Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation i

Abstract

TITLE: ApprovedCountywideMasterPlanofTransportation

AUTHOR: TheMaryland-NationalCapitalParkandPlanningCommission

SUBJECT: TheMasterPlanofTransportationforPrinceGeorge’sCounty

DATE: November2009

SOURCE TheMaryland-NationalCapitalParkandPlanningCommissionOFCOPIES: 14741GovernorOdenBowieDrive,UpperMarlboro,Maryland20772

SERIESNUMBER: 829092405

NUMBEROFPAGES: 120

ABSTRACT: TheApproved Countywide Master Plan of TransportationupdatestheearlierPrinceGeorge’sCountyMasterPlanofTransportation,whichwasapprovedin1982andhassincebeenupdatedbythetransportationrecommendationsin34masterandsectorplansthathavebeenadoptedandapprovedsince1982.TheplanwasdevelopedwiththeassistanceofthecitizensofPrinceGeorge’sCounty;electedofficials;andstate,regionalandlocalgovernmentagencies.Theplan’sgoals,policies,andstrategiesseektoensureanefficientmultimodaltransportationinfrastructureinthecountythataccommodatestheneedsofallusergroups.AmendmentsofthisplanbyfuturemasterandsectorplanswillbereflectedontheCountywideMasterPlanofTransportationwebpageatwww.mncppc.org/county/Transportation_MP/.

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ApprovedCountywide Master Plan

of TransportationNovember 2009

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning CommissionPrince George’s County Planning Department

14741 Governor Oden Bowie DriveUpper Marlboro, Maryland 20772

www.mncppc.org/pgco

ii Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation

ForewordThePrinceGeorge’sCountyPlanningBoardispleasedtomakeavailabletheApprovedCountywideMasterPlanofTransportation.Theplanisalsoavailableontheinternetat:http://www.pgplanning.org/Projects/Completed_Projects/Approved_Countywide_Master_Plan_of_Transportation.htm.Policyguidanceforthisplancamefromthe2002Prince George’s County Approved General Plan.Thegoals,conceptsandguidelines,whichoutlinedthemajorissues,werepresentedtothePlanningBoardinMay2007andtheCountyCouncilinSeptember2007.ThepublicparticipationprocesshasincludedfocusgroupsheldinNovember2007,publicworkshopsconductedinMarchandApril2008,andawrap-upopenhouseheldinJuly2008.

Thisplanprovidesgoals,policies,andstrategiesforthetrails,fixedguidewaytransit,andstreet,road,andhighwaycomponentsofthecountytransportationnetwork.Otherrecommendationsintheplanconcernpolicyguidanceforinteragencyandinterjurisdictionalcoordinationtosolvethestrategictransportationplanningproblemsidentifiedintheplan,suchastransportationfundinginnovations,integratedtransportationandlanduseplanning,transit-orienteddevelopment,concurrencyandadequatepublicfacilitystrategies,andcorridorcongestionmanagement,andtodevelopaprocessforupdatingtheApproved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation asfuturemasterplansareapprovedwithtransportationrecommendationsthatreviseorotherwiseamendthoserecommendationscontainedinthisplan.

AjointPrinceGeorge’sCountyPlanningBoardandPrinceGeorge’sCountyDistrictCouncilpublichearingwasheldonthePreliminary Countywide Master Plan of TransportationonFebruary3,2009,tosolicitcommentsfromcitizens,propertyowners,andotherconcernedstakeholders.Staffthenpreparedadigestofthetestimonyandexhibitsreceivedatthepublichearingorsubmittedbeforethepublichearingrecordwasclosed.PrinceGeorge’sCountyPlanningBoardResolutionNo.9-61adoptedthePreliminary Countywide Master Plan of TransportationandtransmittedittothePrinceGeorge’sCountyCouncil.ThePrinceGeorge’sCountyCouncil,sittingastheDistrictCouncil,authorizedasecondjointpublichearing,whichwasheldonOctober26,2009.CouncilResolutionCR-89-2009approvedtheCountywide Master Plan of Transportationwith38amendmentsonNovember17,2009.

ThisApproved Countywide Master Plan of Transportationisintendedtocomplementtheon-goingEnvision Prince George’s Initiative.Thiseffortengagesabroadcross-sectionofcountyresidents,investors,andotherstakeholderstodevelopasharedvisionforthecounty’sfuturedirectionandgrowth,aprocessthatthecountywidetransportationnetworkrecommendedinthisplanisintendedtofurther.WeinviteyoutocontinuetoengagewiththeEnvision Prince George’s initiativebyvisitingthewebsiteatwww.mncppc.org/Envision.

