![[Federal News Radio]](/images/layout/header2/sister_wfed.gif)
![[Costum Commute]](/images/custom.gif)
![[Listen to WTOP]](/images/layout/buttons/listen_button3.gif)
![[WTOP Audio Center]](/images/layout/buttons/audio_button3.gif)
![[Home]](/images/layout/header2/logo.gif){kind=logo}
Part 1
For this family, the ICC is more than just another road project, as WTOP's Paul Brandus reports in his series, "ICC: The Selling of a Road."
Posted Online: Oct 30, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 2
No major roads have been built in the Washington area in years - and yet the population continues to grow. WTOP's Paul Brandus reports in his series, "ICC: The Selling of a Road," it's one reason Maryland's governor wants to build the ICC.
Posted Online: Oct 30, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 3
Will the proposed ICC ease gridlock on the Beltway? WTOP's Paul Brandus looks into that in his series, "ICC: The Selling of a Road."
Posted Online: Oct 31, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 4
If and when it's built, Maryland's ICC will offer commuters an alternative when traveling between Montgomery and Prince George's County. But unlike the Beltway, which is free, if you want to drive on the InterCounty Connector, WTOP's Paul Brandus reports in his series "ICC: The Selling of a Road," you'll have to pony up some money.
Posted Online: Oct 31, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 5
Maryland's InterCounty Connector, or ICC, has been an on again, off again project for half a century. Now, it's on again. WTOP's Paul Brandus looks at the price in his series, "ICC: The Selling of a Road."
Posted Online: Nov 1, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 6
Building the InterCounty Connector has always been high on the agenda for Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich. But in his series, "ICC - The Selling of a Road," WTOP's Paul Brandus reports that goal may collide with saving the Chesapeake Bay.
Posted Online: Nov 1, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 7
The Environmental Protection Agency rejected Maryland's planned InterCounty Connector twice, saying it was unsound. But after a plea from Gov. Bob Ehrlich, President Bush ordered it to take another look as we hear from WTOP's Paul Brandus in his series, "ICC: The Selling of a Road." - and now, the ICC is moving ahead. Here's
Posted Online: Nov 2, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 8
Both of Gov. Bob Ehrlich and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, who are running for govenor, say they want the proposed InterCounty Connector built. So do other folks who have been giving generously to candidates. WTOP's Paul Brandus follows the money in his series "ICC: The Selling of a Road."
Posted Online: Nov 2, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 9
Real estate developers with an interest in Maryland's proposed InterCounty Connector have given plenty of cash to Maryland politicians over the years. Gov. Bob Ehrlich has gotten the lion's share, though Martin O'Malley has been drinking from the same well, too. WTOP's Paul Brandus has part nine of his series "ICC: The Selling of a Road."
Posted Online: Nov 3, 2006
... or download mp3
Part 10
Starting construction on Maryland's proposed InterCounty Connector is one of the biggest things Gov. Bob Ehrlich promised to do four years ago. That -- and the fact that transportation is such a huge local issue -- made this a good time to look at the ICC. WTOP's Paul Brandus has the final part of his series "ICC: The Selling of a Road."
Posted Online: Nov 3, 2006
... or download mp3
Audio
Robert Flanagan, Maryland transportation secretary
Posted Online: Nov 3, 2006
... or download mp3
Most Viewed
Hot Topics
WTOP Radio
It's one of the most controversial, expensive and long-awaited transportation projects in the Washington area: Maryland's Inter-County Connector, or ICC. It is an 18-mile toll road running from Interstate 270 in Montgomery County to Interstate 95 in Prince George's County.
The project, first envisioned nearly six decades ago, has been studied, proposed, amended and abandoned several times over that period, but now appears closer to fruition than ever.
Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich promised to begin construction of the ICC during his first term. There have been a series of "groundbreakings" this year of a minor nature, but major, substantive work on the road has yet to begin.
