Sunday, December 4, 2011
After 50 years, it’s worth the wait.
For nearly 20 years, I've listened to every conceivable argument for and against the Intercounty Connector (ICC). Now, after taking my first drive on it last week, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on whether or not it was worth it. One of the key advantages of the ICC, in all the traffic studies over these many years, was the time savings it was expected to deliver. Studies always showed the ICC would cut the average travel time between I-270 and I-95 nearly in half. So, on the first day it was open, some friends and I, who together helped found the Suburban Maryland Transportation Alliance, did a little test-drive to see if the reality measured up to what studies predicted. As it turns out, it did. We headed out at 7:30 a.m…
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The extension will stretch the ICC from I-270/I-370 in Montgomery County to I-95 in Prince George's County.
The fresh blacktop of the $2.45 billion Intercounty Connector will open today at 6 a.m. after more than 50 years of debate and four years of construction. The section opening today will allow commuters to drive quickly from I-370 in Montgomery County to I-95 in Prince George's County. Now, all that's left to build of the 18.2 mile highway is a small stretch connecting I-95 to Route 1, which is set to begin construction later this year or early next year. Maryland political leaders celebrated on Monday at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the major extension to Maryland’s newest toll road. Political leaders including Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Deputy U.S. Transportation Secretary John Porcari, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. …
Monday, November 21, 2011
Transportation officials: Traffic near the toll road may be more congested than usual.
One of the busiest travel weeks of the year could be a bit busier on roads near the Intercounty Connector as the second segment of the toll road opens to free “test drives" on Tuesday. The ICC’s second segment, which spans 10 miles from Georgia Avenue just south of Olney to Interstate 95 near Laurel, will open to traffic by 6 a.m. Tuesday, the Maryland Transportation Authority and State Highway Administration said in a news release. The first segment, spanning Interstate 370 in Gaithersburg to Georgia Avenue, opened in February. Motorists can drive the entire length of the ICC from I-370 to I-95 at no cost through midnight Dec. 4. Electronic toll collection on the entire length of the road will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 5. As holiday …
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Intercounty Connector's full 18 miles will open to the public on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
The second segment of the Intercounty Connector, an 18-mile road that connects I-370 in Gaithersburg with I-95 in Laurel, is due to open on Nov. 22. The first 5.5 miles, from I-370 to Georgia Avenue, opened in February. As with the first segment, no tolls will be collected for the first couple of weeks. Free ride on the second segment of the ICC will end Dec. 4, however regular toll fares will be collected on the first segment. The eastern portion of the road will open connections to the ICC at Layhill Road (MD 182), New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650), Columbia Pike (US 29), Briggs Chaney Road and I-95 in Laurel. Currently, 15,000 drivers use the ICC each day. At the end of the fiscal year (June 2012) it is hoped that the daily use will …
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
About 3.66 miles of stream in Colesville are getting ecosystem improvements to protect streams and diversify animal life.
Hidden several feet away from ongoing construction of the Intercounty Connector, a heavily forested area protects part of one of the most important watersheds of the Anacostia River. Running simultaneously with the Maryland State Highway Administration's creation of the 18-mile East-West highway, are environmental projects like the one to restore parts of Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park in Colesville. According to the ICC's environmental manager, Rob Shreeve, the $6 million project protects streams, reduces sediment and diversifies the fish population. The project began in February 2009 and is expected to be complete in March 2012. After that, that portion of the park will be returned to the care of Maryland-National Capital Park and …
Friday, February 25, 2011
Toll road's first segment saw 36,500 vehicles on its first day.
SILVER SPRING—Tatiana Olivera is happy with her commute. She drove from her home in Shady Grove to her job on Norbeck Road using the brand new Intercounty Connector, which opened its first stretch Wednesday morning after decades of debate. "It's a great idea. You can drive faster," said Olivera, 33, who works as a house cleaner. Carmen Solis, a 36-year-old business manager, lives in Olney, works in Silver Spring, goes often to Virginia and visits her parents in Gaithersburg regularly. She said she is going to try the ICC Wednesday night. "I'm looking forward to do it," she said. "I might save 15 minutes or more on traffic time." Solis and Olivera were two of the thousands of people expected to use the 7.2-mile stretch of the ICC daily, …
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Montgomery and Prince George's county officials joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Monday morning to cut ribbon on first phase of Intercounty Connector.
Politicians and other government officials celebrated the completion of the first section of the Intercounty Connector at a ceremony along the new toll highway Monday morning. The road is scheduled to open to traffic Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6 a.m.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Representatives from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, along with state legislators, joined Gov. O’Malley in opening the first stretch of the 18-mile road.
Maryland leaders past and present gathered in the rain on Monday to cut a ceremonial green ribbon, opening the first segment of the Intercounty Connector, which will eventually connect Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Officials say the new toll road is just the beginning of a push toward major improvement in transportation in Washington’s Maryland suburbs. Detractors call the road that will link Interstate 370 and Interstate 95 unnecessary and a drain on the environment but lawmakers stressed that it is a necessary part of other badly needed big-ticket transit projects in the area. “It’s bigger than a road, it really is,” Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) told the crowd of about 200 gathered at the ICC/MD200 intersection in Gaithersburg …
Possible bad weather pushes back opening the road to traffic until Wednesday.
The long-anticipated opening of MD 200—popularly known as the Intercounty Connector, or ICC—is going to have to wait another day. The possibility for bad weather tonight made officials push back the opening of the toll road from 6 a.m. tomorrow to 6 a.m. Wednesday, a spokeswoman from the Maryland Transit Authority said. "For safety and logistical reasons, we need to push the opening of the ICC about 24 hours," said Acting MDTA Executive Secretary Harold M. Bartlett. "There is transition work that must take place overnight before we can open the ICC and that work cannot take place in wet or icy conditions. This is certainly an anticipated day and we appreciate motorists' understanding that we also need Mother Nature's cooperation in this." …
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Interstate 370-to-Georgia Avenue segment will be toll-free until March 6.
The first segment of the Intercounty Connector, a seven-mile stretch from Shady Grove to just northeast of Rockville, will open two weeks from today, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) announced on Monday. The state's first all-electronic toll road, it will be known as Maryland Route 200. Its first piece will connect Interstate 370 to Georgia Avenue. The segment will open at 6 a.m. on Feb. 22, weather permitting, the Maryland Transportation Authority said in a news release. Motorists may will be able to "test drive" the ICC without paying tolls through March 6. MDTA will use the test drive period to test its electronic toll system under actual traffic conditions as drivers get accustomed to the road's variable pricing structure, the release said. …
Bob
12:47 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
couldn't agree more, Dave. more ›