"The future is now"; George Allen uttered those words when he took over the helm with the Washington Redskins. Let me preface this entry with the absolute truth. I am not a engineer, highway planner, social scientist or confirmed "tree hugger". I hope Govenor Marty can step aside from his lock step with yesterday and think about this project.
I am but one man. I have thought about this and feel that we are in danger of continuing on a tragic path. The website for the proposed and approved road system states "The Inter-County Connector (ICC) will link existing and proposed development areas between the I-270/I-370 and I-95/US 1 corridors within central and eastern Montgomery County and northwestern Prince George's County with a state-of-the-art, multi-modal east-west highway that limits access and accommodates the movement of passengers and goods."
This supposition is based on the yesterday concept that automobiles and trucks are the best mode of movement for passengers and goods. These projections were founded in an environment that included gasoline at less than one dollar per gallon. The idea for the cross county connector made a lot of sense when no one considered that oil was not a limited fuel source. I don't think many people understand that there is a limited supply of oil.
When the idea for the inter-county connector was first raised, Gaithersburg was a small agricultural town. King Farm was a farm. Burtonsville was a small crossroad. Laurel was a big city. Public transportation was used by a larger percentage of people to travel longer distances. It is a brave new world today and China and India have changed the fossil fuel consumption equation drastically.
Oil companies became more powerful. Road and paving contractors became more powerful. The influence of the dollar became more powerful. Special interests became more powerful. The interest of society and the people living in the area no longer were the prime concern for legislators.
This area is very close to the national arena. Our news and focus seems to fall on national issues. We, as a people, do not see what is occuring before our eyes.
The people that raised objections to the ICC were considered fringe elements. The 90 year old man that did not want to sell his house. Community leaders that did not want the highway in their area. Environmentalist that found every rare fish, frog , flora or fauna in jeapordy. They all spoke out and no one paid them any mind. The issue that was not raised was clearly...what about tomorrow and beyond?
No one stopped to think about 2020, 2030, 2040 and beyond. Charts were offered regarding traffic and flow and bridges and abutments. No one realized that our vision of tomorrow might have to include....no automobiles, no trucks, no buses.
Rail is rather efficient. A light rail system from here to there could accomplish the same goal. Of course, it would have to feed a central point that would be a public transportation hub. It would mean that less people might be on the road. It might even mean the cost of gas would go up more (nasty side light of decreased demand with fixed costs). I can not imagine oil companies using gasoline as a loss leader.
If Governer O'Malley does not have the cajones courage to step up and build for tomorrow, well maybe he could restrict his concrete legacy to buses and trucks.
It really is time to build the world we will live in rather than yet another monument to the world that used to be. I hate being the lonely guy in the crowd.
Why build a highway if no one can afford to use it?
Tell me what you want to accomplish, I will listen, counsel and encourage you. I will work with you every step of the way until the transaction is complete. First time buyers and military welcome.
Books and things I can't put down or part with........
How much is that bathroom in the corner?
Changes in rules will reduce your buying power in Spring 2008
There is more behind the door of that "Open House"
Single Family Homes in Montgomery County for $400,000 and lower???
I have asked before...why rent when you can own
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Sure....the hand is sore..........this thought has been eating me up.
I'm doubting that the scenario you propose will pass. We'll be zipping along on our highways using alternate fuels.
You are right on the money with this one! Lite Rail is the way of the future. The opposition to lite rail has made so much money from the past way of operating, that they use it to fight the future and try to maintain a dying status quo! There is a huge interstate project going on here in Knoxville right now that is modernizing an obsolete interstate loop. The same money could have built a lite rail system that would have connected many parts of the county that were previously ignored! Atlanta has been talking about a lite rail system to connect downtown Atlanta to downtown Chattanooga for years, complete with feasibility studies. Instead of investing in the future, cities and counties keep pouring money into asphalt!
I used to believe the ICC was a project that had been delayed far too long.
Now I know this is the case!
It's day has come ...and gone.
This is the trouble with bureaucracy sometimes. Ideas (good or bad) get chewed over so long, they are nothing but putrid spoiled mush by the time they get swallowed.
Shucks. I've been waiting over 40 years for the ICC. If it is ever opened, I'll take a ride from one end to the other just because it's there. I don't know about other agents, but selling real estate by train or bus doesn't appeal to me. I loved Rockford, but I don't believe that in our country, the trains, busses or bike trails are going to solve our transportation problems. The average worker has only 24 hours in a day and spending 4 of them just getting to work and back doesn't appeal.
If the ICC had been constructed when the need was identified for the growth of Montgomery County, it would have been completed 35 years ago and it would be moot now. I doubt that the environment will be more harmed by the ICC than it is daily by automobiles chugging along Route 28 or the Beltway in bumper to bumper traffic for an hour just to get from Laurel to 270.
If the environmental objections cause the ICC to be stopped, it will be a pyrrhic victory.
Not to worry. Montgomery County will survive. The employment bases that would and could have come to Gaithersburg will just come over to Virginia. That's what happened with the high tech industry when Mr. Gilcrest decided that Montgomery County didn't need them. That straight shot to the BWI Ariport would have opened up quality growth in Montgomery County. As it is, they will have to come over to Virginia and enjoy the convenience of Dulles, near the Dulles Greenway a delightful super highway.
John, your heart's in the right place but the ICC is a done deal. Did you read the Washington Post over ther weekend. They're alread tearing up neighborhoods (Derwood) making a walk to the park a forced drive in the car to get around the construction with lots of vacant homes being stripped of copper and anything worth two cents.
Lenn's right, though, no one is going to get on buses to go from Laurel to Rockville to work until we hit $10/gal...maybe. Although I would like to point out that people live in West VA and take the train into DC but I think that's because of the lifestyle choice and low cost of housing.
Thanks to Lenn for making me look up Pyrrhic.
J-Mac I understand how you feel. I have the same feelings about the heavy reconstruction on I-287. You can't stop it though...too many people "want it." And there are some arguments for needing it.
John,
SPOT ON! SPOT ON!
The ICC makes no sense to me.
More reason to move out of MoCo in my opinion.
This county is changing.....I'm not sure for the better.
You could not be more right on this matter. cancel the ICC. Then again what about the contractors who contributed to his and many others campaign? do they get a refund? too little too late I am afraid.
John:
I do not think that rail is the answer. The American publis is to tied to their cars and the freedom it offers. Years ago, I had a job over in Pentagon City Va. and lived in Elkridge Md. The economic of it all said take the MARC train and Washington Subway. I enjoyed the ride in morning; but hated the time restraints in the evening.
I do not know what the answer should be! I realize there needs to be an improvement in the flow of traffic East/West; but no answer better than an ICC comes to mind; so I must allow the consultants to come up with the solution.
Here is one thing that has helped me get my mind around the ICC...Its not for me. Since the ICC wil be a TOLL ROAD, it will not help the average communter get from thier home in Longmead to their work in Gaithersburg. In most cases, it will be far too costly on a daily basis. What the road will do is help commercial/construction traffic.
When our building was built in Olney, I watched 100 truck loads of dirt come to our site from Laurel in one day. The trucks drove on 2 lane country roads (just under the speed limit I am sure) to get east-west. For everyone's safety I hope the ICC accomplishes this task. However, at what cost...Good luck getting any other road improvement in the near future.