Parker Family on Vierling Drive

8/14/2019 Parker Family on Vierling Drive

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September 2008

P L A N N I N G B O A R D D R A F T

B I K E W A Y S A N D I N T E R C H A N G E S

Intercounty Connector Limited Functional Master Plan Amendment

MNCPPC


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P L A N N I N G B O A R D D R A F T

Interconty Connector Limited Fnctional Master Plan Amendment


An Amendment to the Contywide Bikeways Fnctional Master Plan and the Master Plan o Highways

Prepared by the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission

8787 Georgia Avene

Silver Spring, Maryland 209103760

Approved by the Montgomery Conty ConcilDate

Adopted by the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission

Date


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PLANNING BOARD DRAFT OF THE INTERCOuNTY CONNECTOR LIMITED FuNCTIONAL

MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT


An Amendment to the Contywide Bikeways Fnctional Master Plan and the Master Plan o Highways

A B S T R A C T

The text and maps o this amendment are intended to make agreed pon soltions consistent with the Contys

relevant master plans. It is a comprehensive amendment to the approved and adopted Master Plan o Highways

within Montgomery Conty, and the approved and adopted 2005 Contywide Bikeways Fnctional

Master Plan. It also amends the approved and adopted 1998 Contywide Park Trails Plan, as well as On Wedges

and Corridors, the General Plan or the MarylandWashington Regional District in Montgomery and Prince

Georges Conties, as amended.

This Plan Amendment recommends select changes to the sharedse path identied as SP40 in the Contywide

Bikeways Fnctional Master Plan (CBFMP) by recommending changes to the ICC roadway alignment and interchang

es to reect the selected highway alternative now nder constrction. The proposed amendments to the CBFMP

delete certain sections o SP40 throgh the most environmentally sensitive portions o stream valley parks and the

uS 29 interchange. The amendment also proposes changes to the Contywide Park Trails Plan to provide connectionsthat serve recreational andtransportation prposes, inclding hiking and eqestrian ses, in the Northwest Branch

and upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Parks. Amendments to the Master Plan o Highways inclde adding a partial

interchange at Briggs Chaney Road, revising limits o Midconty Highway and its interchange with the ICC, and revis

ing the ICC alignment to reect Rock Creek Option C (with Olde Mill Rn Grade Separation) and to reect Northwest

Branch Option A.

S O u R C E O F C O P I E S

The MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission

8787 Georgia Avene

Silver Spring, MD 209103760

T H E M A R Y L A N D - N A T I O N A L C A P I T A L P A R K A N D P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N

The MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission is a biconty agency created by the General Assembly o Maryland in 1927.

The Commissions geographic athority extends to the great majority o Montgomery and Prince Georges Conties; the MarylandWashington

Regional District (MNCPPC planning jrisdiction) comprises 1,001 sqare miles, while the Metropolitan District (parks) comprises 919 sqare

miles, in the two conties.

The Commission is charged with preparing, adopting, and amending or extending On Wedges and Corridors, the general plan or the physical

development o the MarylandWashington Regional District.

The Commission operates in each conty throgh Planning Boards appointed by the conty government. The Boards are responsible or all local

plans, zoning amendments, sbdivision reglations, and administration o parks.

The MarylandNational Capital Park

and Planning Commission encoragesthe involvement and participation o

individals with disabilities, and its

acilities are accessible. For assistance

with special needs (e.g., large print

materials, listening devices, sign

langage interpretation, etc.), please

contact the Commnity Otreach and

Media Relations Division, 301495

4600 or TDD 3014951331.


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C E R T I F I C A T I O N O F A P P R O V A L A N D A D O P T I O N


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E L E C T E D A N D A P P O I N T E D O F F I C I A L S

C O u N T Y C O u N C I L

Michael Knapp, President

Philip Andrews, Vice President

Roger Berliner

Mark Elrich

Valerie Ervin

Nancy Floreen

George L. Leventhal

Donald E. Praisner

Dchy Trachtenberg

C O u N T Y E X E C u T I V E

Isiah Leggett

T H E M A R Y L A N D N A T I O N A L C A P I T A L P A R K A N D P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N

Royce Hanson, Chairman

Samel J. Parker, Jr., Vice Chairman

C O M M I S S I O N E R S

Montgomery Conty Planning Board Prince Georges Conty Planning Board

Royce Hanson, Chairman Samel J. Parker, Jr., Chairman

John M. Robinson, Vice Chairman Sylvester J. Vaghns, Vice Chairman

Joe Alandre Sarah A. Cavitt

Jean B. Cryor Jesse Clark

Amy Presley Colonel John H. Sqire


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A plan provides comprehensive recommendations or the se o pblicly and privately owned land. Each plan

reects a vision o the tre that responds to the niqe character o the local commnity within the context o a

contywide perspective.

Together with relevant policies, plans shold be reerred to by pblic ocials and private individals when making

land se decisions.

T H E P L A N P R O C E S S

The PuBLIC HEARING DRAFT PLAN is the ormal proposal to amend an adopted master plan or sector plan.

Its recommendations are not necessarily those o the Planning Board; it is prepared or the prpose o receiving

pblic testimony. The Planning Board holds a pblic hearing and receives testimony, ater which they hold pblic

worksessions to review the testimony and revise the Pblic Hearing Drat Plan as appropriate. When the Planning

Boards changes are made, the docment becomes the Planning Board Drat Plan.

The PLANNING BOARD DRAFT PLAN is the Boards recommended Plan and reects their revisions to the Pblic

Hearing Drat Plan. The Regional District Act reqires the Planning Board to transmit a sector plan to the Conty

Concil with copies to the Conty Exective who mst, within sixty days, prepare and transmit a scal impact analysis

o the Planning Board Drat Plan to the Conty Concil. The Conty Exective may also orward to the ContyConcil other comments and recommendations.

Ater receiving the Exectives scal impact analysis and comments, the Conty Concil holds a pblic hearing to

receive pblic testimony. Ater the hearing record is closed, the Concils Planning, Hosing, and Economic Develop

ment (PHED) Committee holds pblic worksessions to review the testimony and makes recommendations to the

Conty Concil. The Concil holds its own worksessions, then adopts a resoltion approving the Planning Board

Drat Plan, as revised.

Ater Concil approval the plan is orwarded to the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission or

adoption. Once adopted by the Commission, the plan ocially amends the master plans, nctional plans, and

sector plans cited in the Commissions adoption resoltion.


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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

B A C K G R O u N D 9

Why a Limited Plan Amendment? 9

Prposes 9

Key Plan Objectives 10

Rened Objectives 10

I S S u E S , A N A L Y S I S A N D R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S 13

Highway Elements 13

Bikeway Elements 14

Stdy Area A: Needwood Road and Vicinity 14

Stdy Area B: Emor y Lane/Georgia Avene and Vicinity 21

Stdy Area C: Nor thwest Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity 22

Stdy Area D: upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity 29

Stdy Area E: uS 29 and Vicinity 34

Conty Bike PathBeore and Ater 37

Park TrailsBeore and Ater 38

L I S T O F F I G u R E S

ICC Corridor Stdy Area 11

Midconty Highway Interchange 12

Needwood Road and Vicinity 16

Needwood Road Options 18

Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity 25

Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park Options 27

upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity 32

SP40 Beore and Ater 36

A P P E N D I X

A: Planning Process and Pblic Participation 39

B: Themes 39

C: Acronyms and Denitions 41

D: Master Plan Schedle 41


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B A C K G R O u N D

In May 2006, the Federal Highway Administration approved the Record o Decision (ROD) or the Interconty

Connector (ICC), which established the highways alignment and interchange locations, and identied impacts and

mitigation measres. The ROD also recommended related master plan elements that wold be implemented along

with the highway project, inclding parks, bikeways and sidewalks, particlarly the seven miles o master planned

ICC shared se path (SP40 in the Contywide Bikeways Fnctional Master Plan).