Sincerely,

SamuelJ.Parker,Jr.,AICPChairmanPrinceGeorge’sCountyPlanningBoard

Table of Contents

Chapters:

I. ExecutiveSummary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II. IntroductionandBackground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

III. GeneralPlanContext. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Figure1:PlanningandGrowthPolicyTiers,Centers,andCorridors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

IV. Trails,Bikeways,andPedestrianMobility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Table1:MajorLong-DistanceBicycleRoutesintheSubregion6PortionoftheRuralTier. . . 11

Table2:TrailandBikewayRecommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

V. Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Table3:TransitNetworkRecommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

VI. Streets,Roads,andHighways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Figure2:GuidetoTrafficatSignalizedIntersections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Table4:Street,Road,andHighwayFacilityRecommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Table5:SpecialRoadways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

VII. StrategicTransportationPolicyandMasterPlanImplementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

VIII. Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation 1

TheCountywide Master Plan of Transportation(MPOT)forPrinceGeorge’sCountyisthefunctionalmasterplanthataddressesthestrategictransportationissuesforallmodesinPrinceGeorge’sCounty.AtatimewhentheWashingtonmetropolitanregionisrankedinatieforthesecond-mostcongestedareainthecountry,thereisagreatneedtoreiteratethecommitmenttoimplementingstrategiesforreducingcongestion,toincorporateamendmentsfromothercountymasterplans,andtoacknowledgechangestothecountytransportationnetworkitself.Itisimportantthatthetransportationsystemprovidequalityaccessibilityandmobility—andbeclearlyperceivedtobedoingso—forcountyresidentsandworkersandthatthesystemattractdevelopmentinawaythatdemonstratesenvironmentalstewardship.

UpdatingtheCountywide Master Plan of Transportationisoneofthemajorimplementationstrategiesidentifiedinthe2002Prince George’s County Approved General Plan, whichcontainsachapterontransportationsystems.

ThepreviousMasterPlanofTransportationis27yearsold.Sinceitwasapprovedin1982,ithasbeenamendedby31subsequentlyapprovedmasterplansinPrinceGeorge’sCounty.ThisupdatedCountywide Master Plan of Transportation incorporatesallpreviousamendmentsintoonedocument.IttakesintoaccountandreconcilesareamasterplantransportationrecommendationswherenecessaryandprovidesthemoredetailedrecommendationsforatransportationnetworkthatwillsupportthePrince George’s County Approved General Plan.

ChapterII:IntroductionandBackgroundcoversMPOTpreparation,includingthemajorchangesinthecountyandregionaltransportationsystemsthatmakeittimelyandappropriatetoupdatetheplan.TheintroductiongivesabriefdescriptionofcommentsreceivedfromtheMPOTpublicworkshopsandopenhouse.

Chapter I: Executive Summary

ChapterIII:TheGeneralPlanContextdescribesthepolicygeography—thetiers,centers,andcorridors—withguidancefromthatplanandrelatesthestrategicgrowthanddevelopmentvisionforPrinceGeorge’sCountytotheneedforabalancebetweentransportationandlanduse.

Thenextthreechaptersdescribethethreetransportation—ormodal—elementsintheGeneralPlan:

ChapterIV:Trails,Bikeways,andPedestrianMobilityupdatesthe1975 Adopted and Approved Countywide Trails Plan for Prince George’s County, Maryland andthe1985Equestrian Addendum to the Countywide Trails Plan.

ChapterV:Transitprovidesastrategicframeworkforcountywide,aswellasstate,transitpolicies,suchastheMaryland Comprehensive Transit Plan(MCTP),theMARC Growth and Investment Plan,andthePrinceGeorge’sCountyFive-Year Transit Service and Operations Plan.

ChapterVI:Streets,Roads,andHighwaysupdatesthehighwayrecommendationsmadebycurrentmasterplanstoreflecttheGeneralPlan’spreferreddevelopmentpatternandtheupdatedcountytransportationpoliciesrecommendedintheGeneralPlan.

Eachmodalelementrecommendsstrategicpolicyandguidancetothecounty,local,regional,andstatetransportationagenciesonthetypesandlocationsoftransportationfacilitiesandservicesneededtocarryoutthegoalsandpoliciesoftheGeneralPlan.

ChapterVII:StrategicTransportationPolicyandPlanImplementationfocusesonlanduse,capitalprogrammingandfunding,transit-orienteddevelopment(TOD),theneedforcomprehensivefollow-onmasterplancoordinationamongagencies,concurrencybetweendevelopmentandthetransportationinfrastructureneededtosupportit,transportationdemand,andinterjurisdictionalcorridorcongestionmanagement.Itincludescriteriafortransit-supportivelandusesandoutlinesaprocedureforreconcilingtheCountywide Master Plan of Transportation withfuturetransportationmasterandsectorplans.

Atechnicalbulletinisavailableunderseparatecover.

Purpose of the PlanThePrince George’s County Approved General PlanrecommendedthatanupdatedcountywidemasterplanoftransportationbepreparedasafunctionalmasterplantosupportandsupplementthedesireddevelopmentpatternintheGeneralPlan.

TheGeneralPlan’sTransportationSystemsElementcontainsthreepolicies:

Policy1:ProvideforatransportationsystemthatsupportstheGeneralPlandevelopmentpattern.

