MDOT SHA and FHWA publish FEIS for I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study (MLS). The FEIS provides responses to comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), as well as final analysis related to the MLS Preferred Alternative – Alternative 9 – Phase 1 South.

I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study Request for Public Comment on Section 4(f) De Minimis Findings

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is notifying the public of a 15-day public comment period related to a change of the impact status to de minimis for Section 4(f) resources owned by the City of Gaithersburg.

MDOT SHA will accept comments through 11:59 PM on February 26, 2022.

View the Document

MDOT SHA, Federal Highway Administration Publish I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS)

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study. The Study considers ways to relieve congestion and improve trip reliability, mobility and connectivity for modes of travel, including transit, in the National Capital Region.

View the SDEIS

Comment Period Has Ended

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concluded the extended public comment period for the I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, which was open for over 120 days from July 10, 2020 to November 9, 2020.

Related extended public comment periods for the Joint Permit Application (JPA), for the Alteration of Any Floodplain, Waterway, Tidal or Nontidal Wetland in Maryland by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have also concluded.

Comments were accepted during the extended public comment period through multiple methods including oral testimony, online comment form, email, and letter. MDOT SHA and FHWA will review and consider all comments received, perform additional analyses, as needed, and respond to substantive comments in the Study’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). To account for the extended public comment period and to ensure we have time to take a hard look at all the comments and collaborate with stakeholders, MDOT SHA and FHWA are evaluating the timeline for release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.