However, certain alignment and implementation decisions in the ROD are inconsistent with master plan gidance.

This ICC Limited Fnctional Master Plan Amendment (ICCLFMPA) amends Conty master plans to reect the ROD

decisions. It also evalates alternative alignments or the Conty bike path (CBP) along the ICC, in the context o

Conty agencies armation o Planning Board recommendations to remove the path rom sensitive environmental

areas. The amendment analyzes the States alternative path rotes along parallel roads and recommends changes to

master plans needed to pgrade or enhance the rotes to meet the needs o all sers.

Why A Limited Plan Amendment?

The ICCLFMPA will reconcile the RODs highway, bicycle, pedestrian, and pathway acilities with the related elements

in the Contys master plans. This report describes the history, vision, and prior master plan gidance or thehighway and path, inclding past decisions by the Planning Board, the Conty Concil, and the Maryland

Department o Transportation that were incorporated in the ROD.

This amendment pdates the Master Plan o Highways to modiy the ICC alignment to reect the ROD and to

establish interchange locations at Briggs Chaney Road and Midconty Highway. It also evalates crossConty

bicycle and trails in the ICC corridor to connect to destinations and ll in gaps, timing portions o the path to be bilt

with the highway project.

The interchange at Briggs Chaney Road is procedral. The ROD identied the interchange location and this

amendment arms prior decisions. The interchange at Midconty Highway mst be stdied rther becase the

selected ICC alignment sed portions o the rightoway intended or Midconty Highway, and ths shited the

location o a tre interchange rther north and west.

Purposes

T H I S A M E N D M E N T :

determinesappropriateusesformasterplannedright-of-waynotusedbythehighwayproject,withaparticular

ocs on evalating parkland or tre bikeways or trails

proposesnewalignment(s)forthemasterplannedbicycleandpedestrianfacilitiesintheICCCorridor

reconcilesapprovedhighwaydesignelementswithmasterplanguidanceforinterchangelocations.


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The ICCLFMPA examines the Contywide Bikeways Fnctional Master Plan (CBFMP) and the Contywide Park Trails Plan (CPTP)

to clariy the Contys vision or bicycle and pedestrian mobility and access in the corridor, consistent with the Planning Board

reqest when planning staf presented the ICC Bikeways Implementation Strategy in Janary 2007.

Key Plan Objectives

H I G H W A Y D E S I G N A N D A L I G N M E N T

ModifytheMasterPlanofHighwaystoidentifytheRODsselectedalternativeasthehighwaysocialmasterplanalignment.

GuidethedesignoftheMidcountyHighwayinterchange(seegure2)andtherelatedconnectiontoShadyGroveRoad.

ArmthePlanningBoardsdecisionfornopavedtrailsinsensitiveenvironmentalareasinparkland,particularly

o Rock Creek Option A (see gres 3 and 4)

o Northwest Branch Option B (see gres 5 and 6).

Considerremovingbikeway/trailalignmentthroughPaintBranchStreamValleyParkfromthemasterplan(seegure7).

IdentifyBriggsChaneyRoadasanICCinterchange(seegure7).

EstablishthenewmasterplannedalignmentoftheCBP(seegure8).

B I C Y C L E A N D P E D E S T R I A N A C C E S S A N D M O B I L I T Y

RecommendpolicychangestoimplementtheStateHighwayAdministrations(SHA)BicycleandPedestrianPlan(SHABike

Plan) (see gre 1), to accommodate novice and amily bicyclists, pedestrians, and other sers along the rotes ll length.

RecommendpolicychangestoimplementtheCBP(SP-40)asafull-length,masterplannedshared-usepathinthehighway

rightoway (see gres 1 and 8), or an eqivalent alternative rote o new paths or wide sidewalks along parallel highways,

arterials, and neighborhood streets that avoid environmentally sensitive areas, particlarly in stream valley parks.

ModifytheCBFMPandtheCPTPtoensuresafeandecientbicycleandpedestrianaccesstotheSHABikePlanroutes.

O T H E R I S S u E S

Identiy a nding mechanism throgh the Local Area Transportation Review that wold permit private sector participation

in nding trail and path rotes.

Determine the easibility o interim se by montain bikers and eqestrians o rote segments adjacent to highway righto

way where the CBP will eventally be bilt.

Refned Objectives

The specic objectives above where shaped by or qestions that emerged throgh commnity discssion dring

pblic meetings in March and April 2008.

Does the Conty agree with the States recommendations or roting the CBP along existing bikeways, sidewalks, and paths

as recommended in the SHA Bike Plan?

What improvements are needed along these roads to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians, and address the needs o all

potential ser grops?

Shold trail rotes throgh environmentally sensitive areas in parkland be removed rom master plans?

What related master plan amendments are reqired to achieve recommendations that reslt rom the above qestions?


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Figre 1 ICC Corridor Stdy Area

E. US 29 Corridor and Vicinity


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Figre 2 Midconty Highway Interchange

Master Plan ICC Bike Path

ICC Alignment

ICC Alignment

Proposed Roads

Wetlands

Floodplain

Special Protection Areas

Parks

Isse Areas

SHA properties to be reserved or

Midconty Highway interchange

Property lines


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I S S u E S , A N A L Y S I S , A N D R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

Highway Elements

This amendment adopts the three roadway options to the master plan alternative that were analyzed

in the DEIS and inclded in the ROD:

RockCreekOptionC NorthwestBranchOptionA

BriggsChaneyRoadinterchange

The Planning Board spported these options in their review o the DEIS in Febrary 2005, as

described below.

R O C K C R E E K O P T I O N C

The DEIS compared two alignments within Rock Creek Stream Valley Park. One alignment ollowed the Mill Creek

tribtary to Rock Creek. The second, called Option C, ollowed a rote several hndred eet to the north and ses a

portion o the highway rightoway reserved or the tre Midconty Highway (M83) connection to the ICC. Option

C was selected to minimize impacts to the sensitive environmental areas.

The proposed sothern extension o M83 provides a direct connection between existing Midconty Highway at

Shady Grove Road and points east along the ICC. In 1985 and 2004, the upper Rock Creek Area master plan

identied two alignments or the portion o M83 between Redland Road and the ICC. Rock Creek Option C also

redces the length o the nbilt portion o M83 extended.

This amendment preserves rightoway options or tre M83 ramp connections to the ICC. Figre 2, excerpted

rom the ICC Contract A Reqest or Proposals identies a conceptal extension o M83 to the ICC and identies

the residential property displacements associated with Rock Creek Option C. These properties are now owned by the

State o Maryland. The alignment o the eastbond M83 ramp shown in gre 2 wold likely reqire three

additional residential property displacements on Garrett Cort in the Olde Mill Rn commnity.

This plan recommends:

developing an alternative ramp alignment that avoids additional property displacements.

that all properties owned by the State be considered part o the M83 alignment rightoway and sbject to

property reservation policies pending completion o the alternative ramp design.

NO R T H W E S T B R A N C H O P T I O N A

The ICC DEIS compared two alignments within Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park. Even thogh Option B (the

master planned alignment) is shorter and straighter, Option A, which is more crvilinear and reqires more

designated parkland, was chosen to minimize impacts on environmental resorces.


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a small ootprint to avoid impacts to the Mill Creek commnities. A bikeway connection across the Rock Creek

Main Stem is needed to link the pConty and downConty bikeway/pathway systems. An independent hard

srace trail within the old master plan alignment wold add cost and case the same environmental impacts as

the highway and shold not be bilt. As a reslt, the Conty mst nd an alternative rote to connect the ICC

pathway termins at Needwood Road with the tre shared se path along Midconty Highway (A on gre 3).