Policy2:Capitalizefullyontheeconomicdevelopmentandcommunityrevitalizationpotentialofcircumferentialtransit(PurpleLine)alignmentswithinandthroughPrinceGeorge’sCounty.

Policy3:Ensurethatthecountywidetransportationsystemisplannedandintegratedwithlandusetoachievecountygrowthanddevelopmentgoals.

UpdatingtheCountywide Master Plan of TransportationwasitselfidentifiedasastrategyforimplementingPolicy1above.Asafunctionalmasterplan,itisconcernedwithhowtransportationsupportsthecounty’sdevelopmentpatternbyguidingpublicandprivateresourcestotransportationpolicies,programs,facilities,andservicesthatwillhelpattainthegoalsandconceptsintheGeneralPlan.Itfunctionsasaplanfortransportationfacilities,systems,andservicesforthepublic.Itisapolicyguideforelectedofficialsandservesasprojectguidancefortheplanningagenciesthatuseit.TheplanprovidesdevelopmentreviewandpolicyguidanceforthePlanningBoard,theCountyCouncil,andTheMaryland-National

CapitalParkandPlanningCommission(M-NCPPC)staff,operatingagenciessuchastheDepartmentofPublicWorksandTransportation(DPW&T)andtheMarylandDepartmentofTransportation(MDOT),andisa“roadmap”fordevelopers.

ThepurposeoftheupdatedCountywide Master Plan of Transportationisto:

A. Improvethetransportationnetworkinordertoreducecongestionandvehiclemilestraveled.

B. Incorporateandreconcilethetransportationrecommendationsofthe31masterplansapprovedsince1982intoonecompleteandup-to-datedocument.

C. Providestrategictransportation,particularlytransit,guidancethatreflectsthemajorchangesthathaveoccurredsince1982,suchas:

1. CompletionoftheMetrorailsystem.

2. ThefirstMetrorailexpansion,theBlueLineextensionfromAddisonRoadtoLargoTownCenter.

3. ThereplacementoftheWoodrowWilsonBridge,providingopportunitiesforcross-riverfixedguidewaytransitbetweennorthernVirginiaandPrinceGeorge’sCounty.

4. TheconstructionoftheRitchie-MarlboroandArenaDriveinterchangesontheCapitalBeltway(I-95/I-495).

5. ThedeletionofA-44fromthePrinceGeorge’sCountyhighwaynetwork.

6. ThecommencementoftheMDOTprojectplanningforthePurpleLinecircumferentialtransitsystem.

Chapter II: Introduction and Background

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2 Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation

Consistency with Other Plans and LegislationTheupdatedCountywide Master Plan of Transportation (MPOT)recommendsasingle,integratedtransportationnetworkforPrinceGeorge’sCountythatreflectsthegoalsandpoliciesofboththe2002Prince George’s County Approved General Planandsubsequentmasterplans.Inaddition,theMPOTseekstoreflectandbeconsistentwithexistingstate,regional,andlocalplansandprograms,aswellaslegislation,includingthefollowing:

PROGRAMSConsolidatedTransportationProgramTheConsolidatedTransportationProgram(CTP)isMDOT’ssix-yearcapitalimprovementprogramthatincludesdetaileddescriptionsoftransportationprojectsthroughoutthestate.MPOTemphasizesenhancingandpreservingtheexistingtransportationsysteminvestment,aswellasexpandingtravelmodechoices.

StatewideTransportationImprovementProgramUnderfederaltransportationplanningregulations,theStatewideTransportationImprovementProgram(STIP)isafive-yearfinanciallyconstrainedprogramofregionallysignificanttransportationprojectsintheStateofMarylandsupportedbystateandfederalfunds.ItincludesallimportantfederallyfundedtransportationprojectsthatencompassMaryland’ssurfacetransportationsystem,includingallprojectsofregionalsignificancethatarelistedinametropolitantransportationimprovementprogram,butthatdonotreceivefederalfunds.Throughcoordinationwiththemetropolitanplanningorganizations(MPOs),MDOTincorporatesthetransportationprioritiesoftheTransportationPlanningBoard(TPB),theMPOfortheWashingtonregion.

PLANSMaryland Comprehensive Transit Plan The Maryland Comprehensive Transit Plan(MCTP)isMaryland’slong-rangeplanforincreasingtheuseoftransitfacilitiesandservicesthatprovideaccessinallpartsofthestatethroughtheyear2020.Itaddressesthechallengeofimplementing,throughacooperativeprocess,improvementstotheexistingtransitsystemthatwillaccommodatethegrowthinpopulation,jobs,andhouseholds.The

transitrecommendationsoftheMPOTalsoemphasizeanincreasedtransitmodeshare,aswellasimprovementstoandexpansionofthetransitsystem,withtransit-orienteddevelopmentandmarketingoftransitasusefultools.

