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.
MDOT SHA and FHWA continue to consider the nearly 3,000 comments received as part of the DEIS and public hearings held last fall. Responding to public input, the SDEIS reflects successful efforts by the NEPA team to reduce community and environmental impacts, including complete avoidance of Morningstar Cemetery in the Cabin John area. On Plummers Island, a research site for the Washington Biologists Field Club, the team collaborated with regulatory agencies and interested stakeholders to reduce the impact by 90% to 0.2 acre, consisting of one pier piling for the American Legion Bridge replacement.
Comments on the SDEIS will be accepted between Friday, October 1, and 11:59 PM on Monday, November 15, 2021. MDOT SHA and FHWA are holding a virtual public hearing on Monday, November 1, 2021, with two sessions scheduled for 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM.
Virtual Public Hearing Information
Building on the existing DEIS that was published on July 10, 2020, the SDEIS has been prepared to consider new traffic, engineering, financial, and environmental information relative to the Preferred Alternative, Alternative 9 – Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370. The scope of the SDEIS focuses on new information while referencing the DEIS for information that remains valid. Following the 45-day comment period on the SDEIS, MDOT SHA and FHWA will consider comments received and will respond to substantive comments on the DEIS and SDEIS in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
This content was originally shared via the Op Lanes Maryland e-mail distribution list on October 1, 2021.