Several alternative alignments were stdied, inclding the options shown on gre 4 and described below:

O P T I O N 1 is a newly planned sharedse path along the east side o Needwood Road between the ICC andMncaster Mill Road and along the soth side o Mncaster Mill Road between Needwood Road and Shady Grove

and Airpark Roads (Applewood Lane to Shady Grove Road crrently exists). This option provides access to

Montgomery Village via the shared se path SP55 along Airpark Road that terminates at Mncaster Mill Road.

O P T I O N 2 is a newly planned sharedse path along Mncaster Mill Road (briey ollowing the Option 1

alignment), bt connects to Midconty Highway via an onroad bike rote along Applewood Lane, leading to the

tre location o the ICC/Midconty Highway interchange, then along the tre Midconty Highway alignment

(path SP70) to Shady Grove Road. This option provides access to Montgomery Village and points north along

Midconty Highway.

O P T I O N 3 is a newly planned sharedse path along the new ICC rightoway between Needwood Road and

the eastern Rock Creek Regional Park bondary that connects throgh the park (and throgh wetland or along steep

slopes) to Mncaster Mill Road and ollowing Options 1 or 2 above. This option wold ofer trail sers a more park

like experience by briey ollowing the new highway alignment to and throgh Rock Creek Park.

A N A L Y S I S

O P T I O N 1 ofers the most immediate connection since available rightoway exists along most o these roads to

make this connection possible. Option 2 is desirable, bt reqires coordination with the location, design, and timing

o the tre Midconty Highway extension rom Shady Grove Road to the ICC. Option 3 afords too ew benets at

the expense o environmental resorces and capital costs.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

Option 1 is recommended as the new alignment or SP40.

Option 2 along Applewood Lane is recommended as a new designationSP40A.


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Figre 3 Needwood Road and Vicinity

Master Plan and SHA Bike Alignment


SHA Bike Plan

ICC Alignment

Existing Bike Rote

Proposed Bike Rote

Park Hard Srace Trail

Park Natral Srace Trail

Roads

Proposed Roads

M83 Interchange

Wetlands

Floodplain


Parks

Metro Stations

Railroads

Isse Areas

Photo Locations


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Photographs o Needwood Road and Vicinity

Needwood Road looking east toward Lake Needwood Needwood Road between ICC and Beach Drive

2

Needwood Road looking soth rom Mncaster Mill Road

3

Mncaster Mill Road looking east rom Needwood Road

4

Mncaster Mill road looking northwest romNeedwood Road

5

Mncaster Mill Roadthrogh Rock Creek Park

6

Mncaster Mill Road looking east rom Applewood Lane

7

Mncaster Mill Road looking west rom Applewood Lane

8

Applewood Lane termins

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Mncaster Mill Road looking east toward Redland Road

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Shady Grove Road looking soth rom Mncaster Mill Road

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Mncaster Mill Road looking west rom Applewood Lane

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1


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Figre 4 Needwood Road Options

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

ICC Alignment

Existing Bike Rote

Proposed Bike Rote


Park Natral Srace Trail

Roads

M83 Interchange

Wetlands

Floodplain


Parks

Metro Stations

Railroads

Isse Areas

Proposed Roads


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P R I O R D E C I S I O N S

In reviewing the DEIS, the Planning Board and the Conty Concil recommended ending the CBP at Needwood Road,

roting the pathway along Needwood, Mncaster Mill, and Shady Grove Roads to connect to the master planned

Midconty Highway path. They also recommended enhancements along Needwood Road to connect the CBP

termins at Needwood Road with the Shady Grove Metrorail Station.


RemovetheCBPalignmentalongtheoldICCright-of-waybetweenNeedwoodRoadandShadyGroveRoadfrommaster plans.

PursueOption1toconnecttheCBPwiththeup-CountytrailsystemandconnectionstotheShadyGroveMetro

Station via Needwood Road.

R O A D W A Y A N A L Y S I S

NEEDWOOD ROAD (ICC TO MuNCASTER MILL ROAD)

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Residential Primary, 70oot rightoway, two lanes. Shared se path and/or sidewalk

exists in short segments along soth side rom Redland Road to Needwood Mansion.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 2004 upper Rock Creek Master Plan calls or a shared se path and onroad

bikeway. The CBFMP recommends a dal bikeway, with both bike lanes and a shared se path (DB14).

D I S C u S S I O N : This segment o Needwood Road connects the CBP with Magrder High School and the tre

commnity o Bowie Mill Estates. And becase the CBP is no longer planned to contine west throgh the park, it

now also mst be part o the bike rote that links with the Midconty Highway path, leading to pConty

commnities east o I270. Contract A o the ICC highway project will constrct the path along the road within the

highway rightoway only.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : Identiy the segment between the ICC and Mncaster Mill Road or inclsion in the Contys

Annal Bikeway Program, and reqest matching nding rom the State or the short connector. Ensre that the

crossing o Mncaster Mill Road to the high school meets AASHTO standards or a shared se path.


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MuNCASTER MILL ROAD (NEEDWOOD ROAD TO SHADY GROVE ROAD)

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Arterial (A93), 80 to100oot rightoway, twoor lanes. Shared se path

and/or sidewalk exists in short segments along both sides, bt SHA most recently constrcted a shared se path along

the soth side near Redland Middle School and near the Redland Roadintersection.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The upper Rock Creek Master Plan calls or an onroad bikeway. The CBFMP

recommends bike lanes (BL35) or this segment o Mncaster Mill Road.

D I S C u S S I O N : This segment o Mncaster Mill Road connects the Needwood Road path with a tre path along

Shady Grove Road leading to Midconty Highway, which is master planned to have a shared se path along its soth

side. In 2005, SHA reconstrcted sections o the road, some with a shared se path and some withot, inclding

where the road passes throgh the park. Thereore, constrcting a path throgh the park will need to be a separate

project. The road was a major discssion point dring the Conty Concil review o the CBFMP, and ltimately the

Concil voted or only bike lanes and not the shared se path recommended in the upper Rock Creek Master Plan.

Thereore, receiving Conty nding or the path may prove diclt withot a master plan amendment.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S : Amend the CBFMP to identiy the road as a dal bikeway with both bike lanes and a

shared se path along the soth side, between Needwood Road and Shady Grove Road.

Short-term:PursuethesharedusepathbetweenNeedwoodRoadandApplewoodLaneinafutureCapitalImprovement Program.

Long-term:LinktothefutureMidcountyHighwaypathviaasigned,sharedroadwayconnectionalong

Applewood Lane, immediately ater the interchange is bilt. Ensre the interchange design and the related

Midconty Highway extension to Shady Grove Road incldes a shared se path.

SHADY GROVE ROAD (MuNCASTER MILL ROAD TO MIDCOuNTY HIGHWAY)

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Major highway (M42), 120 to 150oot rightoway, six lanes divided. Existing

ve to six oot sidewalk along the entire soth side and existing bike lanes.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 2004 upper Rock Creek Master Plan doesnt recommend any changes to

this congration. Along with the 2006 Shady Grove Sector Plan and the CBFMP, it recommends bike lanes (BL30).

D I S C u S S I O N : A shared se path wold meet the needs o all potential sers, bt with only 120eet o right

oway nearest to Mncaster Mill Road, implementing the path withot impacting the bike lanes will be extremely

diclt. Implementing the shared se path as part o the tre Midconty Highway connection to the ICC

interchange (SP70) is more likely, connecting via Applewood Lane to the tre path and bike lanes along Mncaster

Mill Road.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : Do not amend the master plans to add a shared se path along the road. Instead,

prse the path connection along Midconty Highway and throgh the interchange to Applewood Lane.


