Record of Decision (ROD)

Date Published August 25, 2022

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study. In making its decision, FHWA considered the information and analysis included in the Draft, Supplemental Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements (DEIS, SDEIS & FEIS) for the project as well as public and agency comments.

This ROD announces selection of the Preferred Alternative, Alternative 9 – Phase 1 South, as the Selected Alternative for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study located in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, Maryland, and Fairfax County, Virginia. The FHWA has approved the Selected Alternative which includes adding two high-occupancy toll (HOT) managed lanes in each direction along I-495 and the conversion of the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane to a HOT managed lane and adding one, new HOT managed lane in each direction on I-270 within the Phase 1 South limits.

FHWA has prepared this ROD in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.), the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA Regulations (40 C.F.R. Parts 1500-1508), and the FHWA Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR Part 771). The issuance of the ROD marks the completion of the NEPA process for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study.

The ROD document and four appendices can be viewed and downloaded below.