Hearings are slated on a Chesapeake Bay bridge crossing, including one option that would feed traffic into Cecil County, MD and Delaware.
Three three preliminary corridors and a no-build alternative are listed as options.
Data indicates the three preliminary alternatives are the only corridors to meet requirments of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) will present the no-build alternative, the preliminary corridor alternatives, and the original full range of alternatives from the study for public review and comment at six open houses in September and October.
“While the No-Build alternative and three preliminary corridor alternatives are being included in the federal environmental process for further study, traffic models indicate that one of the three, building a third crossing within the same corridor as the existing Bay Bridge (Corridor 7), would have the most positive impact on reducing traffic,” said MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports.
Talk of a new Chesapeake Bay Bridge has drawn oppositon fron some Eastern Shore residents who fear more congestion. The northrn option would also seem to indicate that Delaware would have to make road improvements, due to the added traffic.
The study also looks at modal and operational transportation methods including ferry service, bus rapid transit, rail transit and transportation systems management/travel demand management. The options ae as follows:
- Corridor 6: MD 100 to US 301 between Pasadena (Anne Arundel County), Rock Hall (Kent County) and Centreville (Queen Anne’s County);
- Corridor 7: existing Bay Bridge corridor, US 50/301 to US 50 between Crofton (Anne Arundel County) and Queenstown (Queen Anne’s County); and
- Corridor 8: US 50/301 between Crofton (Anne Arundel County) and Easton (Talbot County).
Corridor 7, the corridor where the existing Bay Bridge is today, provides the most congestion relief.
The regional analyses undertaken during the Tier 1 study involves the evaluation of approximately 2-mile wide corridors using a broad-scale level of detail for engineering and environmental information.
At the open houses, the MDTA will provide information and receive feedback on the range of alternatives and the Preliminary CARA. Attendees also will learn about the purpose and need aspect of the study, traffic, engineering and environmental considerations, comments received to date, next steps and how to stay informed.
Funded by toll dollars, the Bay Crossing Study Tier 1 began in 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2021. The next steps are to publish a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and hold public hearings in fall 2020. The final steps are to identify the preferred corridor alternative and publish the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision in collaboration with FHWA in summer 2021.
View Bay Crossing Study open house display boards and times and dates for the hearings here.