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Study Area B: Emory Lane/Georgia Avenue and Vicinity (Figure 3, C and D)

I S S u E S

Providing a connection between CBP termins at Emory Lane with Lake Frank and the Rock Creek Trail systemdownConty, inclding a new shared se path along Emory Lane between the ICC and Mncaster Mill Road, as

well as along Mncaster Mill Road between Emory Lane and Meadowside Lane.

DecidingwhethertoretainthemasterplannedCBPsegmentalongtheICCright-of-waybetweenEmoryLaneand Georgia Avene.

D I S C u S S I O N

The connector between the CBP and Lake Frank is technically part o the master planned Rock Creek North Branch

Trail. The portion soth o Mncaster Mill Road and also nor th o the ICC in the park is being stdied dring the

Department o Parks upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Master Plan. A portion o the park trail north o the ICC will be

bilt by the developer o Bowie Mill Estates.

A shared se path is planned or the segment along Emory Lane, and a segment has been constrcted between

Georgia Avene and Holly Ridge Lane. The remaining segment between Holly Ridge Road and Mncaster Mill Road

is nplanned. Bike lanes are master planned or Mncaster Mill Road in this area, so the trail connector along thisroad between Emory Lane and Meadowside Lane wold be a new master plan recommendation, which is assmed to

be part o the planned Rock Creek Trail.

The CBP within the ICC rightoway between Emory Lane and Georgia Avene was not inclded in the ICC ROD, bt

this amendment recommends retaining it in Conty master plans. Becase the highway was not designed with the

pathway in this area, the ICC/Georgia Avene interchange is not designed to provide a gradeseparated crossing o

Georgia Avene connecting to the trail on the east side o Georgia Avene. In the shortterm, a controlled crossing is

available at Emory Lane. Examining a new crossing is beyond the scope o this master plan amendment and shold

be the sbject o the acility planning stdy. Even withot the gradeseparated crossing o Georgia Avene, the path is

valable. It connects the tre shared se path (SP29) along the Georgia Avene bsway with the Rock Creek Trail

system and the CBP heading west. The crrent shared se path and shared roadway along MD 655 on the west side

o Georgia Avene will be preserved and enhanced as part o ICC Contract A.


Both the Planning Board and the Conty Concil recommended constrcting the CBP with the highway between

Emory Lane and Georgia Avene. There have been no decisions or discssions abot how to implement the Rock

Creek North Branch Trail between Lake Frank and the ICC Trail.


Retain the CBP between Emory Lane and Georgia Avene in Conty master plans, recognizing it may be biltwithin or otside the highway rightoway. Stdy the gradeseparated crossing o Georgia Avene in a CIP acility

planning stdy.


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StudytheRockCreekTrailsegmentsnorthoftheICCandsouthofMuncasterMillRoadintheDepartmentofParksCIP.

IncludetheparktrailconnectoralongEmoryLaneandMuncasterMillRoadinaCIPfacilityplanningstudytobeledby

DPWT. Consider coordinating this efort with the park trail connector stdy identied above. Examine connections to

the Meadowside Lane and the WSSC access road along the east side o the stream, soth o Mncaster Mill. Minimize

impacts to the historic mill site adjacent to the stream and soth o Mncaster Mill Road.

Study Area C: Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity (Figures 5 and 6)

I S S u E S

Connecting the CBP termins at Notley Road (B on gre 5) with the Matthew Henson Trail throgh the park, as well aswith the CBP termins at Layhill Road (A on gre 5) throgh the park or along parallel roads.

Decidingwhethertoremoveanewtrail/bikeway(sinceitwasnotbuiltwiththehighway)paralleltothehighway

between Notley Road and Alderton Road rom Conty master plans.

DecidingwhethertoremovetheCBPparalleltothehighwayadjoiningtheBonifantWoodscommunitybetween

the tre Matthew Henson Trail connector and Boniant Road (gre 5) rom Conty master plans .

StudyinganewparktrailconnectorthatwoulddoubleasthemodiedalignmentforSP-40betweenBonifantand

Layhill roads to and/or throgh the Trolley Msem site and the tre developed park area srronding it.

DecidingwhethertoaccepttheStatesplantoroutethepathalongparallelroadsinconjunctionwithimprovements

to these roads that accommodate all ser grops.

D I S C u S S I O N

The ROD did not inclde the master planned CBP along the ICC rightowaybetween Notley Road and Layhill Road. SHAs

Bike Plan instead recommended an onroad rote via existing bikeways along Alderton, Boniant, and Layhill roads to

connect the Matthew Henson Trail with the ICC trail termins at Layhill Road. It also recommended a tre trail connection

between Notley Road and Alderton Road (and ths the Matthew Henson Trail heading west) as an area or which the

Conty cold partner with the State to stdy and implement, separate rom thehighway project.

The bicycle and pedestrian rotes along the roadway alternatives are adeqate or experienced cyclists, bt ofer an

incomplete, discontinos, or inadeqate rote or sers o other ability levels, most notably the amily cyclist.

Thereore, this plan evalates bicycle and pedestrian accommodation along these roads and recommends master

plan amendments.

A new alignment or SP40 throgh the Nor thwest Branch Park between Layhill Road and Boniant Road, connecting

to and throgh the Trolley Msem site will be stdied in more detail dring the Northwest Branch Park Master Plan

update. The primary concern abot a shared se path in the Northwest Branch and Vicinity are the sensitive

environmental resorces soth o Boniant Road, particlarly between the Matthew Henson Trail and Notley Road. A

path throgh this area shold avoid bisecting the biodiversity area and contigos orest.


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Figre 6 smmarizes connection options. The primary objective or the ICCLFMPA is how to connect points A and B

along the ICC. A secondary concern is how to connect point C; the eastern termins o the bilt portion o the

Matthew Henson Trail, to the ICC sharedse path at point B.

Staf considered two options or connecting points A and B that do not go throgh point C.

O P T I O N 1From point A, constrct a new sharedse path connecting Layhill Local Park to the relocated TrolleyMsem via a new trail bridge across the Northwest Branch. use the Trolley Msem driveway to access Boniant

Road, and then constrct a new sharedse path on the soth side o Boniant Road between the Trolley Msem

Driveway and Notley Road and a new shared se path on the west side o Notley Road between Boniant Road and

the ICC path at point B.

Option 1 is recommended as the new alignment or SP40.

O P T I O N 2 From point A, constrct a new sharedse path along Layhill Road soth to Boniant Road and a new

sharedse path along Boniant Road between Layhill Road to the Trolley Msem.

Staf considered three more options or connecting points B and C, some o which cold also be part o a connection

between points A and B:

O P T I O N 3 From point A, constrct a new sharedse path northward along the east side o Alderton Road to

Alderton Lane and se the existing shared se path along Alderton Road between Alderton Lane and Boniant Road.

From this point, the remainder o Option 3 is the same as the portion o Option 2 east o Alderton Road.

The portion o Option 3 west o the Trolley Msem driveway is recommended as a new pathSP 40Bto

connect Matthew Henson Trail to SP40.

O P T I O N 4 Between points C and B, constrct a new sharedse path along the edge o the park property,

inclding a new trail crossing o Nor thwest Branch soth o the proposed ICC crossing. While this alignment is

essentially the same as proposed in the 2005 CBFMP, the parks topographic and natral resorce constraints make

constrction challenging. However, SHA is bilding the ICC between the park bondary and Notley Road to reserve

space that will accommodate a tre trail and this option remains possible as long as the trail alignment is retained

in master plans. Implementing the trail then becomes a matter o nding, timing, and minimizing impacts to sensitive

resorces.

