WE ARE
FORT WASHINGTON FORWARD

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐃𝐌𝐕 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟒𝟗𝟓 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲

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Fort Washington Forward attended the April 2nd, 2025 public information session on the express lane study for the southern portion of the Capital Beltway. The study, initiated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), is exploring the feasibility of extending express lanes from Springfield, Virginia across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge to the MD 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The considerations include one or two express lanes along the inside of the bridge with general “non-paying” traffic on the outside lanes. This is the second session we’ve attended and while we appreciate the information, there are several areas of concern:

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1. VDOT cannot confirm if adding express lanes will require narrowing general purpose lanes (potentially slowing and congesting traffic).

2. VDOT cannot confirm if traffic modeling accounts for potential slower driving speeds on bridges (potentially slowing and congesting traffic).

3. The study's traffic impact analysis for DC 295, MD 210, surrounding areas, and the National Harbor exit lacks specificity.

4. The study's explanation of removing express lanes in the event Metro rail is approved across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge lacks clarity.

5. Amid budget shortfalls, the lack of a substantive shared revenue plan between Maryland and Virginia is glaring.

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The presence of Prince George’s County Council Chair Edward Burroughs was greatly appreciated, however, Fort Washington Forward calls for greater participation from DMV-area officials during the April 7th and 9th public sessions. Fort Washington Forward views this study as a car-centric VDOT initiative primarily benefiting Virginia's revenue and little else. Transportation solutions in the DMV are too important to be discussed in silos, thus, Fort Washington Forward recommends this study be scrapped in lieu of a collaborative effort that benefits the entire DMV. Fort Washington Forward recommends emphasizing the priority of extending Metro rail to Southern Maryland as it will accomplish the following benefits:

 

1. Service the citizens in Southern Maryland that currently have no viable metro rail access.

2. Alleviate traffic congestion for all DMV travelers.

3. Help the environment.

4. Add revenue sources to a Metro rail system that desperately needs it. We can all benefit from that!

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David Owens, President

Fort Washington Forward