anchor Description
This program provides for the planning, design, and construction of bikeways, trails, neighborhood greenways and directional route signs throughout the County to develop the bikeway network specified by master plans and those requested by the community to provide access to commuter rail, mass transit, major employment centers, recreational and educational facilities, and other major attractions. The program will construct bicycle facilities that typically cost less than $1,000,000 including shared use paths, on-road bicycle facilities, wayfinding, and signed shared routes. This project includes the Brown Street Trail improvements in the Washington Grove Connector sub-project.
anchorCost Change
Cost increases support completion of the Good Hope Share Use Path extension design for stormwater management in the Upper Paint Branch special protection area and to finish design and construct improvements along Falls Road from Democracy Boulevard to the Bullis School entrance.
anchor Justification
There is a continuing and increasing need to develop a viable and effective bikeway and trail network throughout the County to increase bicyclist safety and mobility, provide an alternative to the use of automobiles, reduce traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, conserve energy, enhance quality of life, provide recreational opportunities, and encourage healthy life styles. This program implements the bikeways recommended in local area master plans, in the November 2018 Approved and Adopted Montgomery County Bicycle Master Plan, and those identified by individuals, communities, the Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group, and bikeway segments and connectors necessitated by the subdivision process. Projects identified by individuals and communities will be used as an ongoing project guide which will be implemented in accordance with the funds available in each fiscal year. This program also complements and augments the bikeways that are included in road projects and supports the County Executive's Vision Zero initiative which aims to reduce injuries and fatalities to zero on all roads by 2030.
anchorOther
The developer contributions for $814,000 is based on the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Bullis School (Bullis) and requires that Bullis construct the portion of the path from the school entrance south to Democracy Boulevard. MCDOT will use the contributions to complete final design and permitting from the school entrance to Democracy Boulevard and acquire property. MCDOT will also construct improvements to the intersection of Falls Road to Democracy Boulevard as well as construct improvements along Democracy Boulevard. Final design is scheduled for completion in FY26. Construction and Land Acquisition are scheduled for completion in FY27.
anchorFiscal Note
In FY23, FY24, and FY25, $2 million of the State Aid reflects state grants for capital projects in Montgomery County programmed during the 2022 State General Assembly Session. The remainder of the State Aid reflects competitive grants from various funding sources. FY24 funding switch between GO Bonds and Impact Tax. $814,000 in developer contributions was programmed in FY26 and FY27 to complete design and permitting from the Bullis School entrance to Democracy Boulevard as well as construct improvements along Falls Road.
anchorDisclosures
A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.
Expenditures will continue indefinitely.
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.
anchorCoordination
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Police, Citizen Advisory Boards, Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group, Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, Montgomery Bicycle Advocates, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Department of Permitting Services, Bullis School, and Utility Companies.