O P T I O N 5 Between points C and B se existing, lowvolme residential roadwaysAlderton Drive, Atwood

Road, and Foggy Glen Cortto connect to the Poplar Rn developments proposed sharedse path system that

incldes a new crossing o Northwest Branch to the Rachel Carson Greenway (RCG) trail. use Vierling Drive, another

lowvolme, residential road, to access Notley Road near the ICC. As crrently designed, neither o these rotes


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is sitable or road bikes. And becase the RCG prohibits bicycles, this roting wold ofer Riders a connection to

Notley Road throgh the park and along local streets throgh the Drmeldra Hills neighborhood on the east side,

bt prohibit them rom accessing the RCG. It is nlikely that the Department o Park scan efectively enorce this

prohibition, and so this rote is not preerred becase.

Connections between points A and C are the least important in this area, and can be made either via Layhill

Road and the Matthew Henson Trail or by a combination o Option 2 (west o the Boniant Road/Alderton Road

intersection) and Option 3 (soth o the Boniant Road/Alderton Road intersection).

In late 2007, the Department o Parks initiated a master plan amendment or Northwest Branch Park north o Boniant

Road. Preliminary recommendations wold create a regional park with ballelds, a montain bike challenge corse,

and an adventre playgrond that woldcomplement the Trolley Msem site, connected by a hard srace trail. TheDepartment will stdy a CBP connectionbetween Layhill Road and Boniant Roadparallel to the ICC that cold

help implement the CBP throgh this area. The remaining eastwest gap wold be along Boniant Road and Notley

Road, consistent with Option 3.


The Planning Board spported the detor along Alderton Road, Boniant Road, and Layhill Road dring its review o

the highways FEIS, bt stopped short o recommending that the segment o the CBP passing throgh the park be

removed rom Conty master plans. The Conty Concil recommended the CBP parallel to the highway, bt did not

address how to accomplish this alignment i the trail was not inclded in the highway rightoway.


Inclde the connector between Notley Road and Alderton Road in a CIP to be led by the Department o Parks.Reqest State nding assistance or this stdy since SHA committed to helping implement this connector in the

ROD. Areas reqiring detailed environmental stdy inclde:

o Roting a hard srace trail along the crrent master planned rote making a direct connection between

Alderton and Notley Roads throgh the park.

o Roting a new shared se path by widening the existing sidewalk along both Alderton Road and

Boniant Road and then along Notley Road and by bilding a new shared se path to connect thesidewalk with CBP (Option 3 above and SP40B on gre 4).

o Roting the trail soth throgh Indian Spring/Poplar Rn, then over the stream and throgh the

Drmeldra Hills neighborhood as described in Option 5 above.

Make recommendations or the bikeway and trail connector between Layhill and Boniant Roads as part o theNorthwest Park Master Plan. This new rote is part o the CBPs revised alignment between Layhill and Notley

Road (Option 1).

DonotfurtherstudyanyparktrailsdirectlyalongtheoldorselectedICCmasterplanhighwayalignments.


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Photographs o Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity

Layhill Road looking north rom Norvale Road Layhill Road looking north rom Boniant Road

2

B oni ant R oa d l oo ki ng we st ne ar La yhil l Va ll ey Co rt B oni ant R oa d l oo ki ng ea st ne ar Mo rt on Ha ll Ro ad

Alderton Road/Woodwell Road soth view Alderton Road soth view Bo ni an t Ro ad lo ok in g wes t ro m No tl ey Ro ad No tl ey Ro ad lo ok in g n or th r om Nor thw yn Dr ive

3 41

8765


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Figre 6 Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park Options

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Option 5

ICC Alignment

Existing Bike Rote

Proposed Bike Rote

Park Master Plan Trails

Roads

Proposed Roads

Wetlands

Floodplain

Lakes

Parks

Isse Areas


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M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 1994 Aspen Hill Master Plan recommends no changes to the crrent congration and

recommends the road be signed as a shared roadway.

D I S C u S S I O N : The roadway eatres a oroot sidewalk on the east side rom Boniant Road to abot 250

eet soth o Alderton Cort that can accommodate light bicycle and pedestrian travel, bt i and when the park

trail connector is bilt throgh the park between the crrent MHT termins and Notley Road, bicycle and pedestrian

trac will increase and a wider sidewalk or shared se path will be needed particlarly or child, novice, and

intermediate cyclists. Ample space exists north o Alderton Cort to widen the existing sidewalk withot casingexcessive impact. However, extending a wider sidewalk or path to the soth will have to minimize impacts to street

trees.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S :

AmendmasterplanstoincludeasharedusepathalongtheeastsidebetweenBonifantRoadandtheMHTthatwill

nction as part o SP40B, between MHT and Notley (C to B on Figre 6).

IncludetheprojectasaCIPfacilityplanningstudyconcurrentlywiththeconstructionoftheparktrailconnector

throgh the park between Notley Road and the MHT.

B O N I F A N T R O A D ( A L D E R T O N R O A D T O L A Y H I L L R O A D )

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Arterial (A40) 2 lanes, 80oot rightoway. Open section roadway, except

crb and gtter with sidewalk and landscape bfer between Catoctin Drive and Layhill Road. Short sidewalksegments (asphalt or concrete) intermittently along both sides, conditions are poor except near Layhill Road. A six to

eightoot sholder on both sides nctions as the master planned bike lanes.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 1994 Aspen Hill Master Plan recommends no changes to the crrent

congration. CBFMP recommend bike lanes (BL17), bt not a shared se path.

D I S C u S S I O N : The bike lanes accommodate experienced cyclists traveling rom Layhill Road toAlderton,

however there is no consistent sidewalk or shared se path along either side to accommodate less experienced

cyclists or pedestrians. Implementing a shared se path on the property side o the roadway swales is problematic.

The roads 80oot open section rightoway has wide drainage swales. Implementing the path on either side o the

swales wold impact the property owners or possibly eliminating the existing master planned bike lanes. A shared

se path along the soth side wold be nlikely nless the road is reconstrcted with a closed section. Removing

the drainage swales wold permit space or the shared se path, bt reconstrcting the road with closed section is

nlikely since the Contys new road code recommends redcing the need or stormwater managment strctres.


DesignatetheroadwayasadualbikewaythatincludesasharedusepathalongthesouthsidebetweenLayhilland

Notley roads.

ImplementthepathbetweenLayhillRoadandAldertonRoadonlywhentheCountyreconstructstheroadwaywith

crb and gtter, eliminating the drainage swales.

IncludethesegmentbetweenAldertonRoadandNotleyRoadasafutureCIPfacilityplanningstudy.


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L A Y H I L L R O A D ( B O N I F A N T T O I C C )

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Major highway (M16), orlanes divided rom Boniant Road to Longmead

Crossing Drive, two lanes approaching the ICC. 150oot rightoway master planned, bt only 120 exists in short

segments. Closed section roadway with open section approaching the ICC north o Longmead Crossing. The or

to veoot sidewalks along both sides are in good condition. Bike lanes rom Boniant Road to jst north o

Longmead Crossing Drive.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 1994 Aspen Hill Master Plan recommends Layhill Road as orlanesdivided rom MD 28 to sothern plan bondary (soth o Boniant Road). Both the Aspen Hill Master Plan and

CBFMP recommend bike lanes.

