase of facility planning for a cycletrack along Fenton Street in the Silver Spring Central Business District that would run for 0.7 miles between Cameron Street and Gist Avenue. The Fenton Street Bikeway Study from November 2020 can be found here:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dotdte/Resources/Files/Fentonvillage/Meetings/FentonBikewayStudy_Report_rsz.pdf.
The Planning Board reviewed the study during its January 21, 2021 meeting. The T&E Committee will provide feedback and guidance on the seven alternatives studied by DOT as it completes the preliminary engineering. Those expected to provide information include: Dan Sheridan, chief, Planning and Design Section, Division of Transportation Engineering, DOT; Corey Pitts, planning section manager, Division of Transportation Engineering, DOT; Matt Johnson, senior planner, Division of Transportation Engineering, DOT; David Anspacher, supervisor, Countywide Planning, Planning staff; Eli Glazier, planner/coordinator, Countywide Planning, Planning staff.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
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