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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
B I K E W A Y S A N D I N T E R C H A N G E S
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
B I K E W A Y S A N D I N T E R C H A N G E S
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
Master Plan ICC Bike Path
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
Special Protection Areas
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
9
Mncaster Mill Road looking east toward Redland Road
10
Shady Grove Road looking soth rom Mncaster Mill Road
11
Mncaster Mill Road looking west rom Applewood Lane
12
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 Hard Srace Trail
Park Natral Srace Trail
Roads
M83 Interchange
Wetlands
Floodplain
Special Protection Areas
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
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.
P R I O R D E C I S I O N S
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
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.
P R I O R D E C I S I O N S
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S :
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S :
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.
P R I O R D E C I S I O N S
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S :
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
Master Plan ICC Bike Path
SHA Bike Plan
ICC Alignment
Existing Bike Rote
Proposed Bike Rote
Park Hard Srace Trail
Ftre Briggs Chaney I nterchange
Roads
Proposed Roads
Wetlands
Floodplain
Lakes
Parks
Special Protection Areas
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S :
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.
P R I O R D E C I S I O N S
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.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
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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