D I S C u S S I O N : The existing bike lanes accommodate experienced cyclists and the sidewalks accommodate

pedestrians, bt they dont accommodate child or intermediate bicyclists. Within the planned 150oot rightoway,

widening the sidewalk to shared se path standards wold be relatively easy. The east side has ewer obstrctions

and wold improve bicycle and pedestrian access to Layhill Local Park. In addition, SHA will be constrcting 2,000

linear eet o shared se path along the east side near Park Vista Drive north to the entrance o Layhill Local Park as

an ICC highway commnity stewardship project.


Designatetheroadwayasadualbikewaytoincludeasharedusepathalongtheeastside. Addthesharedusepath(widenedsidewalk)asaCIPfacilityplanningstudytoconnectBonifantRoadwiththe

commnity stewardship project.

Study Area D: Upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity (Figure 7)

I S S u E S

DecidingwhethertoremovefromCountymasterplanstheCBPthroughtheparkbetweenOldColumbiaPike

and New Hampshire Avene.

DecidingwhethertoaccepttheStateBikePlanrecommendationtoroutethetrailalongparallelroads.

Recommendingroadimprovementsthataccommodateallpotentialtrailusergroupsandabilitylevels.

D I S C u S S I O NThe ROD didnt inclde the master planned trail along this highway segment. SHAs Plan instead rotes the trail

along parallel roads to bypass the parks environmentally sensitive resorces. Likewise, the Department o Parks

doesnt spport ptting the CBP throgh the park de to environmental concerns, inclding impervios cover

impacts in the upper Paint Branch Special Protection Area. Eforts to redce the highways ootprint make it nlikely

the CBP cold be bilt within the highway rightoway. Thereore, the path wold need to be constrcted parallel to

the highway throgh parkland to maintain the ofroad connection.

In their rst worksession, the Board decidedater considerable testimony in avorthat the hard srace park trail

throgh Paint Branch SVP recommended in the Contywide Park Trails Plan cold serve as a sitable alternative to

the crrent master planned CBP. Staf proposed a possible alignment or this park trail dring the worksession (the

green dotted line on gre 7) that connects Cape May Road and Contryside Lane/Park, and to the existing


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bike lanes along Briggs Chaney Road that lead to the uS 29 Corridor and beyond. The ltimate location and

design or this tre park trail wold be stdied by the Department o Parks as part o a Trail Corridor Stdy.


The Planning Board spported the SHA rote dring its review o the highways FEIS and sggested removing SP40

throgh the park rom Conty master plans. The Conty Concil did not spport the SHA rote and recommended

the parallel trail CBP along the highway bt within the rightoway. The Concil did not comment on roting the

trail throgh the park and parallel to the highway.


RemovetheCBPthroughtheparkfromCountymasterplans.

IdentifyFairlandRoad,RandolphRoad,andNewHampshireAvenueasthebikeway/trailconnectorbetweenUS29

Corridor and the ICC trail heading west.

PursuetheCPTPrecommendationtoidentifyaparktrailconnectionthroughtheparkparalleltotheICC.

RequesttheDepartmentofParksstudythisparktrailconnectorasahighpriorityTrailCorridorStudy,andevaluate

the general alignment shown on gre 7 o this plan to determine easibility, detailed alignment, and srace type.

F A I R L A N D R O A D ( u S 2 9 T O E A S T R A N D O L P H R O A D )

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Twolane arterial (A75), eightoot sholder both sides that nction as bike

lanes. Master planned rightoway is 80 eet, existing rightoway varies. Sidewalk along soth side largely existsbetween East Randolph Road and jst west o uS 29 in air to poor condition. Pavement is mostly oroot asphalt,

sometimes three eet changing to veoot concrete abot 900 eet west o Old Colmbia Pike. Pathway merges

with sholder briey where road crosses Paint Branch, and then disappears heading west; pedestrians can se the

Paint Branch Trail extension along the road, bt the two acilities arent connected.


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M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : CBFMP identies existing bike lanes (BL13), 1997 Fairland Master Plan

identies existing sidewalk along segment as well as existing bike lanes (EB6).

D I S C u S S I O N : Only one major destination exists along the roadthe Paint Branch Trailand widening

the path to a dal bikeway is diclt to jstiy given the anticipated low demand.


Modifymasterplanstosupportwideningtheexistingsouthsidesidewalktosharedusepathstandards,thus

making the road a dal bikeway.

Iftheroadiswidenedorreconstructed,includeasharedusepathandabridgeoverthePaintBranchinthe

roadway design.

Ifroadisnotwidened,addthisprojecttotheCIPasafacilityplanningstudytowidenthesidewalktoshared

se path standards.

E A S T R A N D O L P H R O A D ( F A I R L A N D R O A D T O N E W H A M P S H I R E A V E N u E )

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Major highway (M75), sixlanes divided. Eightoot concrete shared se path

on the north side, narrowed in places de to overgrowth, bt generally in air to good condition. Foroot

landscape bfer between the McDonalds property and Fairland Road. No bfer rom the McDonalds property to

New Hampshire Avene.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 1997 White Oak Master Plan calls or a Class I bikeway (EB5). The

CBFMP recommends a shared se path (SP17).

D I S C u S S I O N : Generally, this segment meets he needs o all ser grops. However, several small changes

wold greatly enhance saety, aesthetics, and mobility. A landscape bfer is recommended between the

McDonalds property and New Hampshire Avene.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S:

ImplementimprovementswhentheintersectionofNewHampshireAvenue/EastRandolphRoadis

reconstrcted.

Relocatethepathclosertopropertylinesandwhereappropriate,installalandscapebuerwithstreettreesbetween the trail and roadway.


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Figre 7 upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park and Vicinity

Master Plan and SHA Bike Alignment


SHA Bike Plan

ICC Alignment

Existing Bike Rote

Proposed Bike Rote


Ftre Briggs Chaney I nterchange

Roads

Proposed Roads

Wetlands

Floodplain

Lakes

Parks


Proposed Park Trail

Photo Locations#


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New Hampshire Avene/Colesville Road soth view

1

New Hampshire Avene/Orchard Way north view

2

East Randolph Road east view

3

East Randolph Road west view

4

5

Fairland Road looking west near Old Colmbia Pike

6

Fairland Road looking west rom near uS 29

7

upper Paint Branch Stream Valley Park/uS 29 and Vicinity

Fairland Road/Partridge Road west view


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N E W H A M P S H I R E A V E N u E ( R A N D O L P H R O A D T O I C C )

E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S : Major highway (M12), sixlanes divided, 120oot rightoway. Existing

sidewalk both sides in generally air to good condition with no landscape bfer and adjacent to the crb. Bike

lanes exist north o Midland Road.

M A S T E R P L A N G u I D A N C E : The 1997 White Oak Master Plan calls or a Class II bikeway (PB23)

CBFMP recommends bike lanes (BL11).

D I S C u S S I O N : Except or the bike lane gap between Midland Road and Randolph Road, this road segment

serves all ser grops. Its not ideal, however. A shared se path or wider sidewalk along one side wold be

desirable to better accommodate novice cyclists. Bt within the constrained rightoway a wider sidewalk is nlikely

nless the median is nlikely nless the roadway is shited, or additional rightoway is acqired. Many bildings

are located close to the rightoway line, making land acqisition diclt.


WhentheNewHampshireAvenue/RandolphRoadintersectionisreconstructed,ensurethebikelanesalongboth

sides o MD 650 p to Midland Road and the northern MD 650 crosswalk are improved or bicycle travel (eightoot

ramps at both the northwest and northeast corners o the intersection).

Designatetheroadswestsideasasharedusepathtowidenthesidewalktoeightfeet,recognizingthatadditional

rightoway wold be reqired and that the improvement is a low priority and may take a decade or longer torealize.

Maintainexistingsidewalkalongeastside.

Study Area E: US 29 and Vicinity (Figure 7)

I S S u E S

WhethertoretaintheCBPthroughtheUS29interchangeinCountymasterplans.

