Public Funding For American Legion Bridge Project Sought By Maryland

MARYLAND — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore plans to seek federal funding for a multibillion-dollar project to relieve congestion on the American Legion Bridge, Interstate 495 and Interstate 270, the governor’s office said Monday.

The Maryland Department of Transportation applied for a $2.4 billion federal grant to make changes that it hopes will make traffic flow better on the Capital Beltway and I-270 in the Washington, D.C. area.

Under the plan, the American Legion Bridge would be rebuilt and high-occupancy toll lanes would be added to parts of I-495 and I-270.

“Providing long-desired, equitable transportation solutions in the American Legion Bridge and I-270 corridors is critical to eliminating employment barriers, linking more people to high-demand jobs and stimulating local economies,” Moore said in a statement Monday.

Moore announced the plans after former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan failed to win support for his proposed public-private partnership to address congestion on the Beltway and I-270. In March, Transurban, an Australia-based company that was the lead partner in the plan to build toll lanes to widen I-270 and parts of the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County, announced that it was backing out of the project.

On a daily basis, an average of 240,000 vehicles cross the American Legion Bridge, which belongs to Maryland.

Under Moore’s plan, Maryland would contribute $800 million in matching state funds and another $800 million in other federal funds, for a total projected investment of $4 billion, The Washington Post reported.

The Moore administration’s plan includes:

• Adding express bus options in Maryland and connections to Virginia and ride-sharing incentives.
• Implementing of managed lanes, such as toll lanes, will be phased, with the American Legion Bridge, I-495 to the I-270 West Spur, and the I-270 West Spur being the focus for initial implementation. The section from the I-270 West Spur to I-370, including through the City of Rockville, will be addressed in a later phase.
• Launching an environmental study to identify the transportation needs of I-270 North of the Intercounty Connector/MD 200.

Moore said his administration will pursue federal grants for the program in partnership with Virginia and local jurisdictions.

Maryland has applied for a Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant will support rebuilding the American Legion Bridge and the construction of managed lanes from the bridge to the I-270 West Spur, and on the I-270 West Spur.

“In doing so, the grant will support reliable and frequent bus transit between Virginia and Montgomery County and the larger Washington region,” the governor’s office said.

In its grant request, the Moore administration also would seek to improve bicycle and pedestrian access in the corridor, including a shared-use path across the Potomac River on the new bridge span to connect Maryland and Virginia trail networks and the C&O Canal towpath.

“Our application for a Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant reflects our vision of the American Legion Bridge, I-495 and I-270 corridors as essential parts of a regional network utilizing transit, ride-sharing, rail, bike and pedestrian access to create opportunity and promote inclusive economic growth,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said in a statement Monday.

The Maryland Department of Transportation plans to conduct open houses in Montgomery and Frederick counties this fall and winter to receive public input. Dates and times for these open houses will be announced in the coming weeks.