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Where is the Study Area?
Who is conducting this study?
What is the Purpose & Need?
What does the current study include?
What are Express Toll Lanes?
What are the alternates?
How will you narrow down the alternates?
Is public transit being considered as an alternate?
Does the study take the environmental effects into consideration?
What happens if my property is impacted and the state needs to purchase my land?
How will SHA determine how my community will be affected?
How is the Capital Beltway going to be funded?
How can I help/be involved in the Study efforts?
How and where can I voice my opinion about the project to officials at the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA)?
When will the study be completed?
The study area is located within Montgomery and Prince George's counties and encompasses an area of mixed land uses along I-495/I-95 (the Capital Beltway) from the American Legion Bridge to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, a distance of 42 miles. The Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95) is an essential east coast highway link serving local, regional, and interstate trips. It is the only circumferential route in the Washington, D.C. area, connecting many radial routes such as I-270, US 29, I-95, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, and US 50.
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is the sponsoring agency for the Capital Beltway study. SHA is working closely with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as the lead agency. In addition, close coordination is being maintained with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Montgomery County, Prince George's County and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Numerous Federal and State agencies are also involved in commenting on this study.
Under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the lead agencies have the authority for and responsibility to define the project "purpose and need." For the Capital Beltway study, the lead agency is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the sponsoring agency is the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).
The need for the Capital Beltway Study is based on the following issues:
The study team requested input on the Purpose and Need Statement from the federal and state regulatory agencies. The Purpose and Need Statement is also available on this site (view Purpose and Need).
What does the current study include?
A range of alternates is currently under consideration to address the needs of the Capital Beltway. Although these improvements may not solve the traffic congestion problem along the Capital Beltway, they would provide additional mobility and options for motorists. SHA is currently evaluating the cost-effectiveness of these alternates and will determine which ones should be recommended for further study. SHA is currently recommending the following alternates for detailed study.
Transportation System Management/Transportation Demand Management (TSM/TDM)
8 General Purpose & 2 Express Toll Lanes
6 General Purpose & 4 Express Toll Lanes
The Express Toll Lane (ETL) concept under consideration would add new lanes to some of the State's most severely congested controlled access highways such as Interstates. In some cases, consideration also will be given to converting an existing travel lane to an Express Toll Lane to achieve optimal traffic flow. But, in all cases, roadway capacity would be expanded and everyone would benefit - both drivers who choose to pay for less congestion and those who choose to continue to drive in the non-tolled lanes. Express Toll Lanes based on variable-pricing structures - sometimes referred to as "value pricing"- work in much the same way as familiar peak-period pricing and discount programs routinely offered by utilities, airlines, transit systems, parking garages, and movie theatres to manage demand. Another familiar example of value pricing is telephone service plans with pricing structured to encourage use when overall demand is lower - i.e., nights and weekends. Express Toll Lane programs can be structured to encourage motorists to travel during off-peak traffic hours and simultaneously provide alternates for motorists who do not have the flexibility of switching their travel time - i.e., the option to pay a fee to gain access to the express lanes. For more information, see the Maryland Department of Transportation and Express Toll Lanes.
A full range of alternates have been considered for the Capital Beltway. Currently, the three alternates are recommended for further study; Alternate 1 (No-Build), Alternate 2 (8 General Purpose & 2 Express Toll Lanes) Transportation System Management /Transportation Demand Management, and a Build Alternate 3 (6 General Purpose & 4 Express Toll Lanes). See "Alternates" for a summary of the alternates. As the study progresses, we will examine these alternates, in conjunction with Federal and State regulatory agencies, to identify key issues, resolve concerns, and determine how transportation needs can best be met. Throughout the history of the Capital Beltway Study public comments and suggestions have been encouraged and taken into consideration, and will continue to be throughout the study's duration. You can make suggestions through the Contact Us on this site. Additionally, the public is encouraged to discuss concerns and ask questions of project leaders at all public meetings and through comment cards distributed at public meetings.
How will you narrow down the alternates?