Ehrlich says one reason for building the ICC is to relieve congestion on the Beltway. But studies by the Maryland Highway Department say the impact on I-495 will be negligible, and Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan admits that any vehicles that switch from the Beltway to the ICC will simply be replaced by more vehicles.
But Flanagan points out real relief will come to congestion along 40 miles of existing roads in Montgomery County. The Maryland Department of Transportation estimates the ICC will reduce congestion by 10 percent or more on the following roads:
- MD 586 (Veirs Mills Road)
- MD 28 (Norbeck Road)
- MD 115 (Muncaster Mill Road)
- Randolph Road
- Fairland Road
- MD 198
- Greencastle Road
- Cherry Hill Road
The state also says congestion will be reduced by 10 percent or more at the following intersections:
- MD 115 / Redland Road
- MD 115 / Shady Grove Road
- Shady Grove Road / Midcounty Highway
- MD 28 / MD 586
- MD 182 / Ednor Road / Norwood Road
- MD 650 / Ednor Road
- MD 650 / MD 198
- MD 650 / Randolph Road
- US 29 / Randolph Road
- MD 28 / West Gude Drive
- MD 28 / Bel Pre Road
- MD 28 / MD 182
- MD 650 / Briggs Chaney Road
WTOP Radio
It's one of the most controversial, expensive and long-awaited transportation projects in the Washington area: Maryland's Inter-County Connector, or ICC. It is an 18-mile toll road running from Interstate 270 in Montgomery County to Interstate 95 in Prince George's County.
The project, first envisioned nearly six decades ago, has been studied, proposed, amended and abandoned several times over that period, but now appears closer to fruition than ever.
Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich promised to begin construction of the ICC during his first term. There have been a series of "groundbreakings" this year of a minor nature, but major, substantive work on the road has yet to begin.
Ehrlich says one reason for building the ICC is to relieve congestion on the Beltway. But studies by the Maryland Highway Department say the impact on I-495 will be negligible, and Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan admits that any vehicles that switch from the Beltway to the ICC will simply be replaced by more vehicles.
But Flanagan points out real relief will come to congestion along 40 miles of existing roads in Montgomery County. The Maryland Department of Transportation estimates the ICC will reduce congestion by 10 percent or more on the following roads:
- MD 586 (Veirs Mills Road)
- MD 28 (Norbeck Road)
- MD 115 (Muncaster Mill Road)
- Randolph Road
- Fairland Road
- MD 198
- Greencastle Road
- Cherry Hill Road
The state also says congestion will be reduced by 10 percent or more at the following intersections:
- MD 115 / Redland Road
- MD 115 / Shady Grove Road
- Shady Grove Road / Midcounty Highway
- MD 28 / MD 586
- MD 182 / Ednor Road / Norwood Road
- MD 650 / Ednor Road
- MD 650 / MD 198
- MD 650 / Randolph Road
- US 29 / Randolph Road
- MD 28 / West Gude Drive
- MD 28 / Bel Pre Road
- MD 28 / MD 182
- MD 650 / Briggs Chaney Road
Who supports the ICC? There is broad support, though not a consensus, among Montgomery County Council members. But the Prince George's County Council is opposed. Martin O'Malley, Ehrlich's gubernatorial opponent, says he favors the ICC, but says Maryland needs to study a broad range of transportation alternatives.
Environmentalists continue to challenge the project on a variety of grounds. One important concern is that the project will harm waterways that feed into the Chesapeake Bay - whose revival also is a major goal of the Ehrlich administration.
Depending on how the project is financed, the ICC could cost north of $3 billion, making it one of the most expensive transportation projects in the country. Critics fear the cost would leave little for other transportation projects - and in the Maryland Department of Transportation's consolidated outlook for FY 2007-2012, funding to study two critical projects - the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway - has been pushed back two years.
ICC Question and Answer
Q: Will the ICC Ease Beltway Gridlock?
