Week Ahead: Public Hearings on Beltway, I-270 Toll Lane Proposals

Plus: County Council examines employee compensation; Public hearing on Ride On pilot program

State Highway Administration to hold public hearings Wednesday and Thursday on Interstate 270, Beltway widening

The Maryland State Highway Administration will hold two public hearings this week on Gov. Larry Hogan’s $9 billion proposal to add toll lanes to the Beltway and Interstate 270. The project has been met with fierce opposition from Montgomery County residents and lawmakers due to concerns over the taking of homes and businesses under eminent domain. A recent report estimated that up to 34 homes could be taken, and 1,500 properties could be affected in some way. Wednesday’s hearing will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring. Thursday’s hearing will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Thomas Wootton High School in Rockville.

County Council to review proposed compensation for all agencies Tuesday

As part of its budget review process, the Montgomery County Council will discuss the amounts of proposed compensation for all county agencies that are set aside in County Executive Marc Elrich’s proposed fiscal 2020 budget. Salaries include raises of as much as 9.4% for employees affiliated with the county’s main union, MCGEO. Those raises are intended to make up for previous raises that were not funded by the council due to lingering effects from the 2008 recession. Council approval is needed for the labor agreements to take effect. Tuesday’s hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in the council’s Rockville chamber.

Ride On pilot program for on-demand pickups to be presented at Thursday hearing

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing Thursday on a proposed on-demand pilot program Ride On plans to implement this summer. The program will allow riders in Rockville, Wheaton and Glenmont to use an app to request a bus pick them up from their location. The bus would then transport users to a transit hub, such as a Metro station, in an attempt to solve transit users’ “last mile” problem. The hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring.

Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@bethesdamagazine.com