MARC Growth and Investment PlanTheMARC Growth and Investment Plan describesthebenefitsofgrowingandinvestingincommuterrailserviceinMarylandandtheobjectivesthiseffortwouldexpecttoachieve.WithMARCridershipcurrentlyexceedingpeak-periodsystemcapacity,theplanincludesschedulesforphasing-inimprovementstothecommuterrailsystem.ConsistentwiththeMARCplan,PrinceGeorge’sCountyseekstoreducetheneedforhighwayexpansionbyincreasingcommuterrailridershipwithinthecounty.

State of Maryland Base Realignment and Closure Action PlanTheState of Maryland Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Action PlandescribeshowMarylandstateagencieswillworkwiththeBRACCommissiontorelocateapproximately26,800jobstofivemilitaryinstallationsinMaryland,includingAndrewsAirForceBase(AAFB)inPrinceGeorge’sCounty.TheMPOTincludes:(1)aMetrorailPurpleLinescenariotoensurethatAAFBandtheWestphaliaCenterareaareservedbytransitonPennsylvaniaAvenue(MD4)aspartofthecounty’sstrategytoprovidemultimodalaccesstodesignatedactivitycenters;and(2)arailtransitscenarioextendingtheMetrorailGreenLinefromGreenbelttoFortMeadeorBaltimore/WashingtonInternationalThurgoodMarshallAirport.MDOT’smissionforBRACis:

“[T]ofacilitatethesafeandefficientmovementofpeopleandgoodstosupportMaryland’smilitaryinstallationswhilesustainingandenhancingthequalityoftransportationandMaryland’scommunitiesthroughoutthestate.”

Twenty-Year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master PlanMDOT’sTwenty-Year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master PlanfortheStateofMarylanddescribesaprocesstoreachthegoalofbeingthemostbicycle-andpedestrian-friendlystateinthenation.Itsvisionstatementsays:

“Marylandwillbeaplacewherepeoplehavethesafeandconvenientoptionofwalkingandbicyclingfortransportation,recreation,andhealth.Ourtransportationsystemwillbedesignedtoencouragewalkingandbicycling,andwillprovideaseamless,balancedandbarrier-freenetworkforall.”

Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital RegionTheTPB’sBicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the National Capital Region describesmajorbicycleandpedestrianimprovements,studies,actions,andstrategiesforthemetropolitanWashingtonarea.Itincludesplannedspotimprovements,newfacilities,andfacilityupgrades,aswellasindicatingexistingfacilitiesonitsmappingthroughtheyear2030.

ThefocusoftheMPOTonsafeandefficientbicycleandpedestrianaccesstoandmobilitywithintheDevelopedandDevelopingTiers,inparticular,isconsistentwiththevisionsofthestateandregionalbikeways,trails,andpedestrianplans.

The2002Prince George’s County Approved General PlanTheCountywide Master Plan of Transportationrecommendationsareintendedtoproduceanetworkoftransportationsystemsandfacilitiesthataccommodatethefollowinggrowthanddevelopmentvision,goals,andprioritiesofthe2002GeneralPlan:

• Encouragequalityeconomicdevelopment.

• Makeefficientuseofexistingandproposedcountyinfrastructureandinvestment.

• Enhancethequalityandcharacterofcommunitiesandneighborhoods.

• Preserverural,agricultural,andscenicareas.

• Protectenvironmentallysensitivelands.

TheMPOTrecommendationsalsoadheretothefollowingGeneralPlanguidingprinciples:

• Publichealth,safety,andwelfare

• Sustainability

• Quality

• Meaningfulpublicparticipation

TheMPOTsupportsalloftheGeneralPlanpriorities.Providingadequatepublicfacilitiesincludestheprovisionofanefficienttransportationnetworkthathasthecapacitytomeettheneedsoftheresidentswholiveand/orworkinthecounty.Ahigh-quality,multimodaltransportationnetworksupportsandmakeshigh-qualityschoolenvironments,high-qualityhousing,andqualityeconomicdevelopmentlandusesmoreaccessibletoeachother.Neighborhoodintegrity,socio-economicdiversity,andtransitsupportcanbemaintainedandenhancedbyprovidingavarietyofattractivemodesoftravel.

Infillandrevitalizationcontributetomorecompactdevelopmentinthedevelopedareas,whichmaximizestheuseoftransitandnonmotorizedmodes,andutilizestrategiestopreservetherichhistoryofthecounty.ThiscantakeplacealongestablishedtransportationcorridorswherebrownfieldsitesexistintheDevelopedTier,forexample,oraspartoftransit-orienteddevelopment,throughadaptivereuseofavailablehistoricproperties.Changingtransportationbehaviorsthatincreaseclimatechangeareindicativeofenvironmentalprotection.Farmlandpreservationwithinthecountyiscriticaltothesustainabilityoftheecosystemandwillreducetheneedtotransportagriculturalproductsfromdistantlocations.

Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation 3

Prince George’s County Five-Year Transit Service and Operations Plan MarylandstatelawrequiresthePrinceGeorge’sCountyDepartmentofPublicWorksandTransportationtoprepareaFive-Year Transit Service and Operations Planthatidentifiesthecounty’stransitcapitalandoperatingneeds,includingthatofbothregional(Metrobus)andlocal(TheBus)bustransitservice.TheBusprovidesaccesstoandfromMetrorailstationsinthecountyintheDevelopedandDevelopingTier.

