FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Josh Tulkin, josh.tulkin@mdsierra.org, 240-764-5307
MDOT Gives Public One Month to Review 26,000 Pages on Gov. Hogan’s Flawed I-495 and I-270 Toll Lanes Project
MARYLAND - Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Gov. Hogan’s controversial plan to privatize the Capital Beltway and I-270 by adding costly new toll lanes. The agencies are recommending approval despite the disclosure that the toll lane plan would have severe adverse effects on communities in these corridors and on the region’s air, water, parks, and noise levels.
The FEIS and its 21 technical reports, totaling over 26,000 pages, describe the agencies’ Preferred Alternative: constructing two high-occupancy toll (HOT) managed lanes in each direction on I-495 from the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia to west of MD 187 on I-495, including the American Legion Bridge, and on I-270 from I-495 to north of I-370 and on the I-270 east spur from east of MD 187 to I-270.
Included in the documents are responses to 5,000 public comments and final traffic, engineering, and environmental analyses identifying permanent and temporary impacts. The FEIS “focuses on any additional analysis and refinements of the data since the DEIS [Draft EIS] and SDEIS [Supplemental Draft EIS].” The DEIS and SDEIS, which the FEIS cross references, were over 19,000 pages and 8,000 pages respectively. That makes a combined total of over 53,000 pages of material for the public to review. There is a 30-day availability period for the FEIS during which comments can be made. After the 30 days, a Record of Decision (ROD) is expected, which would formalize commitments and required mitigation measures, paving the way for final federal approval of the project.
Josh Tulkin, Maryland Sierra Club Director, issued the following statement in response to today’s release of the FEIS:
"Governor Hogan’s highway privatization plan would have sky high tolls and would do great harm to our communities, climate, public health, parks, and historical sites. Maryland has committed to reducing greenhouse gasses 60% by 2031, and transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in Maryland. Governor Hogan’s highway boondoggle would lead to more cars on the road and more climate pollution, taking Maryland in the wrong direction.
The release of this FEIS means the Hogan Administration is moving closer to final approval of its profoundly destructive, costly, and ineffective toll lane plan. Over the next 30 days, we will be looking closely at how this report addresses our previous comments, submitted on behalf of over 50 groups and the City of Rockville. We continue to urge the Hogan Administration and elected leaders to reject this fundamentally flawed plan and instead work towards equitable and sustainable multimodal transportation solutions that address congestion and tackle the climate crisis instead of perpetuating it.”
Maryland Sierra Club is currently raising funds for the legal work to fight the project. To learn more about the effort visit the Smart Growth Defense Fund page here.
###