Montgomery County homeowners and future buyers from near the American Legion Bridge up through Rockville will soon see some major traffic changes as officials move forward on toll lanes into 2020. While construction typically presents challenges, toll lanes can offer commuters choices when navigating rush hour, making an already sought-after location even more appealing for buyers and sellers.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced Jan. 3 an agreement with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to install new toll lanes on parts of the Beltway, I-270, and I-370. Additional Beltway toll lanes in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County will be delayed.
“The first phase of this project will include the American Legion Bridge and the segment that extends from I-270 to I-370,” Franchot said in a statement released by his office. “It will not include the segment of the Capital Beltway between Interstate 270 and I-95, which would come with significant community impacts.” He added that such improvements would be considered in the future by the Maryland Board of Public Works.
“This means that we can finally move forward on our historic interstate agreement with Virginia to build a new American Legion Bridge, and to solve what has been the number one problem in the Washington Capital Region for decades,” Hogan added in a statement Jan. 3. “With this plan, no one will be required to pay any tolls, all existing lanes will remain free, and billions of dollars in road improvements will be made without any new taxes.”
Washington Business journal reported that with Hogan, Franchot, and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp all on the Board of Public works, Hogan need Franchot’s support, as Kopp voted against the plan in June.
How this might actually affect home availability and prices in the area is yet to be seen, but the Montgomery County market is one that sees some quick sales and increasing home prices. From January through November in 2019, home sold prices were up about 2 percent from the previous year in the county. In addition, the average days on market for a home was just about a month.
Christopher Prawdzik, an Accredited Staging Partner® Real Estate Agent, and his wife Angela Logomasini are licensed Realtors® with Samson Properties in Alexandria. Operating as D.C. Region Real Estate, they serve the Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland real estate market and offer comprehensive real estate services, including 4½% full-service listings.
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