The state of Maryland is moving forward with a highway widening plan that would spend $11 billion in a private-partnership to add toll lanes to two Capital Beltway highways.
"The state of Maryland has released its long-awaited draft environmental impact assessment for the Hogan administration’s controversial Beltway expansion project," reports Margaret Barthel.
The environmental review for a plan that would widen parts of I-495 and I-270 in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties totals 18,000 pages. The project would add new highway capacity by adding express toll lanes or high-occupancy toll lanes, and the estimated $11 billion price tag would be covered in part by a public-private partnership.
According to Barthel, the study argues that the project would mitigate worsening traffic congestion and meet the demands of expected population growth.
The report reduced the number of alternatives on the table from 15 to seven, but all the remaining project alternatives are likely to have significant impact, according to Barthel's explanation of the report.
But all seven options would have significant environmental impact, the study determined. In all seven, more than 140 acres of public parks and historic sites could be affected, as could more than seventy acres of wetland. Close to 1,400 acres of forest canopy would be cleared, damaged, or disturbed.
Under all seven options, about 34 residential homes and four businesses would have to be relocated. More than 4,000 noise-sensitive land areas–like homes, schools, churches, and parks–could be impacted by the sound of the expanded highway.
More on the response of critics, who have voiced vocal opposition to the project before, is included in the source article.
FULL STORY: Maryland Publishes 18,000-page Environmental Impact Assessment Of Proposed I-270 And I-495 Expansion
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.