LEGISLATIONTheMarylandEconomicGrowth,ResourceProtection,andPlanningActof1992(PlanningAct)TheMarylandGeneralAssemblypassedthisactinordertopromoteconsistencyinimplementinglandusepolicies,includinginfrastructureplanning.RegardingtheeightvisionsthatallMarylandjurisdictionsareboundtofollowinconsiderationoffuturedevelopment,theMPOTshouldadheretothespiritofthePlanningAct,inparticulartoVision7,toensurethat:

“Adequatepublicfacilitiesandinfrastructureunderthecontrolofthecountyormunicipalcorporationareavailableorplannedinareaswheregrowthistooccur.”

TheSmartGrowthandNeighborhoodConservationActof1997TheMarylandGeneralAssemblypassedthisactforthepurposeofestablishing:

Goals of the Approved Countywide Master Plan of TransportationTheTransportationSystemsElementoftheGeneralPlanprovidesthecoregoalofthisupdateoftheCountywide Master Plan of Transportation(MPOT):

ProvideresidentsandworkersinPrinceGeorge’sCountywithasafe,affordable,multimodaltransportationsystemthateffectivelycontributestothetimelyachievementofcountygrowth,development,andrevitalizationgoals.

Toaccomplishthisgoal,theupdatedMPOTisto:

IdentifyappropriatetransportationsystemelementstosupporttheGeneralPlandevelopmentpatternandpoliciesandproposeimplementationmechanismsfortheseelements.

The Tier Development Pattern—Policy Geography—of the General PlanTheGeneralPlanenvisionsadevelopmentpatternthatintegratesthetransportationsystemwithlanduse,makesitpossibletomaximizethebenefitsofanaffordable,efficientmultimodaltransportationsystemand,thus,reducesvehiclesmilestraveled.Thedevelopmentpatternisbasedonthreeplanningandgrowthpolicytiers:Developed,DevelopingandRural(seeFigure1:PlanningandGrowthPolicyTiers,Centers,andCorridors.).TheGeneralPlanrecommendsspecificplanningandgrowthgoalsandpoliciesforeachtierthatmustbereflectedinthisupdatedfunctionalplan’srecommendations.

Chapter III: General Plan Context

TheDevelopedTierconsistsof86squaremilesofland,boundedonthewestbytheDistrictofColumbiaandMontgomeryCounty,andonthenorthandeastbytheCapitalBeltway,butincludingtheCityofGreenbelt,whichispartiallyoutsideoftheCapitalBeltway.Onthesouth,theDevelopedTierextendsoutsidetheCapitalBeltwayinOxonHill.TheareainsidetheBeltwayincludestheinnerringofmunicipalities,suchasBrentwood,MountRainier,andCapitolHeights,whichbenefitedfrommuchoftheearlytransitservicethatconnectedWashington,D.C.,tosuburbanMaryland.Itconsistsofhigh-tomedium-density,mixed-use,pedestrian-orientedhouseholds,aswellasalmosthalfofthejobsinthecounty.Ithasagridstreetpatternprimarily,withlimitedavailableroadcapacity.

ThecountyrankstheDevelopedTierashavingthehighestpriorityforspendingpublicfundsandexpectstohaveinplacefinancialincentivesandstreamlinedreviewpoliciesinordertoattracthigh-qualitydevelopmentandredevelopment.Fourteenofthe15Metrorailstations(includingCapitolHeights),fourMarylandAreaRegionalCommuter(MARC)stations,andpotentiallyallofthefutureMetrorailPurpleLinestationsareintheDevelopedTier.BecausethisconcentrationofMetrorailandMARCstationsrepresentssignificantopportunitiesformakingtransitaprincipalmodeofaccessandmobilitythere,theDevelopedTierhasaminimumacceptabletransportationlevelofservice(LOS)thresholdofE.TransportationLOSisdescribedinChapterVI:Streets,Roads,andHighways.

ThedevelopmentpolicyintheDevelopedTierenvisionedtoserveexistingandfutureresidentsemphasizes:

• Maintainingmediumtohighdensity.

• Encouragingqualityinfill,redevelopment,andrestoration.

• Preservationandenhancementoftheenvironment.

• Maintaininghighbusandrailtransitcoverage.

• Providinginterconnectednonmotorizedmodesoftravel.

• Priorityfundingareaswhereexistingcommunitiescancontinuetobenefitfromexistinginfrastructureandnewinvestmentsintheirqualityoflife.

• TheRuralLegacyProgram,protectingruralgreenbeltsandregions.

• TheLiveNearYourWorkProgramdesignedtoincreasetherateofhomeownershipindistressedcommunitiesnearplacesofemployment.

• BrownfieldVoluntaryCleanupandRevitalizationProgram,whichfacilitatesthecleanupandredevelopmentofcontaminatedandabandonedproperties.

