Corridor Cities Transitway

A map of the officially proposed transitway route (orange), with an alternate alignment proposed by the Action Committee for Transit (blue).

The Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) is a proposed light rail or bus rapid transit line in Maryland, USA, that would run from the Shady Grove Metro station in Gaithersburg northwest to Clarksburg. The Master Plans for both Montgomery and Frederick Counties provide for the eventual extension of the CCT northward along I-270 into Frederick City.

The study is being performed by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) in coordination with the larger I-270/US 15 Multi-Modal Corridor Study being conducted by the Maryland Department of Transportation, which is examining multiple options for the region including possible Express Toll Lanes along I-270. A Draft Environmental Impact Study was expected to be completed in Spring 2007 with preferred mode being decided upon in Summer 2007. However, problems with MTA's computer model that is used to forecast transit ridership have delayed the completion of the Environmental Assessment an estimated 12 months. Current estimates say that the Draft Environmental Assessment Study will be completed in the Winter or Spring of 2008.

Route controversy

The officially proposed Transitway route curves west from Shady Grove Metro through several scattered office parks in south Gaithersburg before looping back north and east to rejoin the CSX railroad tracks near Metropolitan Grove. The route would be very slow for riders from the upper portions of the line hoping to reach Shady Grove, and misses important walkable new urbanist neighborhoods that are conducive to supporting transit. As a result of these perceived inadequacies, the Action Committee for Transit, a local advocacy group, has proposed an alternate "two-spurred" alignment that would replace the Quince Orchard Road segment of the route with a new segment directly connecting Metropolitan Grove with Shady Grove, and slightly adjusting the location of multiple proposed stops. Supporters of the original route already engineered by the State of Maryland believe it would better serve both commuters in upper Montgomery County, as well as transit-dependent pedestrian populations in Kentlands, downtown Gaithersburg, Crown Farm and Clarksburg Town Center.

External links

• Montgomery County - Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission - Official planning site
• Maryland State Highway Administration - Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation
• Action Committee for Transit - A group supporting transit in Maryland.
• BeyondDC: Corridor Cities Controversy - A critique of planning for the proposed route.