Tell Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo To Not Make I-270 Traffic Jams Worse
Maryland transportation officials are pushing a plan to widen I-270 by having a private, for-profit company build and operate two new toll lanes in each direction. The company would build new lanes between the Beltway and Shady Grove first. Then, if those lanes made enough money, new toll lanes between Shady Grove and Frederick would also get built.
Under this plan, I-270 would back up even more at the merge points north of Shady Grove. South of Shady Grove, there would still be back-ups in the free lanes, because otherwise, nobody would choose to pay the tolls.
And Maryland transportation officials are refusing to even study transit alternatives, like all-day trains back and forth on the MARC Brunswick Line.
David Fraser-Hidalgo chairs the Motor Vehicles and Transportation Subcommittee of the Maryland House of Delegates. If you live in Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo's district (Potomac, Poolesville, the western Agricultural Reserve, western Germantown, and western Clarksburg - see map), please sign this petition urging him to stop the plan for increased traffic congestion on I-270.
Petition to Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo
Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo
Maryland House of Delegates
Dear Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo:
Please don’t let the Maryland Department of Transportation’s toll lane plan make our traffic problems worse.
Your older constituents remember what happened the last time I-270 was widened: traffic was supposed to flow freely for at least 20 years, but instead traffic jams returned in less than 10.
Plus, the plan is to widen the section of I-270 between Shady Grove and the Beltway first. Shady Grove to Frederick would come later, if at all. So 8 lanes of northbound traffic at Shady Grove would merge into 2 lanes at Clarksburg. That will make I-270 worse for upcounty residents, and local roads too.
Also, even if the toll lane plan works as intended, drivers in the free lanes will continue to sit in traffic jams. Why? Because the for-profit company operating the highway will only make money if people pay to drive in the toll lanes. And people will only pay to drive in the toll lanes if the free lanes are congested.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation is refusing to even study transit alternatives, including the MARC Brunswick Line. With another train track, trains could run all day in both directions.
As chair of the Motor Vehicles and Transportation Subcommittee of the Environment and Transportation Committee, you have great influence over the state government. We ask you to protect your constituents and stop this toll lane plan.