The Study Team has evaluated the suggestions and alternates received to date from the public and the regulatory agencies, as well as those generated from previous studies. The goal of this process is to develop alternates that would encompass all of the suggestions that could reasonably be expected to address the project's Purpose and Need. The basis for evaluating these preliminary alternates is the Purpose and Need Statement.
Following the public scoping meetings, a full range of alternates from the previous study and the recent public outreach efforts was evaluated based on consistency with the purpose and need of the project, feasibility and recently collected data. As a result of these evaluations, the number of alternates were narrowed and presented at the Open Houses in May 2004. We are considering your comments and will convey detailed project information throughout the project study.
Is public transit being considered as an alternate?
A transit alternate initially developed for the Capital Beltway/Purple Line Study included a rail transit facility adjacent to the Beltway right-of-way. Because rail transit operates more efficiently if it serves areas where people live and work, the rail transit study alternates should include a number of corridors that connect major activity centers in the region. By connecting regional activity centers, six potential rail transit corridors were identified.
Following ridership forecasting efforts for the rail transit corridors, it was determined that the travel demand in the region is so great that no single transportation improvement (highway or transit) would be sufficient to meet that demand. Based on this conclusion, the study recommended that both highway and transit alternates be carried forward for additional study. However, because highway and rail transit each serve a different function within the region as well as a different market, the study also recommended that the highway and rail transit studies be conducted separately. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is currently studying a circumferential transit route, known as the Bi-County Transitway between Bethesda and New Carrollton.
Under the 8 General Purpose & 2 Express Toll Lanes alternate and the 6 General Purpose & 4 Express Toll Lanes alternate, Express bus service could take advantage of Express Toll Lanes lanes.
Does the study take the environmental effects into consideration?
Yes. The environmental analyses for the Capital Beltway will be comprehensive. Extensive inventories of parks, watersheds including wetlands and streams, forests, wildlife, as well as existing and planned neighborhoods, recreation areas, and other social and cultural resources contribute to a better understanding of the potential effects of the various alternates on these resources. Effects will be identified and evaluated with a focus on avoiding and then minimizing adverse effects. Unavoidable adverse effects will be mitigated appropriately.
What happens if my property is impacted and the state needs to purchase my land?
The State Highway Administration has a brochure that explains your property rights as a property owner and the procedures that are followed if SHA needs to purchase your land. Please click on the following link to read the brochure.
SHA's "Your Land and Your Highways Your Rights and Benefits Guide"
How will SHA determine how my community will be affected?
We will incorporate a Community Impact Assessment (CIA) as part of the socioeconomic analyses for the Capital Beltway Study. The Assessment is an evaluation of the effects of a transportation action on a community and its quality of life. The assessment includes items such as mobility, safety, employment effects, relocation, isolation, and other community issues. Information from this assessment provides documentation regarding the current and anticipated social environment with and without a build alternate. The assessment results will be summarized in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
How is the Capital Beltway going to be funded?
It is currently anticipated that the project will be funded through a combination of sources, which might include federal grants; bonds repaid with future federal funding received by the State of Maryland; bonds repaid with toll revenues collected on the Capital Beltway (if toll lanes are utilized); Maryland Transportation Authority bonds; and Maryland Transportation Fund monies. The current funding plan will be defined as more detailed planning is undertaken, and cost estimates are refined.
How can I help/be involved in the Study efforts?
The study team welcomes your participation. The planning study includes a public participation program consisting of public meetings , newsletters , and a comprehensive website. The website will always contain the most current information regarding the study. Please check this site throughout the study process.
How and where can I voice my opinion about the project to officials at the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA)?
If you would like to register your comments with project representatives you can fill out a comment form in the "Contact Us" section of this website. Please check the Public Involvement page of this website periodically for dates, times, and locations for upcoming public meetings. In addition, all project material displayed at previous Open Houses or public meetings is available for your viewing on this website, in the public meetings section.
When will the study be completed?
The Capital Beltway Study planning schedule is as follows:
