More News

State highway planners asked southern Prince George's County residents for their feedback on projects planned to alleviate traffic congestion at the Route 5 corridor, which could benefit from federal stimulus money expected to come to Maryland.

More than 100 south county residents attended a Maryland State Highway Administration workshop Tuesday at Surrattsville High School in Clinton to review plans for alleviating traffic, which range from improving interchanges along the U.S. 301/Route 5 corridor, adding reversible lanes to create one-way traffic routes during rush hour, toll lanes and closing sections of Accokeek and Brandywine roads to divert traffic.

Route 5 stretches from the southern edge of Washington, D.C., and flows down into southern Maryland passing through communities in Temple Hills, Clinton and Brandywine.

"There are literally 13 different options in the plan right now," said David Buck, an SHA spokesman. "Based on the information that we get from the community, we will come back with a formal public hearing in one year."

There was no definite timeline on when any of the plans would be selected or when they would come to fruition, prompting some to speculate that it could be decades before the improvements are made.

"There is no way to estimate what the future may hold," Buck said. "Obviously the stimulus package has brought a new fusion in… [the improvements] depend on the funding that's available."

State leaders expect the federal economic stimulus package to provide $3.3 billion for projects in Maryland.

The cost of the improvements could range from $900 million to $1 billion, according to the SHA. Currently, the project is in the planning stage, and no money has been allocated for the project, Buck said.

Generally, the majority of funding for state highway projects is covered by the federal government, with about 20 percent being paid by the state.

Keith Chaney of Clinton said improvements are long overdue.

"The funding has been there for years," he said. "I'm frustrated with the traffic."

Residents said they fear the new interchanges and the possibility of light rail along the route would endanger their communities and take away from its character.

"Brandywine is rural – stop trying to make us a suburb," said Kamita Gray, president of the Brandywine Neighborhood Coalition.

Jabbar Holston of Brandywine said that the possible closure of the intersection of routes 5 and 373 would worsen traffic in his neighborhood and put children attending nearby Gwynn Park Middle School at risk.

"You're bringing cars through neighborhoods instead of through main thoroughfares," he said.

Other residents said that they favor the possibility of putting a light rail along Route 5 into Charles County.

"I think a light rail would alleviate traffic," said Charles McDougle, a realtor who lives in Temple Hills.

"I'm just glad to see something's being done."