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M-DOT Response to Rockville Request to Protect Homes Falls Short
M-DOT Secretary Peter Rahn's Oct 19 letter to the City of Rockville falls way short of the city's request that Gov. Hogan put in writing his pledges to not take homes or expand I-270 beyond the current sound wall barriers Lexus Lanes. (Rockville Reports reprints the state's letter here.)
Pete Altman of dontwiden270.org notes the following:
* Sec. Rahn tries to sound reassuring but won't commit to protect homes (not to mention businesses, parks, the environment.)
* Sec. Rahn justifies keeping Lexus Lane proposals that would threaten homes, businesses and the environment on the table because of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. NEPA is guiding much of the formal review process.
We note that this doesn't make much sense. By February, M-DOT/State Highway Administration will be taking most of the 15+ designs it unveiled last spring off the table so it can advance a small number for detailed engineering and environmental study. The only alternative M-DOT is required to keep under NEPA is the one for not building anything.
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