Accessibility for all roadway users is a priority at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), and we’ve been working hard to make sure bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements are integral components of the New American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-70 Relief Plan under Op Lanes Maryland.
Not only will the American Legion Bridge I-270 Traffic Relief Plan reduce congestion by delivering a new, wider American Legion Bridge; but it will also deliver a new shared-use path connecting bicycle and pedestrian facilities on each side of the Potomac River, providing new opportunities for walking, hiking and biking between Maryland and Virginia that do not exist today.
New and upgraded sidewalks, bike paths and bike lanes will also be provided to connect communities and transit, remove barriers at interchanges, and address local priorities and plans. Some examples include new buffer-separated paths across MD 190 (River Road) and a wider path along Seven Locks Road in Cabin John.
Buses and vehicles with three or more people will be able to travel the new High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes for free, reducing dependence on single-occupant vehicles and providing opportunities for faster, more-reliable bus transit service, carpooling, and vanpooling throughout the region. The New American Legion Bridge I-270 Traffic Relief Plan will also improve regional transit facilities such as expanded bus capacity at Shady Grove Metro and expanded park-and-ride facilities.
Additional Vision Zero/pedestrian and bicycle safety and transit improvements will be developed during the predevelopment work, and MDOT will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders and local community members to make sure the New American Legion Bridge I-270 Traffic Relief Plan benefits all users.
This content was originally shared via Op Lanes Maryland’s e-mail distribution list on February 25, 2022.
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