Big Highway Widening Plan Faces Public Scrutiny in Maryland

First proposed in 2019, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's highway widening plan has been trimmed everywhere but the bottom line.

1 minute read

September 10, 2020, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Highway Widening

Maryland Department of Transportation / I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Project

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a plan to widen highways in the state of Maryland has been subject to public scrutiny this summer, reports Bruce DePuyt, as the plan evolves since first proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan in 2017.

The plan has received some significant revisions since 2017, as noted by DePuyt, including cutting back on the number of miles that would be widened: 

  1. The widening of the Beltway from the Prince George’s-Montgomery border south to MD 5 has been put off into the indefinite future.

  2. The widening of I-270 north of I-370 has been deferred.

Despite all the changes (more are listed in the source article), the price on the project hasn't budged, which has opened the plan to criticism. 

For more information on the details of the proposed highway widening program, DePuyt reported the news of the first release of the 18,000-page DEIS back in August. Planetizen also picked up news of the release of the DEIS to the public in July.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 in Maryland Matters

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

A line of white wind turbines surrounded by wheat and soybean fields with a cloudy blue sky in the background.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

April 15 - Fast Company

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

April 15 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View up at brick Catholic church towers and modern high-rise buildings.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation

Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.

April 15 - NBC Dallas