Guiding the Future of

the
MD 355/I-270 Corridor

January 2008
GUIDING THE FUTURE OF THE MD 355/I-270
CORRIDOR

January 2008

The Montgomery County Planning Department

MD 355/I-270 Project 1 January 2008

MD 355/I-270 Project 2 January 2008
 CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 5
Purpose 5
Study Area 7
Summary of Recommendations 7

2. ANALYSIS 9
Role of the Corridor in History 9
Role of the Corridor Today 11
Global and Local Forces 14

3. RECOMMENDATIONS 18
Vision 18
Enhancing the Centers 18
Connecting the Corridor 20
Major Themes: 20
Work 21
Life 22
Access 23
Health 25
Design: 26
General Design Principles 26
Design Principles for Each Segment Along MD 355 32

4. IMPLEMENTATION 41
Short-Term 41
Mid-Term 42
Long-Term 42

5. APPENDIX 43

MD 355/I-270 Project 3 January 2008

MD 355/I-270 Project 4 January 2008
 1 INTRODUCTION
The MD 355/I-270 Corridor is a historic travel route that links a series of
communities in Montgomery County from Washington, D.C. to Frederick County.
The area has emerged as a “world class” center for advanced technology and
biotechnology industries. It is also a regional shopping and cultural destination.
The communities in the Corridor do not function as an integrated series of
complementary centers with strong linkages. Making the most of opportunities
for coordinating the planning and design for the transportation system,
community building, and the natural environment requires a combined view that
can be implemented in Master Plans and Sector Plans. In addition, planning for
the communities should respond to the global and local forces of climate,
economic, and demographic change.

PURPOSE
This project provides guidance to the upcoming Master Plans and Sector Plans
in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor, the most dynamic corridor in the General Plan …
on Wedges and Corridors. The project is intended to accomplish the following:
 Transform the existing series of separate centers in the Corridor into a group
of complete centers that function together as one linked community with a
series of complementary centers.
 Connect the centers by fostering improvements to the linkages within each
center, between centers, from the centers to the regional park system, and to
the other resources of the Washington region.
 Respond to issues arising from global and local forces that will shape the
st
Corridor in the 21 Century.
 Establish a set of themes that provide a framework for planning.
 Recommend zoning tools that emphasize quality design of centers, the
creation of pedestrian connections to Metro stations, and a mix of uses.

MD 355/I-270 Project 5 January 2008

Plans Underway
Germantown Employment Corridor Master MD 355/I-270 Study Area
Plan
This project presently underway will establish
mixed-use development including office,
residential, retail, corporate offices, and
biotechnology uses.

Gaithersburg West Master Plan

This plan will link to other centers by the
Corridor Cities Transitway. The area is a center Germantown
for higher education (University of Maryland
Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology Germantown
and Johns Hopkins University), life sciences,
and housing.
Gaithersburg
Shady Grove Sector Plan Gaithersburg
This completed Sector Plan provides an Shady Grove
increase in housing. Implementation of this
Sector Plan is underway.

Twinbrook Sector Plan

The Planning Board Draft of the Twinbrook Twinbrook
Sector Plan supports a mixed-use community of
White Flint
residential, retail, advanced technology, and
urban industrial uses.

White Flint Sector Plan

The White Flint Sector Plan envisions White
Flint as North Bethesda’s downtown
characterized by multiple urban villages with a
mix of office, entertainment, residential, and
retail uses connected with improved pedestrian
access between developments.

