[DATE]
Mr. William Pines, Administrator, Maryland State Highway Administration
707 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Sent via email: wpines@mdot.maryland.gov
Dear Administrator Pines:
I write to express our support for the SHA plans to improve to MD Route 97/Georgia Avenue in Montgomery Hills.
I live in [NAME OF NEIGHBORHOOD].
I support SHA’s plans for Georgia Ave that would:
- Improve walkability, bikeability, transit-access, and safety along the corridor so that Georgia Avenue is less of a physical barrier;
- Replace the two-way reversible middle lane with a raised median and dedicated turning lanes;
- Implement measures to improve aesthetics and usability, such as wider sidewalks, better signage, and more trees;
- Improve the retail environment by improving multi-model access to local businesses;
- Rework the beltway interchange to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents; and
- Promote a sense of place and community engagement by realigning 16th Street to create a neighborhood park.
I urge the state to fully fund this project so that utility relocation can proceed, and construction can begin as soon as possible. We have waited a long time for these improvements to be implemented and the dangerous conditions mitigated.
Thanks for SHA’s dedication to improving safety and the existing conditions on Georgia Ave, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative relationship as this project moves forward.
Sincerely,
Cc: Friends of Montgomery Hills fixgeorgiaave@gmail.com
Delegate Solomon jared.solomon@house.state.md.us
Delegate Charkoudian lorig.charkoudian@house.state.md.us
Councilmember-Vice-President Stewart councilmember.Stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov