Maryland highway expansion would impact Rock Creek, Sligo Creek and other trails

Maryland is studying alternatives to expand I-495 and I-270 in the state with HOT lanes similar to those in Virginia. To do so they need permission from NCPC which has some oversight due to the Capper-Cramton Act and the fact that the highway expansion would impact as much as 20 acres of Capper-Cramton land. 

The Capper-Cramton Act authorized the purchase of hundreds of acres of land in the DC area for the purpose of creating park space before sub-urbanization gobbled it all. It create many stream parks like those along the Anacostia Tributaries, Oxon Run and Rock Creek.  The old agreement about how those lands would be managed "prohibits in whole or in part, conveyance, sale, lease, exchange or use of the parklands for other than park purposes. Examples of park-related purposes include adding natural resources, trails and recreational amenities, stormwater management, and access to the park." You'll notice that "Commuter highways" is not on that list.

In general, [NCPC] staff finds that among the six alternatives proposed for additional study in the EIS, there are none that appear to meet the purpose and need statement while minimizing/avoiding impacts to Capper Cramton land. Currently, each build alternative includes traffic operation variations with widenings to I-270 and I-495, all of which require use of Capper Cramton land.

Thus NCPC staff, and MNCPPC, would like MDOT to consider another alternative that would route traffic to the ICC and I-270 rather than the Beltway (I-495) between I-95 and I-270. Previously, NCPC has supported projects whereby resulting improvements benefited bicycle, transit, and pedestrian accessibility and stormwater management such as the Purple Line, but this would be much harder to justify, I think. 

Some may recall that federal creation of Capper Cramton lands was the excuse Rep. Doris O. Matsui used for officially weighing in on the road diet along Little Falls Parkway. That a road diet might run afoul of Capper Cramton intent but a highway expansion doesn't would be peak America right there. 

I don't think we should widen the highways, and NCPC seems at least skeptical. They questioned the narrowness of the Purpose and Need (as have others) and they suggested at least one transit-oriented solution be studied as part of the alternatives. But....if they are going to build this, bike advocates should be ready to ask for improvements. Not just to the trails that pass under or over the Beltway and 270 now, but the ones that don't. The Northwest Branch, for example, ends just inside the Beltway and so any expansion there should extend it. Suitland Parkway too. There might also be opportunities to build parallel trails, as is being done on I-66. Perhaps in the Adelphi area or near Greenbelt National Park. 

NCPC is getting an informational presentation on this on Thursday night.

Comments

[Purple Eagle]

I like most of your suggestions for trail improvements. Not sure that any extension of NW Branch is feasible. Quite rocky just a big north of where the current paved trail ends, and the final few hundred yards before 29 would likely prove impossible for paved trail construction - large rocks, it looks like the Appalachian Trail. Without a connection to 29 an extension would not be worth while.

[Crickey]

Given that both RCP and Sligo cross the Beltway rather than run alongside, the impact will be fairly modest. The Towpath crosses below 8 lanes of 495. It survived. This particular objection seems a stretch.

[Chris]

I’d happily take the expansion if we got more bicycle infrastructure out of it, especially a new river crossing on an expanded legion bridge

[washycle]

Crickey, Rock Creek Park runs directly along side the Beltway. They think they'll need to put the creek in a box culvert to make the expansion work. It'll be the hardest hit part of it. NCPC's concerns are about the parkland, not the trail. But this blog is focused on the trail which will be impacted.

[Dana]

Connect Rock Creek, Sligo, NW Branch bike trails along 495,
where they are closest and it is flattest.

[Dana]

And extend the 495 bike trail
from NW Branch, Sligo, Rock Creek trails all the way to the Patomic, canal trail, which 495 also intersects
not too far from Rock Creek.