• TheJobsCreationTaxCreditAct,whichencouragesbusinessestolocateinpriorityfundingareas.

PUBLIC WORKSHOP ISSUESThePrinceGeorge’sCountyPlanningDepartmentofM-NCPPCconductedaseriesoffocusgroupmeetingsinNovember2007andheldtwopublicworkshopsonMarch31,2008,andApril2,2008,andawrap-upopenhouseonJuly24,2008,aspartoftheMPOTpublicparticipationprogram.Thepublicprovidedcommentsonthemostimportantproblemsthatthismasterplanmustaddress,includingthoserelatingtotrails,bikeways,andpedestrianmobility;transit;andtheroadinfrastructure.(ThepubliccommentsontheMPOTaresummarizedintheTechnicalBulletin,availableunderseparatecover.)

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Figure 1:Planning and Growth Policy Tiers, Centers, and Corridors

NOTE:Figure1reflectsthedesignatedcentersandcorridorsinPrinceGeorge’sCountyasofthe2002Prince George’s County Approved General Plan.Sincethen,thefollowingchangeshavebeenmade:

CENTERS:• BowieStateMARC—Addedasacommunitycenter.

• LandoverMall—RenamedLandoverGatewayAreaandreclassifiedasaregionalcenter.

• NaylorRoadMetro—Reclassifiedasaregionalcenter.

• Suitland-IversonMetro—RenamedSuitlandMetroArea.

• Westphalia—Reclassifiedasaregionalcenter.

• LangleyPark—RenamedTakoma-LangleyCrossroadsandreclassifiedasaregionalcenter.

CORRIDORS:• OxonHillRoad(MD414)WilsonBridgeTransitCorridor—AddedasaneighthGeneralPlancorridorfrom

theDistrictofColumbialinetotheCapitalBeltway(I-95/I-495).

Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation 5

TheDevelopingTiercentersandcorridorsshouldintegratethetransportationsystemwithamixoflandusesthatsupportsallmodesoftravel,includingfutureuseofmoderatebustransitservice,aswellasbicycleandpedestrianmodesoftravelforshopping,recreation,andcommutingtrips.Corridorandright-of-waypreservationforfuturetransportation—particularlytransit—facilitiesandsystemsaremajorchallengesintheDevelopingTier,particularlyonroadsthatserveDevelopingTiercenters.

Thesevencorridorsprovideaframeworkformultimodaltransportationroutes,withmoreintensedevelopmentwithinone-quartermileofmajorintersectionsormajortransitstopsalongthecorridor.Thecorridorsarethemaintransportationroutesinthecounty,featuringhigherintensitytolower,community-orientedusesclusteredatcorridornodes.

Thegoalsofthecentersandcorridorsareto:

• Capitalizeonpublicinvestmentintheexistingtransportationsystem.

• Promotecompact,mixed-usedevelopmentatmoderatetohighdensities.

• Ensuretransit-supportiveandtransit-serviceabledevelopment.

• Requirepedestrian-orientedandtransit-orienteddesign.

• Ensurecompatibilitywithsurroundingneighborhoods.

Updating the Countywide Master Plan of TransportationSincetheprevious1982MasterPlanofTransportationwasapproved,variousmasterandsectorplans,sectionalmapamendments,andmixed-usedtowncenterzonedevelopmentplans,aswellassectorandtransitdistrictdevelopmentplansandaminorpublicfacilityamendment,havebeenapproved.Duetothefactthatthereisnosingledocumentthatdescribesthecounty’splanforprovisionoftransportationfacilitiesandservicesandrelatesthemtothegoverningpolicies,thecountyrecognizedtheneedtocomplete

TheGeneralPlancentersarecategorizedintoahierarchyofmetropolitan,regional,andcommunitycenters,basedonexistingoranticipatedcomponentsandcharacteristics.Metropolitancenters,suchasCollegePark/UMMetro,NewCarrolltonMetro,orNationalHarbor,canbecharacterizedasmajoremploymentcenters,majoreducationalcomplexes,orhigh-intensitycommercialuses.Theytypicallycontainhigh-densitydevelopmentandgeneratehighvolumesoftrips;therefore,theycanbeservedeffectivelybytransitmodes.Regionalcenters,suchasPrinceGeorge’sPlazaMetro,Bowie,orKonterra,mayhaveaMetrooraMARCstation,ormayhavegreatpotentialforatransitcenter.Thesecentersmayhaveregionallymarketedcommercialandretaildevelopment,office,andemploymentareas,highereducationalfacilities,orhigh-densityresidentialdevelopment,andtheyshouldbeservedbyrailorbustransit.Designatedcommunitycenters,suchasWestHyattsvilleMetroorRiverdaleMARC,haveaconcentrationofintegratedcommercial,office,andresidentialdevelopmentusesthatservetheimmediatearea.Theyareorhavethepotentialtobefocalpointsfortransitserviceorpark-and-ridefacilities.

