Ibi Sofillas

Within the next few weeks, the President is expected to sign legislation that raises limits for three major financing sources for prospective home buyers: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA.

This is important news because it will enable consumers to have access to lower financing rates than is now possible.

On jumbo loans, it could signal interest rates as much as 1 or 1.5 percent lower than what borrowers can now secure. This could significantly increase the number of home sales nationwide, and is particularly important in areas with high home values such as the DC area, and in Clarksburg.

The growing volume of traffic on county-designated rustic roads, narrow roads intended for local or agricultural use, in Clarksburg is causing residents to worry whether those roads can sustain the number of vehicles that use them. The rustic roads in Clarksburg include Hawks, Prices Distillery, Kingsley, Stringtown (east of Snowden Farm Parkway) and West Old Baltimore (west of Route 121). New development in the community in the past several years has brought an increased number of commuters down those roads, which are generally designed to carry fewer than 3,000 vehicles each day. Many are concerned that future development will bring so many commuters to those roads that they will lose their rustic road designation and the protection they get from the county. Also many worry about their maintenance with the heavy traffic. The designation, given by the county Park and Planning Commission, restricts the type of maintenance that can be done to the road to maintain the historic character of the road.

Many are concerned about the effect that the incoming Tapestry development will have on West Old Baltimore Road, even though the section of the road directly in front of the development is not classified as a rustic road. The development - 78 homes on 35 acres - will bring extra traffic to the portion of the road west of the development that is considered rustic and that might cause that portion to deteriorate. .

To register a concern or complaint about roads, call the Department of Public Works and Transportation's Division of Highway Services at 240-777-7600.

After receiving a long-awaited study by The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission on the costs for hooking up to public water and sewer service, Boyds residents (our Clarksburg neighbors) are concerned the price may be more than they can pay. A dozen single-family houses on Greenridge Drive need water and sewer service because their septic systems are reaching the end of their life expectancies and are expected to fail in the near future. Many of the septic systems cannot be replaced because there is not enough land to dig new septic fields.

The report assumes that residents living in those homes would share the $504,083 cost for extending pipelines to their neighborhood. Under a deferred payment plan, that comes out to $2,975 per household every year for the next 23 years. Residents would also be charged a fee for extending water and sewer service to individual house. The estimated charge is $5,727 for water and $8,588 for sewer, which would be billed every year for the next 23 years through the county's property tax bill.

The Boyds residents would be using the most cost-effective approach by pooling together and sharing the cost to extend the water and sewer line even so the cost is so great.The county may be willing to help them if the failing septic systems are considered a health concern. The Boyds residents plan to hold a community meeting early next week.

Starting January 1, Montgomery County's Ride On bus service was expanded to offer free transportation anytime to seniors (65 and older) and persons with disabilities. The free service is also available on Metrobuses operating in the County.

In July 2006, Ride On began offering free rides to seniors and persons with disabilities weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now, they can ride free anytime that Ride On or Metrobus operates in the County.

Seniors may ride free on Ride On by showing either a Metro Senior Reduced Fare Identification Card or a Medicare Card with valid photo identification (driver's license, passport, or state issued identification card). People with disabilities and, if applicable, their attendants, may ride free by presenting a Metro Disabled Identification (ID) Card or Metro Disabled "Attendant Eligible" ID card.

Seniors who wish to obtain the Senior Reduced Fare ID Card must fill out the Metro Senior Citizen Reduced Fare Program application. Persons with disabilities who need an ID card must fill out the Metro Reduced Fare Program for People With Disabilities application.

ID card applications are available at County senior centers, libraries, commuter stores, and regional services centers. Seniors must complete their applications on site and present a valid picture ID. Persons with disabilities may mail their applications to Metro.

For more information about Ride On services, call the Transit Information Center at 240-777-RIDE (7433) or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rideon.