A: No. According to the Maryland Highway Administration's own study, the ICC "would not be expected to provide relief to the Beltway." Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan tells WTOP that any vehicles that switch to the ICC will simply be replaced by more vehicles - thus no benefit for the Beltway.
Q: How Much are the Tolls?
A: Despite working on the project for years and studying the financing, the state has not publicly announced the price of the tolls. However, state documents indicate they could be as high as $7 per day for drivers, or $1,700 per year for someone hoping to commute on the ICC.
Q: Is the ICC Environmentally Sound?
A: Gov. Ehrlich says it is. But the Environmental Protection Agency has twice rejected Maryland's ICC plans on the grounds that it was environmentally unsound. The project received new life after a meeting between Ehrlich and President Bush, who ordered the EPA to "fast-track" an ICC environmental review of the project.
Environmental Defense and the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club are suing to stop the ICC, saying the Washington region already fails to meet certain clean-air standards -- and the 18-mile highway would increase pollution and violate parts of the Clean Air Act.
The groups argue the federal government can't approve or fund any project that would make the air more unhealthy.
Q: Can Maryland Afford the ICC?
A: Some estimates for the ICC run as high as $3.2 billion. This cost is more than the estimated cost of the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway, Metrorail expansion and improvement combined. Some experts say the state can either build the ICC, or everything else -- but cannot afford it all.
Who supports the ICC? There is broad support, though not a consensus, among Montgomery County Council members. But the Prince George's County Council is opposed. Martin O'Malley, Ehrlich's gubernatorial opponent, says he favors the ICC, but says Maryland needs to study a broad range of transportation alternatives.
Environmentalists continue to challenge the project on a variety of grounds. One important concern is that the project will harm waterways that feed into the Chesapeake Bay - whose revival also is a major goal of the Ehrlich administration.
Depending on how the project is financed, the ICC could cost north of $3 billion, making it one of the most expensive transportation projects in the country. Critics fear the cost would leave little for other transportation projects - and in the Maryland Department of Transportation's consolidated outlook for FY 2007-2012, funding to study two critical projects - the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway - has been pushed back two years.
ICC Question and Answer
Q: Will the ICC Ease Beltway Gridlock?
A: No. According to the Maryland Highway Administration's own study, the ICC "would not be expected to provide relief to the Beltway." Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan tells WTOP that any vehicles that switch to the ICC will simply be replaced by more vehicles - thus no benefit for the Beltway.
Q: How Much are the Tolls?
A: Despite working on the project for years and studying the financing, the state has not publicly announced the price of the tolls. However, state documents indicate they could be as high as $7 per day for drivers, or $1,700 per year for someone hoping to commute on the ICC.
Q: Is the ICC Environmentally Sound?
A: Gov. Ehrlich says it is. But the Environmental Protection Agency has twice rejected Maryland's ICC plans on the grounds that it was environmentally unsound. The project received new life after a meeting between Ehrlich and President Bush, who ordered the EPA to "fast-track" an ICC environmental review of the project.
Environmental Defense and the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club are suing to stop the ICC, saying the Washington region already fails to meet certain clean-air standards -- and the 18-mile highway would increase pollution and violate parts of the Clean Air Act.
The groups argue the federal government can't approve or fund any project that would make the air more unhealthy.
Q: Can Maryland Afford the ICC?
A: Some estimates for the ICC run as high as $3.2 billion. This cost is more than the estimated cost of the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway, Metrorail expansion and improvement combined. Some experts say the state can either build the ICC, or everything else -- but cannot afford it all.
-
Mike Causey's Federal Report
On Federal News Radio, AM 1500 -
mobile.WTOPNEWS
Get Text Messages and wtopnews.com on Your PDA -
Contact Us
Send us a comment or a news tip -
Emergency Preparation
Is your family prepared?
| EEO Public File Report | Bonneville International
RSS Feeds 
Podcasts AP material Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.