The vast majority of residents who spoke at Tuesday’s Montgomery County Council public hearing called for the elimination of a proposed five-mile extension of the Midcounty Highway (M83) from Montgomery Village to Ridge Road.
The northern road extension has been a part of County plans for many years.
The County Planning board recommended M83 be removed from the County’s Highways and Transitways plans. Funds have never been allocated for the extension,
The fate of the extension will be reviewed July 21 by members of the County’s Transportation and Environment Committee.
Many of the 40 speakers who spoke during the two-hour public hearing spoke of their love for the forest surrounding Seneca Creek Watershed. They urged the council not to build there.
Residents Say ‘No Thanks’
“If M83 were allowed to proceed, the building project would wipe out the massive internal forest,” said Jean Brown, from Dayspring Church in Germantown.
Brian Higgins, caretaker at Dayspring, elaborated. “If M83 were built, it would destroy all growth forest along the corridor of the property, create an increase in noise, release compounds that trigger asthma and would contribute to the urban heat islands.”
Barkha Bishnoi, president of the Richard Montgomery High School Climate Club, added, “M83 goes against the environmental values Montgomery County embraces.”
Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Highway Extended member Diane Cameron told Councilmembers the five-mile extension should be removed from all County plans or it may be built in future. “We urgently need to invest in transit for the Upcounty.”
Nadjwa Hassan agreed, “We need trees and animals more than we need another road.”
“New highways don’t fix congestion,” said Benjamin Ross.
Residents Pro M83 Speak Up
Many speakers urged the council to delete the M83 from County future plans. They suggested adding new and more frequent buses in the area as a way to reduce traffic and help area residents get to their schools and jobs.
Several residents spoke out in favor of the M83.
Robert Nelson called it the best option proposed to relieve Upcounty traffic. He said a five-mile extension would have “no impact on the climate.”
Christel Bivens, chair of the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board, said the M83 would relieve traffic congestion, It would also remove many vehicles from rural roads that were not designed to hold them.
Edgar Gonzalez of the Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance said that if M83 is not built, it would be “a betrayal to the thousands of residents who bought their homes in Clarksburg” expecting infrastructure to be built.
Beth Wolff, president of the Clarksburg Neighbors Alliance, agreed. Housing is growing in the area, but the infrastructure is not keeping up, she said. “It is now gridlocked even to and from the grocery.”