Forpurposesofstrategictransportationplanning,thecounty’sGeneralPlancentersandcorridorspresentsubtledistinctionsandchallenges.Eachcenterandcorridor’sprevailingdevelopmentandtransportationsystemcharacteristicsandpotentialdependsonitslocationintheGeneralPlantierstructure;current,proposedandpossiblefuturedevelopmentdensitiesandlandusemixes;andwhetherornotthatcenterorcorridorcontains,orisnear,aMetrorailorMARCstation.TheDevelopedTiercenters,suchasNewCarrolltonMetro,LangleyPark,andSuitland-IversonMetro,arelocatednearoradjacenttobusorrailtransportation,particularlyMetrorail,Metrobus,andcommuterrailservice,andshouldhavesufficientdensitytogeneratetransitridershipandtosupporttheextensionofrailtransit,aswellassupportmorebicycleandpedestriantrips,thaninthepast.DevelopedTiercorridorsshouldbemultimodal,withwell-timedtransitservicethatissufficienttosupportdemandandthatprovidesmanyoptions,suchassidewalksandbicyclefacilities,toaccommodateawiderangeoftravelchoices.DevelopedTiercentersareconsistentwiththecharacteroftheDevelopedTierasawhole.

TheDevelopingTier,inthemiddleofthecountybetweentheCapitalBeltwayandUS301,consistsof237squaremilesandismostlysuburbaninnature,withlowerdensityandmoreunusedroadcapacityoutsideofcenters,comparedtotheDevelopedTier.ItissimilartotheDevelopedTierneartransitstationsandindesignatedcenters.IthassimilarmobilityoptionsastheDevelopedTier—accommodatingrailandbustransit,pedestrian,bicycle,andautomodesoftravel—withmorepark-and-ridefacilitiestocaptureautotripsbeforetheyreachtheDevelopedTier.Beyondthat,therearetransitserviceableresidential,commercial,andemploymentareaswithinthistier.Asdevelopmentoccurs,thecountyintendstoguideandmanagegrowthinthecentersandcorridorsinordertomaximizeinvestmentofpublicfunds.Themajorityofnew,or“greenfield,”growthinPrinceGeorge’sCountywilloccurinthistierandthereissomepotentialtoexpandtransitservicehere,providedtheadjacentdevelopmentandstreetandroadnetworkscan—orcanbedesignedto—supporttransit.Forthesereasons,theDevelopingTierasawholehasanoveralltransportationLOSthresholdofD,whileDevelopingTiermetropolitanandregionalcentershaveanLOSthresholdofE.

Thepoliciesthatguidefuturegrowthinclude:

• Fosteringcompactresidentialneighborhooddesign.

• Limitingcommercialactivitytodesignatedcentersandcorridors.

• Maintaininglowtomoderatedensities.

• Encouragingtransit-andpedestrian-oriented,multimodaldevelopment.

• Ensuringemploymentareasthatareserviceablebytransit.

• Providingbustransitandmoderatefuturerailtransitcoverageinsometransportationcorridors.

TheRuralTier,generallyeastofUS301,encompassestheeasternmostandsouthernmostpartsofthecounty.Thisareaisknownforitsscenicroads,sprawlingfarms,woodlands,streams,andwildlifehabitat.Thepolicyistorestrictgrowthandretainthe

low-densitydevelopmentpatternoflarge-lotresidentialdevelopment,agriculturaluses,openspace,roads,andrecreationaltrails.Keepingthistierruralinnaturereducestheneedfortransportationofagriculturalproductsfromdistantlocations,thushelpingtomanagetraveldemand.WiththeexceptionoftheBrandywineCenterandtheimmediateTownofUpperMarlboroarea,theautomobileislikelytoremaintheprincipalmodeofaccessandmobilityintheRuralTier.Forthesereasons,thistierhasatransportationLOSthresholdofC.

Transportationpolicieshereinclude:

• Ensuringtheoperationalintegrityoftheroadnetwork.

• Retainingandenhancingthehiker/bikertrailsystem.

• Providingatransportationsystemthatprotectsopenspaceandruralcharacter.

Centers and CorridorsItiscriticalthatthetransportationinfrastructureisconsistentwithandsupportsthedevelopmentpatterndescribedintheGeneralPlanandismultimodal,withitsbicycleandpedestrianfacilities,busandrailtransitservice,androadnetworkplannedanddesignedtofunctionasanefficient,affordable,andinterconnectedsystem.TheGeneralPlanclearlyidentifiesahierarchyof26activitycentersandsevencorridorsintheDevelopedandDevelopingTiers(seeMap1),wheregrowthinamixofnonresidentialandresidentialusesatmoderatetohighdensitiescanbenefitfromthetransportationinfrastructureinplace.Inacost–benefitanalysis,thesearemostlikelytheareaswherebenefitstothecountywilloutweighthecosts.Thestrongfocusontransit-orienteddevelopment,aswellasimprovedbicycleandpedestrianaccessatthesecentersandwithinthesecorridors,reflectsthecounty’semphasisonrelievingtrafficcongestionandisalsointendedtosupporteconomicdevelopmentinitiativesintheseareas.

