We welcome the opportunity to have your community learn more about plans to deliver a new American Legion Bridge, more reliable trip times on I-495 and I-270, improved transit options, bike, and pedestrian connections, and new jobs.

We are scheduling virtual briefings with associations in your area. If you would like to schedule a virtual meeting please contact Cathy Smith, the Op Lanes Maryland P3 Office Community Liaison, to set up a date and time for our team to meet with you and your neighbors. Please click on the button below to schedule a briefing for your community

Schedule a Briefing

Additional Ways to Connect with Op Lanes Maryland

• Sign up to receive Op Lanes Maryland email updates
• To reach out with a question or input for the Op Lanes Maryland team:
  • Send an email to oplanesmd@mdot.maryland.gov
  • Call us at 833-858-5960

We look forward to briefing your community on the project, hearing your input, and addressing any questions you and your neighbors might have.

This content was originally shared via Op Lanes Maryland’s e-mail distribution list on March 11, 2022.

To register to receive these emails, please click here.

The post Connect with Op Lanes Maryland appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

The New American Legion Bridge I-270 Traffic Relief Plan falls under the Op Lanes Maryland umbrella, replacing the 60-year-old American Legion Bridge and breaking one of the nation's worst bottlenecks.

Watch the Video

Through Op Lanes Maryland, we will continue working on exciting new transformative transportation options and opportunities to provide a balanced transportation network that meets the multimodal travel needs of our residents and businesses as the National Capital Region continues to grow in the decades ahead.

The Phase 1: New American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-70 Traffic Relief Plan is the first major project under Op Lanes Maryland. Upon Maryland Board of Public Works approval in August 2021, we executed a Phase P3 Agreement and have begun robust predevelopment work with Accelerate Maryland Partners, LLC (AM Partners) to collaborate with stakeholders on further reducing and avoiding potential impacts to advance Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 as the first section of the project.

This predevelopment work also will support completion of our ongoing Managed Lanes Study under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If selected at the conclusion of the study, the Phase 1 South preferred alternative will deliver a new wider American Legion Bridge and two dynamically priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in each direction from the vicinity of the George Washington Memorial Parkway across the bridge to I-270, and north on I-270 to I-370 with no action on I-495 east of the I-270 east spur at this time.

Buses and high occupancy vehicles (HOV3+) will be able to use the new HOT lanes free of charge while drivers with less than three occupants in their vehicles may choose to pay a dynamically priced toll for a more reliable trip when they need it. Meanwhile, the existing general-purpose lanes will remain free as they are today for all motorists.

This content was originally shared via the Op Lanes Maryland e-mail distribution list on September 21, 2021.

The post The I-495 & I-270 P3 Program is Now Op Lanes Maryland appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

Last week, with the P3 agreement officially signed, we began collaborating with AM Partners on predevelopment work. We will work with the municipalities, residents, and agencies in Montgomery and Frederick counties to avoid and minimize potential impacts, reduce congestion along the corridor and bring a better quality of life to Marylanders. BPW approval was a key step in advancing the New American Legion Bridge I-270 Traffic Relief Plan. This approval does not permit construction to begin. Future approval for construction will be required by the MDOT MDTA Board and BPW.

Together, we will address some of the nation’s worst traffic congestion. We will transform the corridor by moving more people and goods with less congestion and provide:

• Opportunities for rapid bus services.
• Carpooling.
• New bicycle and pedestrian connections.
• The option for single-occupant vehicles is to pay a toll when they need a faster, more reliable trip.

Please click here to learn more about the benefits of the program.

This content was originally shared via the Op Lanes P3 Program's e-mail distribution list on August 24, 2021.

The post Maryland Board of Public Works Approves Phase P3 Agreement for Phase 1 appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

Learn More

The post Phase 1 P3 Agreement appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

One example of MDOT SHA's commitment to preserving historic sites is the Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 Moses Hall and Cemetery, as well as the adjacent First Agape African American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Since the late 19th century, the Morningstar Moses Cemetery has been a final resting place for African Americans in the Cabin John area of Montgomery County. This historical site remains an important and hallowed space for the descendants. The community has published a comprehensive website highlighting the importance of this sacred ground and can be found here: https://www.friendsofmoseshall.org/

In early 2020, MDOT SHA began consultation with leadership from the First Agape African American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Friends of Moses Hall, the Federal Highway Administration, the Maryland Historical Trust along with numerous other consulting parties. Through these conversations, MDOT SHA learned more about the property and how to preserve it. As part of our continued collaboration, MDOT SHA officially documented the Moses Hall Cemetery as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and the Maryland Historical Trust concurred.

In January of this year, MDOT SHA began removing invasive bamboo at the cemetery to facilitate the documentation of marked graves and the archaeological site of Moses Hall. Once the invasive bamboo was removed, maintenance crews were called upon to stabilize the soil and divert stormwater by planting grass seed, laying appropriate soil matting, and straw bales. This summer, a remote sensing survey will be carried out across the cemetery property and within MDOT SHA right of way in an attempt to locate unmarked graves. All of this work is being closely coordinated with the Friends of Moses Hall.

To be responsive to additional comments heard from the Friends of Moses Hall, a metal gate was installed at the entrance to the cemetery on Seven Locks Road to discourage trespassing, and litter was removed from the cemetery. MDOT SHA is also working with a landscape architect, in consultation with the owner, to add native plantings on the cemetery property, where appropriate. Extensive coordination with leadership from the First Agape African American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is also ongoing to address existing stormwater issues and identify appropriate mitigation for any potential impacts to the property.

Concurrently, MDOT SHA continued to refine the design of the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane improvements and successfully developed new design options that avoid ground disturbance within the cemetery boundary. The new design will be included as part of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

This content was originally shared via the P3 Program’s e-mail distribution list on June 3, 2021.

The post Preserving and Protecting Moses Hall Cemetery appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

Learn More

The post MDTA Phase 1 South Toll Rate Range Setting Public-Comment Period Announced appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

Learn More

The post New Recommended Preferred Alternative appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

Learn More

The post Phase 1 Selected Developer appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

View the MDOT RPA

The post MDOT Recommended Preferred Alternative appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.

View RFP Documents

The post Request for Proposals appeared first on Op Lanes Maryland.