Northwood News ♦ June 2013

The Latest Development Developments

By Jim Zepp

As I have previously reported, the County government continues its pursuit of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) AKA Rapid Transit Vehicle (RTV) as well as the adoption of the White Oak (Science Gateway) Master Plan.  Both could result in significant impacts on the Four Corners area in terms of local transit services, roadway access to the neighborhood, future traffic congestion, and taxes.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) held a public hearing on 16 May 2013 for comments on a proposal to modify the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan.  This proposal would allow BRT routes to be placed on the following roadway corridors, which would create an 80-mile system:

• Georgia Avenue;
• Rockville Pike (MD 355);
• New Hampshire Avenue;
• North Bethesda Transitway (White Flint Metro to Montgomery Mall, mostly via Old Georgetown Road);
• Randolph Road;
• University Boulevard;
• Colesville Road (US 29);
• Viers Mill Road.

This is a reduction from the 163-mile BRT network covering 23 major roadways recommended by a Transit Task Force last year.  The MNCPPC staff’s recommendation for the smaller configuration was based on the finding that there wasn’t sufficient ridership in the County to support the more extensive BRT system.

The concerns about this proposal as previously stated are that:

1. it promotes sprawl development and growth in the outer areas of the County because it is a limited stop, express transit service;
2. its operation will be energy-inefficient since it involves large vehicles with passenger capacities for rush hour demands that for non-rush hour periods will mostly waste fuel on frequent runs;
3. it could pull needed resources away from existing transit services;
4. its potential for traffic congestion reduction could be achieved through less expensive and more immediate solutions that are being ignored; and
5. in order to maximize the speed of BRT vehicles, the lanes available for other vehicles will be reduced or properties will be taken along these corridors, intersections without traffic lights will be blocked, and the timing cycles of traffic lights will be disrupted so that the BRT vehicles won’t have to stop.

The MNCPPC Planning Board is expected to approve this Plan sometime this Summer so that it can be referred to the County Council for adoption, probably in the Fall.

Oh, BRT, Where Aren’t Thou?

As extensive as the proposed BRT coverage is in its many possible configurations, it is also interesting where it is not suggested for.  The New Hampshire Corridor BRT would go from the Colesville Park-and-Ride lot north of the New Hampshire Ave./Randolph Rd. intersection to the D.C./Md. line.  It does not go to Takoma Park Metro Station, which would seem the logical endpoint for commuters continuing their trips on the Metro system.  So, despite its claims to greenness, the City of Takoma Park has no interest in having a BRT on its streets and promoting transit-oriented development.  Having the BRT travel Colesville Road from Burtonsville to White Oak and turning onto New Hampshire from White Oak to the Takoma Park Metro (which has a wider right-of-way than lower Colesville Road and more substantial ridership potential) is not under consideration.

Also, Connecticut Avenue — which initially was included in the proposed BRT routes and, relative to other County roads, is the farthest to other forms of express travel (i.e., interstates and Metro lines) — has fallen out of consideration.  One wonders if fears of opposition by the Chevy Chase Club killed any urge to improve mass transit along that road, as if the traffic congestion along that road is more acceptable.

Strangely, Rockville Pike (even though it will parallel the Metro Red Line) and Colesville Road (which will inconveniently serve the expanding FDA staff and planned expansion of the Hillandale shopping area) have been identified as top priority for BRT treatment.  There are already several approved BRT routes (the Corridor Cities Transitway, Viers Mill Road, Upper Georgia Avenue, and the North Bethesda Transitway).

The White Oak Wipeout

The MNCPPC planning Board was also holding a public hearing on the proposed White Oak Master Plan on 22 May 2013.  While some improvements and new development in that area are desirable, the question is whether the massive scale envisioned by the proposed plan (14 million sq. ft. of new commercial space — equal to about 11 more Wheaton Malls — and 8,000 new residential units) would overwhelm the area’s transportation and other infrastructure.  If the proposed BRT on Colesville Road were built, this new development would wipe out any reductions in traffic congestion.

In many cities that chose to build a BRT, it was or will be replaced by a light rail system because of BRT’s relatively limited passenger carrying capacities.  Unless a BRT is planned as a temporary stand-in for light rail, there may be little or no cost savings for a later conversion.

The MNCPPC Planning Board is expected to also approve the White Oak Master Plan this summer so it can be sent to the County Council for adoption before its December adjournment.   ■