Assessment of future travel demands and evaluation of proposed transportation enhancements following the exclusion of an unconstructed segment of Midcounty Highway Extended from upcoming master planning
WHEATON, Md. — The Montgomery County Planning Board, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), has officially approved the Scope of Work for the Clarksburg to Montgomery Village Transportation Study. This initiative aims to conduct a thorough assessment of future travel requirements and to evaluate the practicality of planned transportation upgrades in the region.
This study is in direct response to the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways (MPOHT) – 2025 Technical Update, which removed the anticipated northern extension of Midcounty Highway Extended (M-83) and mandated a detailed review of transportation adequacy within the area. Funded through a special appropriation from the Montgomery County Council in the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget for the Montgomery County Planning Department, this study will determine whether the current and master-planned transportation infrastructure can accommodate expected growth in Clarksburg, Germantown, and Montgomery Village, while also formulating various improvement strategies.
Interested parties can view the study’s Scope of Work and watch the presentation from Montgomery Planning staff made to the Planning Board today.
“This study presents a valuable opportunity for us to take a data-driven approach to understanding travel patterns between Clarksburg and Montgomery Village,” stated planner and study lead Sofia Aldrich. “By assessing current and anticipated travel demands and looking at the feasibility and timing of proposed improvements, we can gain insights into whether the planned transportation network can sustain the region’s growth. While this initiative is not a formal plan, it will equip county leaders with essential information for future decisions aimed at enhancing mobility and fulfilling residents’ connectivity needs in this corridor.”
Study area
The designated study area spans from Shady Grove Road in the south to Clarksburg Road (MD 121) and Stringtown Road in the north, with I-270 marking the western boundary and the Brink Road/Wightman Road/Snouffer School Road/Muncaster Mill Road corridor forming the eastern limit. Although the study will include a broad evaluation of I-270 capacity, in-depth traffic analyses within the ongoing Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan and the Germantown Sector Plan Amendment areas will depend on those plans’ existing transportation evaluations.
Conducting this study is one of the stipulations of the recently approved 2025 MPOHT Technical Update. Following extensive research, analysis, and community feedback for this technical update, the Montgomery County Council opted to eliminate the northern segment of M-83 from the plan, retaining only the southern section of M-83 that extends between Shady Grove Road and the Intercounty Connector (ICC). Learn more about M-83 and the reasons behind the removal of the unconstructed northern extension from the MPOHT.
Elements of the study
Montgomery Planning, in collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), will evaluate whether the transportation corridor possesses adequate capacity by focusing on the following components:
- Engagement with the public
- Collection of transportation data
- Safety assessments
- Forecasting transportation needs for the present and the year 2045
- Evaluating transportation adequacy metrics
- Analyzing peak-hour capacity
- Development and assessment of alternative infrastructure options
This initiative will incorporate recommendations derived from ongoing planning activities, including various master-planned projects, such as those identified in MCDOT’s 2017 Midcounty Corridor Study Supplemental Report.
Together with Montgomery Planning, MCDOT will assess the viability and timeline for implementing both proposed and existing transportation enhancements. This evaluation will cover:
- Cost projections for each transportation project
- Identifying constraints related to the environment, utilities, culture, parks, and right-of-way
- Creating a timeline for project implementation
- Conducting a final round of public engagement before presenting recommendations to the Planning Board.
Anticipated schedule
The completion of the study is anticipated to occur within a 12-month timeframe. Throughout this year, the team plans to host two public meetings—one scheduled for this fall and another in the winter of 2026/2027—to disseminate findings and solicit community feedback. The Planning Board is expected to evaluate the study during the spring of 2027.
