Land Use Implications of Projects - A Smart Growth Assessment for the I-270 Corridor
Montgomery and Frederick Counties of MarylandAbstractSince the passage of Smart Growth in Maryland, there is an increased need to estimate potential changes in land use patterns resulting from (or induced by) transportation improvements. This project would use an expert panel to identify the induced land use changes associated combinations of multi-modal alternatives being studied along the I-270 Corridor, serving rapidly developing cities and suburbs of Washington, DC. The project proposes partnering with two state agencies, the Metropolitan Planning Organization the Environmental Defense Fund and Frederick County. The partners will jointly form the panel and guide the development of their work. This group of partners represents stakeholders who are in a key position to implement Maryland's Smart Growth initiative in large geographic areas. The partnership would also bring a fresh perspective to the MDOT project development process. If a successful process is developed, it would be integrated into the NEPA/Project Planning process for other corridor studies where land use implications are potentially substantial. The panel would identify induced development, based on the "no-build" alternative (primarily highway oriented) and two combinations of multi-modal alternatives. Land use planning practices and policies for the two jurisdictions would provide a framework for the evaluation. The panel would evaluate the degree to which the transportation alternatives support Maryland's Smart Growth objectives. This may include recommendations for land use/transportation strategies to further the Smart Growth program. Finally, the panel will evaluate the process and techniques applied in their work for application to other corridors in the state. This could serve as a model for addressing these issues on a national level. Previous Page | 