MD 355/I-270 Project 6 January 2008

STUDY AREA
The MD 355/I-270 Corridor extends through Montgomery County from Connecting the Corridor
Washington, D.C. to Frederick County. The map on the previous page Addressing mobility in the Corridor is a key goal of the project.
delineates the study area. The land use character ranges from urban Providing a wide range of transportation options including the use of
centers, to stable suburban residential neighborhoods, to major open Metro stations, MARC Rail stations, and the stations along the future
spaces such as the Little Bennett Regional Park. Corridor Cities Transitway is a key recommendation. Enhancing
access to the local and regional park system is also provided.
The transit facilities in the Corridor include the Metro Red Line, the Creating transit and pedestrian oriented centers is a hallmark of this
MARC Rail Line, and the future Corridor Cities Transitway. The major project.
roads in the north/south direction include I-270 and MD 355. As a
limited access highway, I-270 serves through traffic, and it has less
connection to the surrounding communities. MD 355 has become less
of a through travel artery, and more of a roadway that provides direct
connections to the surrounding communities.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Enhancing the Centers
Today, the MD 355/I-270 Corridor includes a wide variety of centers
that serve separate and often unique roles. These centers include
clusters of biotechnology and advanced technology industries, centers
with significant housing resources, central business districts, and
corridor cities. Enhancing the function and design of these centers to
st
serve the needs of the 21 Century is a primary goal of this project.

This project recommends improving the balance of jobs and housing

to reduce the impact on the transportation system and establish Centers of North
centers that serve the needs of a knowledge-based community. Bethesda and Rockville:
1. City of Rockville Town
Center
2. Twinbrook
3. White Flint
4. Grosvenor

MD 355/I-270 Project 7 January 2008

Major Themes:
The following major themes shape this study of the MD 355/I-270 Corridor and identify aspects of a well rounded community:

 Work
Establish an economic strategy that meets the needs of the basic and non-basic sectors of the knowledge based economy in Montgomery
County.

 Life
st
Enhance the quality of life in centers and communities in the Corridor to serve the needs of the 21 Century.

 Access
Improve access in the Corridor through multi-modal connections by providing a mobility strategy to serve the Corridor’s economic and social
functions.

 Health
Foster sustainable growth by developing a strategy for improving environmental and personal health for residents and workers in the Corridor.

 Design
Redesign MD 355 to embrace the character of the different centers and communities it serves by creating both general design principles for
the Corridor as a whole and more specific design principles for each segment.

The Appendix includes the PowerPoint presentations that summarize the discussions with the Planning Board.

MD 355/I-270 Project 8 January 2008

 2


ANALYSIS
The Analysis Chapter includes three sections:
 Role of the Corridor in History
Role of the Corridor Today
Global and Local Forces

ROLE OF THE CORRIDOR IN HISTORY

Trail to Serve Adjacent Farmland
Known as the Great Road, MD 355 began as a Seneca Indian trail. By the
1700’s, the trail was widened to accommodate horse-drawn wagons that served
farmland between the City of Frederick and Georgetown. In 1755, the trail was
improved by General Braddock and his troops during the French and Indian War.
After the war, stagecoaches traveled the two-lane trail. Benjamin Latrobe, the
architect of the Capitol, traveled the trail and made sketches of the Village of
Clarksburg and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Turnpike to Serve Adjacent Farmland and Rural Villages

In the early 1800s, the Washington Turnpike Company received Montgomery
County’s first charter, selling one-dollar shares to fund improvements to change
the existing trail into a turnpike. In the mid-eighteenth century, development
intensified along the turnpike with taverns, general stores, blacksmiths, and
wheelwrights to serve the nearby farms, and Rockville, Gaithersburg,
Germantown, Clarksburg, and Hyattstown. The post Civil War era brought the
B&O Railroad to serve Montgomery County thereby providing transportation
options to MD 355. By 1895, electric trolleys also ran along MD 355.

MD 355/I-270 Project 9 January 2008

 Arterial Road Connecting Washington, D.C. to Residential
Suburbs
th
In the beginning of the 20 Century, the use and reliance on the
automobile began to change communities along the turnpike. Grand
estates and summer homes with lush gardens were built along the
road. By 1917, automobiles were common in the Corridor ferrying
government workers to the expanding residential suburbs. Produce
th
stands and restaurants emerged along the road in the 20 Century
serving the residents moving to the area. I-270 was constructed in
1953 to begin to shift through traffic from MD 355.

