Elrich Pens Opposition Letter Before I-270 Toll Lane Vote Aug. 11

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — County Executive Marc Elrich is urging the Board of Public Works to reject the proposal to expand I-270, adding toll lanes, at its vote Wednesday. Elrich sent a letter to the board — comprised of Gov. Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp — on Monday with a list of reasons the plan might not be in the public interest.

The governor has said the toll lanes will ease traffic congestion, while critics have said only people who can afford to pay high fares could benefit.

"I stand with many other local elected officials, groups representing our residents, and 78 members of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates in my recommendation to reject the items before you today," Elrich wrote in the letter. "I support improving these corridors and believe there is a viable path to a consensus-based project. Regrettably, however, rejecting the P3 approval for any activity is the only responsible action the BPW can take at this juncture."

Elrich listed his reasons for rejecting the proposal as follows:

1. The State has not released the basic analysis of project benefits and impacts for the new Recommended Preferred Alternative needed to inform your decision.

2. The State has not conducted project financial analysis to conclude that a decades- long obligation of public right-of-way for private commercial activity is necessary or appropriate to serve the public interest.

3. Despite four years of work, the State has failed to adequately engage with the community, local elected officials, federal agencies, state agencies, and other stakeholders to develop consensus around this project.

4. This project should not advance without a comprehensive plan for I-270. The P3 agreement provides no traffic relief north of I-370, leaving Frederick County, Washington County, Carroll County, and northern Montgomery County commuters stranded in congestion, shown in MDOT’s studies to be worse than it is now. This project does nothing to eliminate the northbound bottlenecks along I-270 and compounds them by adding a convergence of toll lanes, general purpose lanes and ramps from I-370 all in the same location.

Elrich has long opposed the expansion and stood with other leaders, such as Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton and state Senator Cheryl Kagan, before the Planning Board vote last month, asking them to reject the proposal.

"How on earth can we justify spending billions of taxpayer dollars and then assessing tolls that are going to be unaffordable to virtually anyone while we don't have the environmental impact statement, we don't understand how it's going to destroy our environment and our neighborhoods, one?" said Kagan the day before the Planning Board voted. "Two, we do not yet know the impact of the coronavirus on commuting patterns."

The Planning Board voted it back into action in July, leading it to Wednesday's Board of Public Works vote.

Other Montgomery County leaders have welcomed the idea of the I-270 widening, including Councilmember Hans Riemer who is running against Elrich for county executive in the election next year.

The Board of Public Works will meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. Attend virtually here.