WhethertoretainthesegmentofCBPbetweenUS29andBriggsChaneyRoadinCountymasterplans

D I S C u S S I O N

The ROD didnt inclde the CBP throgh either area. SHAs Bike Plan instead rotes the path along uS 29 (part o

the uS 29 commter bikeway) and then along a shared se path on Briggs Chaney Road heading east into PrinceGeorges Conty. Weaving the trail eastwest throgh the uS 29 interchange (going over uS 29) was cost

prohibitive, while the segment between uS 29 and Briggs Chaney Road was a simple cost saving measre since the

path along Briggs Chaney Road exists.


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Staf agrees with the States decision not to prse the path throgh the interchange. Becase the segment o CBP

throgh Paint Branch Stream Valley Park is nlikely to happen, weaving a gradeseparated trailbridge throgh

the interchange cannot be economically jstied. Likewise, the segment o master planned path between Briggs

Chaney Road and uS 29 wold be redndant and ofer ew benets to jstiy its cost. Bt there is no reason to

remove it rom Conty master plans now and the Conty sholdnt preclde options or bicycle and pedestrian

connections in this area, inclding a possibleconnection to or along the ICC rightoway throgh the Tanglewoodcommnity and the new parkland adjoining Tanglewood Park acqired by the Conty as part o the ICC highway

project.

SHAs design or the path along the east side o uS 29 is adeqate and the shared se path along Briggs Chaney

Road is a sitable connection to the Prince Georges Conty bikeways and trails network. The only qestion is

ensring a sae connection with a tre path along Fairland Road. This shold be stdied in detail when SHA

designs the Fairland Road/uS 29 interchange project.


The Planning Board spported the SHA Bike Plan dring its review o the highways FEIS bt stopped short o

recommending its removal rom Conty master plans. The Conty Concil did not spport the SHA Bike Plan and

recommended the CBP along the highway, within the rightoway, and throgh the uS 29 interchange to the Prince

Georges Conty line.


RemovetheCBPthroughtheinterchangefromCountymasterplans.

RetainthesegmentoftheCBPbetweenBriggsChaneyRoadandUS29inCountymasterplans.

ExaminetheconnectionbetweenthefuturesharedusepathalongthesouthsideofFairlandRoadwiththe

path along the east side o uS 29 as part o the proposed Fairland/uS 29 interchange stdy.

County Bike PathBefore and After

This master plan amendment can be smmarized by describing what happens to the CBP (SP40) as a reslt o the

varios recommendations. All prior master plans, inclding the CBFMP, envisioned a pathway or trail within the

highway rightoway rom Shady Grove Road to the Prince Georges Conty Line. This amendment recommends

retaining the previosly master planned alignment in two areas and roting it along major roads in others, generallyconsistent with the SHAs Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The table below describes how SP40 wold nction end to

end nder this amendment, rom west to east (see gre 8).


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Segment ICCLFMPA recommendation

Midconty Highway termins at Shady GroveRoad to CBP trail termins at NeedwoodRoad

Emory Lane to Georgia Avene

Layhill Road to Notley Road

New Hampshire Avene to uS 29

uS 29 to Briggs Chaney Road

SP40 Existing shared se path along soth side o Mncaster Mill Road rom Shady Grove Road to Applewood Lane New shared se path along soth side o Mncaster Mill road between Applewood Lane and Needwood Road New shared se path along east side o Needwood Road to ICC

SP40 A Shared roadway connection along Applewood Land rom Mncaster Mill Road (SP40) to tre Midconty Highwayshared se path (SP70)

Plan amendment needed to add shared use path to Muncaster Mill Road, and bike route along Applewood Lane.

Retain existing master plan alignment along ICC ROW

SP40 New shared se path throgh Northwest Branch park, connecting Layhill Local Park with National Capital Trolley

Msem Site New shaed se paths along soth side o Boniant Road east o Trolley Msem and west side o Notley Road New shared se paths along east side o Alderton Road between MHT and Boniant Road and along Boniant Road

between Alderton Road and the Trolley Msem driveway

Plan amendment needed to add shared use path to Bonifant Road and Notley Road, as well as along AldertonRoad to provide side-connection to MHT (SP-40B) as well as SP-40 through Northwest Branch Park north of Boni-fant Road.

SP40 - Existing bike lanes and a new shared se path along west side o New Hampshire Avene, rom ICC to East Randolph

Road Existing shared se path along north side o East Randolph Road, rom New Hampshire Avene to Fairland Road Existing bike lanes and a new shared se path along soth side o Fairland Road rom E. Randolph Road to uS 29

Park Trail New sanctioned eastwest park trail between park bondaries, connecting Cape May Road to Contryside Lane

Retain current master plan recommendation for CBP within or along the ICC ROW; if along ICC ROW, possiblethrough Tabnglewood community and Tanglewood Park.

Summary of Recommendations Affecting SP-40


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Park TrailsBefore and After

This plan amendment afects a nmber o park trail alignments, and ths also the CPTP, which has specic connections

with the trail along the highway.

M A T T H E W H E N S O N T R A I L (see gre 5). The Conty Bike Path was intended to intersect with the MHT within

Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park soth o Boniant Road, where the MHTreserved land intersects with the ICC

rightoway. When the State decided not to inclde the trail throgh the park along the highway, the location o the

trailintersection changed signicantly. With the CBP no longer passing throgh the park soth o Boniant Road (ble

line), the connection between MHT and Alderton Road now mst be implemented as a park trail, not a transportation

bikeway. Thereore the connection between Alderton Road (C on gre 5) and Notley Road (B on gre 5) becomes a

park trail connector, an extension o the Matthew Henson Trail, to be evalated by the Department o Parks as a tre

acility planning stdy (looking at options or both natral srace and hard srace trail sers). This connection will be

the sbject o a tre acility planning stdy led by the Department o Parks, with SHA nding assistance reqested.

P A I N T B R A N C H S T R E A M V A L L E Y P A R K (see gre 7). The CBP is proposed to be removed rom the park de to en

vironmental impacts. Hard srace trail sers will be expected to ollow the SHA Bike/Pedestrian Plan (Fairland Road, East

Randolph Road, and New Hampshire Avene). The Department o Parks will initiate a Trail Corridor Stdy to determine

the type (hard srace or natral), location, and design o a tre trail throgh the park connecting Cape May Road with

Contryside Park, consistent with the recommendations in the CPTP.


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Figre 8 SP40 Beore and Ater

Ftre Shared use Path SP40

Proposed Interchanges

Ftre SP 40 Alignment

SP40 B

ICC Alignment

Crrent SP40 Alignment

ParksMetro Stations

Matthew Henson Trail


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A P P E N D I X

A: Planning Process and Public Participation

The otreach strategy engaged stakeholders in this amendments isses and inclded bicycle transportation

advocates, pedestrian/walking advocates, park and trail ( recreation) advocates, and environmental advocates. De to

the limited scope o the isses stdied, staf established an inormal working grop consisting primarily o the grops

most interested in the otcomes o this planning process: Bicycletransportationadvocates

Pedestrianadvocates

Parkandrecreationadvocates

Environmentaladvocates

In addition, staf developed an interagency technical working grop o representatives rom the Conty Exective,

inclding the Department o Pblic Works and Transportation and the State, inclding the Mar yland Department o

Transportation and the State Highway Administration.

To engage residents and the general pblic staf held two pblic inormation meetings, on March 19 and April 2,

2008, to obtain comments and reactions to preliminary recommendations. This general approach was consistent

with how we condcted the master plan process or the CBFMP in 20042005.