Major Arterial Road to Serve Automobile-Oriented Retail

In the 1960s and 70s, high-rise commercial and residential buildings,
fast food restaurants, regional shopping centers, and the construction
of Montgomery College defined much of North Bethesda from White
Flint Mall to the City of Rockville. Today, this area is a regional
Arterial road connecting residential suburbs in Bethesda/Green Mile shopping destination. I-270 plays the role of carrying most of the
through traffic, and MD 355 provides access to businesses.

Major arterial road serving automobile oriented uses in North Bethesda Major Arterial as a Transportation Spine for Montgomery
County’s Corridor Cities Train
Today, MD 355, I-270, Metrorail, MARC Train service, and the
County’s bus system provide access in the Corridor. Although MD
355 is the Corridor’s “main street,” it is not the busiest street. I-270
carries the traffic commuting to Washington, D.C. The State of
Maryland is currently studying the need to widen a portion of I-270. A
draft environmental impact study is underway for the planned Corridor
Cities Transitway to run north of the Shady Grove Metro Station to
Frederick, Maryland. The proposed Purple Line will create an east-
west transit link and connect together the east and west legs of the
Metro Red Line between the Bethesda and Silver Spring Central
Business Districts. The Inter-county Connector will also provide a new
east-west connection between I-270 and I-95 to improve access from
Montgomery County to Baltimore, Prince Georges County, and the
Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

MD 355/I-270 Project 10 January 2008

ROLE OF THE CORRIDOR TODAY
Over time, MD 355 has changed from a trail to a major arterial. The location. Strong support service tenants generally can afford the
MD 355/I-270 Corridor is home to almost half of Montgomery County’s Corridor’s higher lease rates for industrial land. Less stable
workforce, but more than one-third of the Corridor’s employed sectors such as startups and businesses in riskier sectors,
residents commute to jobs outside of the County. including biotechnology companies, find this land too expensive
and often a less attractive option. The existing industrial space,
Major Economic Role of the Corridor in Montgomery County and warehousing, and other support functions are critical to supporting
the State of Maryland the advanced technology industry and supplying other businesses
 Jobs - Sixty percent of the jobs in Montgomery County are located and residents with conveniently located goods and services.
in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor. The basic industries for the County’s Competition from local business or residential service providers for
knowledge-based economy include: scientific research and existing light industrial land along with growing pressure to convert
development, computer system design and related services, land to more profitable non-industrial use presents a challenge to
pharmaceutical and medical research, corporate services, preserving, assembling, and expanding space for biotechnology
associations, the federal government, and defense industries. A and advanced technology sectors of the knowledge based
third of the state’s biotechnology firms and a third of the economy in Montgomery County.
information technology workforce is clustered in the County.
 Office Space - Nearly eighty percent of the County’s leased office
 Federal Government - Montgomery County is the home of major
space is located in the I-270 Corridor. The Corridor contains
federal institutions. The federal presence in the Corridor includes
eighty-one percent of the County’s Class A office space or the
the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Standards
most prestigious properties. Most of the Class A office buildings
and Technology, satellite offices of the Department of Health and
are located in the Bethesda and Rockville areas.
Human Services, the Department of Energy, Walter Reed Army
Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, and the
 Retail - The majority of retail centers in the County are located in
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. These
the Corridor. The Corridor also contains Montgomery County’s
facilities are the backbone to the County’s economy. Because
largest and best-known retail outlets, including regional shopping
technology requires collaboration between interrelated activities,
centers of Bethesda’s Westfield Shopping Town Montgomery,
Montgomery County’s technology clusters which include these
White Flint Mall in North Bethesda, and Lake Forest Mall in
facilities, attract economic development activity to the County and
Gaithersburg. MD 355 is the County’s primary commercial main
the region.
street, and it also serves the region. The Corridor accounts for
fifty-six percent of retail sales in the County. The road is the
 Industrial - The Corridor accounts for seventy-three percent of the
defining element dictating the character and linear configuration of
County’s industrial acreage. High land costs, strict environmental
this commercial area. Today, the North Bethesda shopping district
standards, a dearth of large industrial tracts, and other factors
along MD 355 is anchored to the south by the White Flint Mall and
greatly limit the County’s overall competitiveness as an industrial
extends north beyond the City of Rockville. The Corridor also has

