I just spoke with Michael Jackson who is the Director of Bicycle-Pedestrian Access for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). He stated that MDOT does not have jurisdiction over Norbeck Road (MD-28), which is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA).
Norbeck Road lies in District 4 and should receive priority |
Mr. Jackson sent me a copy of the County's latest Transportation Priority Letter for Fiscal Year 2011 and it shows that Ms. Navarro and her Council have requested $142 million for an intersection interchange at Norbeck Road and Georgia Avenue. Also, another $135 million has been requested for widening Norbeck Road to four lanes between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road.
I'll contact Councilmember Nancy Navarro and ask her if these requests for Norbeck Road include any pedestrian-bike improvements to the entire stretch of Norbeck between Georgia and Layhill. It should be noted that this stretch of Norbeck is the ONLY part of MD-28 that has no sidewalks or bike paths. Filling in this glaring gap would ensure continuous pathway connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists between Georgia Avenue and New Hampshire.
Here's the link to the County's Transportation Priority Letter for FY 2011 if you would like to see which projects are on the D&E list, but not on the Construction list. It's an interesting read:
http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Planning/County_Priority_Letters/2011_Priority_Letters/Montgomery_County.pdf
Please contact Councilmember Nancy Navarro by telephone at 240-777-7968 (Office) and by e-mail at Councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov to express your support for the widening of Norbeck Road to four lanes between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road.
Please also urge her to include a pedestrian-bike path on this segment of Norbeck so that residents can travel safely by foot or bike.
Many thanks for your support!
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