Tell Senator Nancy King Not To Make I-270 Traffic Jams Worse
Maryland transportation officials are pushing a plan to have private investors build two new toll lanes in each direction on I-270. This plan first adds the new lanes between the Beltway and Shady Grove. Only later would they be extended to Frederick. And -- as with any big profit-seeking construction scheme -- if the early phases of the project don't pay off as well as expected, there might not be enough money to build the rest.
Under this plan, I-270 would back up at merge points even more than it does now. Eight northbound lanes would merge into two lanes between Shady Grove and Clarksburg.
Nancy King chairs the powerful Budget and Tax Committee of the Maryland Senate. If you live in Senator King's district (Montgomery Village, most of Germantown, and Clarksburg south of Little Seneca Parkway-see map), please sign this petition urging her to stop the plan for increased traffic congestion on I-270.
Petition to Senator Nancy King
Senator Nancy King
Maryland State Senate
Dear Senator King:
Please don’t let the Maryland Department of Transportation’s toll lane plan make our traffic jams worse.
Under this proposal, the section of I-270 between Shady Grove and the Beltway would first be widened by adding four lanes. Extension of the toll lanes from Shady Grove to Frederick would be left for later – and there can be no guarantee it would happen at all.
Widening south of Shady Grove first would force 8 lanes of northbound traffic to merge into just 2 lanes. The terrible traffic backups we already face at the merge points would get even worse.
Regardless of whether adding toll lanes to I-270 is a good idea or a bad one, this makes no sense.
As chair of the powerful Budget and Tax Committee, you have immense influence over the state government. We ask you to protect your constituents and stop this plan.
Tell Delegate Krimm You Want Trains, not Tolls
Expanding MARC Brunswick Line service is a cost effective alternative to Governor Hogan's multi-billion dollar proposal for destructive toll lanes on I-270. The Maryland legislature is considering a bill, HB 102, to require county approval for new toll lanes, simply expanding the local control already enjoyed by Eastern Shore counties.
If you reside in Delegate Carol Krimm's district 3A (mostly Frederick City), please sign this petition urging her to support the bill. Please also send her a personal email at [email protected] and tell her, in your own words, why Maryland should develop alternatives like more MARC trains instead of widening I-270 with $41 toll lanes. Be sure to mention HB 102 and include your home address.
Petition to Delegate Carol Krimm
Delegate Carol Krimm
Maryland House of Delegates
Governor Hogan plans to widen I-270 by adding toll lanes. To pay for construction with tolls, the one-way toll in rush hour from Frederick to Shady Grove has to be $41. Few drivers can afford such high tolls, so taxpayers will inevitably get stuck with the bill.
Instead, we should build another track for the MARC rail line. Trains could then run all day back and forth between Frederick and DC. This would move as many people as the toll lanes, cost less, and be better for the environment.
The Hogan administration has rushed the toll lane project through without adequately informing the public or consulting local officials. Meanwhile it is stalling on plans for more MARC trains.
Delegate Krimm, we need you to support HB 102, which would require county approval of new toll roads. This bill would put a needed check on the highway-building juggernaut, so that we can create a balanced transportation system that provides good transit alternatives to our ever-crowded highways. Please support HB 102.