B: Themes

Several broad themes emerged dring the planning process that shaped the analysis and staf recommendations and

will inence the review o this amendments options by decision makers and the pblic.

S H O R T T E R M S O L u T I O N S V E R S u S L O N G T E R M V I S I O N The planning process mst not merely react to

the approved highway design with qick xes, bt mst ofer longterm vision, 2030 years in the tre, that

anticipates needs generated by local, regional, and global environmental and societal challenges.

E N V I R O N M E N T A L P R O T E C T I O N V E R S u S M O B I L I T Y A N D A C C E S S Bikeways, like any land development

inclding ballelds and playgrondscase some environmental harm, sch as tree loss, disrpted drainage

patterns, adverse impacts to natral habitat, and damaged water qality rom increased rnof. However, bikeways

and trails also ofer signicant environmental and health benets that are diclt to qantiy. A commting cyclist

sing a path or bike rote eqates to one less car on the road, which in trn means less air and water polltion.

This conict was, and remains, at the heart o the debate abot a lllength ICC Bike Path as well as debates abot

bikeways and trails throghot the Conty.

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N F u N C T I O N V E R S u S A R E C R E A T I O N A L , A E S T H E T I C

E X P E R I E N C E Transportation cyclists oten preer the shortest and most direct connection. Recreational cyclists

and other pathway sers want an aesthetic, parklike experience or which a meandering pathway is appropriate.


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These conicting desires merge in this amendment becase the most direct connection between tre ICC Bike

Path segments wold pass throgh parkland, ofering the best o both worlds. However, these direct connections

sometimes travel throgh sensitive environmental resorces. Moving the trail to parallel roadways keeps the

transportation nction high, bt the aesthetic, parklike experience is low or nonexistent. This amendment ofers a

choice between enhancing transportation nction while redcing recreational vale or selecting a path alignment

that enhances recreational and transportation vale while afecting environmental resorces. In reality, both afect

environmental resorces; the ormer is indirect and dilted while the latter is direct and visible.

D I F F E R E N T R O u T E S F O R D I F F E R E N T u S E R S From the beginning this plan process soght to identiy one rote

that accommodates all ser gropscyclists o all levels, hikers, walkers, and others. It became apparent dring

pblic meetings that one rote wold not satisy all grops. Some wanted a hard srace trail, some did not want

any acilities along roadways, and others wanted a natral srace trail (only hard srace was evalated dring the

ICC Final Environmental Impact Statement [FEIS]). Some bicyclists vale the most direct rote, while others vale on

a parklike experience .

C H O I C E T R A I L S V E R S u S S A N C T I O N E D T R A I L S Choice trails reslt where connections are needed, and

sanctioned trails are not planned. As a reslt, choice trailstypically created by residentscan damage sensitive

natral resorces. To prevent this, many ser grops (particlarly o natral srace trails) are asking the Conty to

designate trail rotes along the ICC corridor that wold allow nsanctioned trails to revert to a natral state.

B I C Y C L E u S E O N A L I M I T E D A C C E S S H I G H W A Y Many transportation cyclists are asking the Conty and state

to allow bicycles travel along the ICC sholders. Crrent State law prohibits bicycle se on highways with speed

limits 50 mph or higher, particlarly those managed by the Maryland Transportation Athority (MdTA). Recent

legislation athorizes the Transportation Athority chairperson to approve bicycle se o MdTA acilities. This law

will be efect by the time this amendment is approved and adopted and it shold be considered and reected in

any recommendations. However, the ICC is a cosponsored by the MdTA and SHA and it will most likely be signed

to prohibit bicycle access by on all highway approaches to minimize potential consion with where cycling is

permitted on the pathway within the highway rightoway.

u S E O F H I G H W A Y C O N S T R u C T I O N A C C E S S R O A D S F O R R E C R E A T I O N Trail ser grops have asked staf to

consider converting ICC constrction roads to pathways ater SHA contractors are done. Staf stdied this option,

bt rejected it or two reasons. First, most o the roadway will be bilt within the highway ootprint and not reqire

access roads. Second, where access roads are being bilt, they mst be environmentally restored per commitments

in the ROD.

C R I T I C A L C O N N E C T I O N S F O R E A S T E R N C O u N T Y R E S I D E N T S

There was strong sentiment in pblic meetings or preserving critical connections that allow Conty residents

living east o New Hampshire Avene to enjoy park trails. O particlar concern is that eliminating hard srace trails

throgh parkland and along the ICC in the Paint Branch and Northwest Branch stream valley parks, wold block

eastern Conty commnities rom sae and enjoyably links with the Conty trail system. Families are nlikely to se

this amendments alternative rotes along parallel roads, particlarly to reach the major park trails rther west.


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C:Acronyms and DefnitionsCBFMP Contywide Bikeways Fnctional Master Plan

CBP Conty Bike Path (master planned rote o SP40 in CBFMP)

CPTP Contywide Park Trails Plan

CIP Capital Improvement Program

CTP Consolidated Transportation Program

DEIS Drat Environmental Impact StatementDPWT Department o Pblic Works and Transportation

FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement

FY scal year (per MNCPPC calendar)

HOA homeowners association

ICC Interconty Connector

ICCLFMPA Interconty Connector Limited Fnctional Master Plan Amendment

M83 Midconty Highway (M83 is the master plan identication)

MOu memorandm o nderstanding

ROD ederal Record o Decision

SHA Plan SHAs Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (approved as part o the ICC Record o Decision and

nctioning as the States alternative to the master planned Conty Bike Path)

SHA State Highway AdministrationSP sharedse path

SWM stormwater management

WSSC Washington Sbrban Sanitary Commission

D:Master Plan Amendment Schedule

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7

Planning Board reviews and approves the Prpose and Otreach Strategy report

N O V E M B E R J A N u A R Y 2 0 0 7

An intergovernmental technical committee is established and the committee members chosen. Staf condctsresearch, collects and analyzes data, and develops initial recommendations with the technical committee. The

technical committee obtains eedback on the initial recommendations rom the advisory committee

M A R C H 2 0 0 8

Preliminary recommendations are drated or comment at t wo pblic meetings

M A R C H A P R I L 2 0 0 8

Two pblic meetings: March 19 in Spencerville and April 2 in Derwood


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M A Y 2 0 0 8

Staf Drat Plan Amendment is presented to the Planning Board

J u N E 2 0 0 8

Planning Board holds pblic hearing

J u L Y and S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8

Planning Board worksessions

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 8

Transmit Planning Board Drat Amendment to the Conty Concil


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A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

Rollin Stanley, Director

Montgomery Conty Planning Department

Mary Bradord, Director

Montgomery Conty Department o Parks

Daniel K. Hardy, Acting Chie

Transportation Planning

Jorge Valladares, Chie

Environmental Planning

P R O J E C T S T A F F

Charles S. K ines, Project Planner, Transportation Planning

Katherine Holt, Transportation Planning

Ronald Vaghn, Transportation Planning

Tina Schneider, Environmental PlanningKhalid Azal, CommnityBased Planning

Bill Barron, CommnityBased Planning

Lyn Coleman, Department o Parks

Tanya Schmieler, Department o Parks

Carole Bergmann, Department o Parks

Rob Gibbs, Department o Parks

Dog Redmond, Department o Parks

Norma Kawecki, Department o Parks

C O N T R I B u T I N G S T A F F

Larry Cole, Transportation Planning

Candy Bnnag, Environmental Planning

Andrea Stone, Environmental Planning

I N T E R A G E N C Y C O O R D I N A T I O N

Bob Simpson, Department o Pblic Works and Transportation

Gail TaitNori, Department o Pblic Works and Transportation

Stephanie Yanovitz, Maryland State Highway Administration


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Parker Family on Vierling Drive

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