This project provides for the design of a new 8-foot wide shared use path along the south side of Needwood Road, a distance of approximately 1.7 miles, between Deer Lake Road and Muncaster Mill Road (MD 115) in order to provide a safe and continuous pedestrian and bike connection to the Shady Grove Metro Station, Colonel Zadok Magruder High School, the Inter-County Connector (ICC) Shared Use Path, Rock Creek Trail, future North Branch Trail, and Rock Creek Regional Park (Lake Needwood). The project will also include the design and construction of the crossing of Muncaster Mill Road at Needwood Road intersection and a new 6-foot sidewalk along the east side of Muncaster Mill Road, a distance of approximately 450 feet, from Needwood Road to Colonel Zadok Magruder High School.

The right-of-way acquisition for a shared use path along Needwood Road from Deer Lake Road to west of Lake Needwood and from the ICC trail termini to Muncaster Mill Road was completed in FY17. Construction started in FY16 and be completed in FY19.

This project will provide for a safe and continuous pedestrian and bike access to Shady Grove Metro Station, schools, parks and bicycle trails to enhance multi-modal transportation for commuters and recreational users. The Upper Rock Creek Area Master Plan (2004) and Countywide Bikeways Functional Master Plan (2005) propose a dual bikeway - shared use path and on-road bike lanes - on Needwood Road from Redland Road to Muncaster Mill Road. Design of this project will not preclude the future implementation of on-road bike lanes on Needwood Road.

This project is approved for $860,000 in state grants for the design and construction of a shared-use path along Needwood Road from the ICC to west of Lake Needwood. An FY14 supplemental appropriation request was approved for this project for the amount of $1,930,000 (including $860,000 in state aid and $1,070,000 in matching County bonds). Funds for this project were originally programmed through Bikeway Program-Minor Projects (CIP #507596).

A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project. The County Executive asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.

Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission