Brookeville hopes plan will jumpstart bypass

Floreen, Silverman propose $82 million in additional funds for state road, transit projects

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Brookeville Town Commission President Richard Allan is hoping a new initiative unveiled by two County Council members will be just the push needed to get the Brookeville Bypass project moving.

Councilman Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large) and Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At Large) last week announced an $82 million transportation funding package to jumpstart state road and transit projects in the county.

‘‘We’re proposing a package where the county finances the money, allowing state projects to advance,” Floreen said. ‘‘We’ve basically gone through the top 10 list of projects, and the Brookeville Bypass is right up there, where it’s been languishing for years.”

Allan is pleased with the proposal.

‘‘If this transportation initiative goes through, I think it will be a tremendous step forward for the Brookeville Bypass to come to fruition,” Allan said. ‘‘The whole idea is to move projects forward that are well-advanced and can be built once funded.”

Floreen said that for years the council has taken the view that it would let the state handle the state roads and it would take care of the county roads, but the state projects are not being completed.

‘‘When you look at the congested areas, they are state roads,” she said. ‘‘If we put this money on the table, it should convince the state.”

Silverman agreed.

‘‘We are putting our cards on the table,” he said. ‘‘Under this proposal, if we can reach agreement with state officials, the county will put in local dollars to get major state traffic relief projects off the drawing boards and under construction. Our residents can’t wait any longer.”

Floreen said the money would give leverage to projects already on the drawing board.

‘‘The state has already put millions into most of these projects, but they can’t go forward without a big push,” Floreen added. ‘‘Our commuters are frustrated, and we want to help them ‘hit the road’ on transit or by car. With rising gasoline prices, making transit more available and shortening car rides are even more critical. This initiative offers the State Highway Administration the route to real progress.”

Floreen said the funding would come from floating revenue bonds and the county’s liquor revenue, which she described as a ‘‘good, reliable, ongoing source of income.”

If approved by the council, the money would double the $80 million already included in County Executive Douglas M. Duncan’s proposed budget, for a total of $160 million in county funds allocated for state projects.

The council will consider the proposal as part of the fiscal year 2007 budget.

The Brookeville Bypass, which has been on the planning books for nearly 30 years, is expected to remove the increasing volume of traffic going through Brookeville and improve traffic operations and safety on Route 97.

Route 97 runs north-south through Montgomery County and into Howard County. It bisects the historic town of Brookeville.

The project is stalled until funding is approved for the design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and, ultimately, the construction.

Other area projects identified by Floreen and Silverman include the Georgia Avenue⁄Route 28 interchange in Norbeck, the Georgia Avenue⁄Randolph Road interchange in Wheaton, and a new parking garage at the Glenmont Metro Station.