6 Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation

thisupdate.Thetrail,transit,androadnetworkrecommendationsfromthoseplansareincorporatedinto,andaresometimesmodifiedby,theupdatedMPOT.ThelistofplansthathavebeenapprovedsincethelastMasterPlanofTransportation(1982)isasfollows:

Suitland-DistrictHeightsMasterPlan(1985)

NewCarrolltonTransitDistrictDevelopmentPlan(1989)

LangleyPark-CollegePark-GreenbeltMasterPlanandSMA(1989)

SubregionIMasterPlanandSMA(1990)

Largo-LottsfordandVicinityMasterPlanandSMA(1990)

LandoverandVicinityMasterPlanandSMA(1993)

SubregionVMasterPlanandSMA(1993)

SubregionVIMasterPlanandSMA(1993)

GlennDale-Seabrook-LanhamandVicinityMasterPlanandSMA(1993)

Melwood-WestphaliaMasterPlanandSMA(1994)

Bladensburg-NewCarrolltonandVicinityMasterPlanandSMA(1994)

PlanningArea68MasterPlanandSMA(1994)

CollegePark-RiverdaleTransitDistrictDevelopmentPlan(1997)

PrinceGeorge’sPlazaTransitDistrictDevelopmentPlan(1998)

TheHeightsandVicinityMasterPlanandSMA(2000)

AddisonRoadMetroSectorPlan(2000)

BrentwoodMixed-UseTownCenterZoneDevelopmentPlansandDesignGuidelines(2000)

GreenbeltMetroAreaSectorPlanandSMA(2001)

CollegeParkUS1CorridorSectorPlanandSMA(2002)

MarylandRoute202CorridorMinorPublicFacilityAmendment(2002)

MorganBoulevardandLargoTownCenterSectorPlanandSMA(2004)

GatewayArtsDistrictSectorPlan(2004)

RiverdaleParkMixed-UseTownCenterZoneDevelopmentPlansandDesignGuidelines(2004)

TuxedoRoad/ArborStreet/CheverlyMetroSectorPlanandSMA(2005)

BowieandVicinityMasterPlanandSMA(2006)

SuitlandMixed-UseTownCenterZoneDevelopmentPlansandDesignGuidelines(2006)

HensonCreek-SouthPotomacAreaMasterPlanandSMA(2006)

EastGlennDaleAreaSectorPlanandSMA(2006)

WestHyattsvilleTransitDistrictDevelopmentPlan(2006)

WestphaliaSectorPlanandSMA(2007)

BladensburgTownCenterSectorPlanandSMA(2007)

BranchAvenueCorridorSectorPlanandSectionalMapAmendment(2008)

CapitolHeightsTransitDistrictDevelopmentPlan/TransitDistrictOverlayZoningMapAmendment(2008)

LandoverGatewaySectorPlanandSectionalMapAmendment(2009)

Subregion5MasterPlanandSectionalMapAmendment(2009)

Subregion6MasterPlanandSectionalMapAmendment(2009)

General Plan Discussion of Transit-Oriented Development TheGeneralPlanplacesahighpriorityonthe15centersthatarealsoMetrorailstationsand,thus,representasubstantialshareofthepublicinvestmentintransit.TheMarylandDepartmentofTransportationhasestablishedtransit-orienteddevelopment(TOD)asanequalfundingcategoryfortheTransportationTrustFundandencourageslocaljurisdictionstosubmitTODprojectsalongwithhighway,transit,andtrailprojectsaspartofthejointsignatureletterprioritizationprocess.Thus,TODatGeneralPlancenterspresents

thebestopportunitiesandmajorpolicyandplanningchallengesformaximizingreturnonthecounty’sinvestment,whileincreasingmobilityoptionsfortravelersinanefficientandenvironmentallyfriendlymanner.TODrepresents:

• AcriticalpolicyandplanningtoolforimplementingtherecommendationsintheplanandachievingtheGeneralPlan’sgrowthanddevelopmentvisionforPrinceGeorge’sCounty.

• Anopportunitytoextractmaximumpublicbenefitfromthecountyandstate’smultibillioninvestmentintheregionalpublictransportationsystem,particularlyMetrorail,MARC,andMetrobus,inanenvironmentofheightenedconcernaboutbothenvironmentalsustainabilityandpermanentlyincreasedcostsinwidespreaduseoftheautomobile.

• Afurtheropportunitytointegratelanduseandtransportation.

• Thebestandmostcomprehensivewaytooptimizetransituseand,thus,reduceautomobiletripsandvehiclemilestraveled.

Tobesuccessful,TODthatachievesthegrowthanddevelopmentvisionforPrinceGeorge’sCountyintheGeneralPlanwillhavetobeparticularlysite-specific.TODisdiscussedindetailinChapterV:Transit,andChapterVII:StrategicTransportationPolicyandPlanImplementation.