MD 355/I-270 Project 11 January 2008

 three “power centers” including the I-270 Center in Gaithersburg, and pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods. Many auto-oriented,
Milestone in Germantown, and Bethesda Row. Despite multiple suburban, single-family detached communities are also located
shopping opportunities, retail spending by Corridor residents proximate to MD 355. Centers with significant housing resources
exceeds local sales indicating that people are going outside the include Grosvenor, Shady Grove, and Friendship Heights.
Corridor for many of their shopping needs. Research shows that
Corridor residents are most likely to go outside the County to shop Central Business Districts
in department stores and superstores. Bethesda and Friendship Heights are central business districts in the
MD 355/I-270 Corridor. These centers provide diversified services,
Centers of Technology high-density housing, and regional retail. They are served by Metrorail
These centers perform unique economic functions, ranging from and other high volume public transportation. They also perform local
activities of national or regional significance to providing local services. retail functions for adjacent residential communities. These Metro
They contain some supporting business activity and housing, but their accessible centers are located at the southern end of the Corridor.
function is primarily employment. These centers include the following: Friendship Heights hosts some of the most exclusive shopping in the
 The National Institutes of Health/Bethesda Naval Medical Center County. It shares a border with the District of Columbia and has
is an internationally known federal research complex. It is a significant housing resources and professional medical offices.
catalyst for Montgomery County’s biotechnology industry. Bethesda has the largest proportion of Class A office space in the
 Twinbrook currently functions as a federal government office County. These areas are the employment hubs. They are served or
center, and an advanced technology and industrial center. This planned to be served by Metrorail and the Corridor Cities Transitway.
center is planned for greater diversity, including housing, retail, The Corridor Cities include the City of Rockville (the County Seat),
advanced technology, and light industrial services. Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Clarksburg. They primarily serve
 National Institute of Standards and Technology is another federal local and sub-regional markets, but contain some regional
complex. It promotes U.S. innovation and industrial employment activity. Germantown has the potential to evolve into a
competitiveness by advancing science, standards of regional center for the northern sector of the Corridor with the opening
measurement, and technology. of the Corridor Cities Transitway station.
 The Shady Grove Life Sciences Center includes a hospital, the
Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology of the University Civic and Cultural Facilities
of Maryland, a significant research and education center of Johns Montgomery County has made a significant investment in civic and
Hopkins University, and advanced technology and biotechnology cultural institutions along MD 355. The three most notable facilities are
companies. The center has both national and international the varied arts offerings at Grosvenor, the North Bethesda Conference
significance. Center, and the Black Rock Center for the Arts.

Centers with Significant Residential Resources

The Corridor has a variety of urban, suburban, and rural residential
communities. In more urbanized areas, such as Friendship Heights
and Bethesda, apartments and condominiums are available in transit

MD 355/I-270 Project 12 January 2008

Education
The Corridor hosts three major educational institutions: the Eight Johns Hopkins University, Shady Grove Life Sciences Center
Universities of Maryland at Shady Grove, the John Hopkins University
at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, and Montgomery College.
The Computer Science Program at the University of Maryland is highly
ranked in the nation. Johns Hopkins has been first in research and
development expenditures in the United States for twenty-six years.
Montgomery College has a campus in Rockville and Germantown.
Montgomery College plays an important role in supporting
biotechnology in the Corridor. These three educational institutions
provide industry training and staff for biotechnology companies. They
are often responsible for launching start-up companies that have
transitioned into stand alone companies.

Montgomery County’s Busiest Travel Corridor

I-270 serves as the largest conduit for travel along the corridor,
carrying about 90,000 vehicles per day as a four-lane freeway at the
Frederick County line and about 260,000 vehicles per day as a twelve-
lane freeway directly north of I-495. MD 355 is known as the “main
street” in the Corridor, and it carries about 10,000 vehicles per day as Travel demands are generally heavier in the southern, more
a two-lane roadway at the Frederick County line and about 70,000 developed portion of the Corridor. Transportation facilities are
vehicles per day as a six-lane major highway directly south of the primarily radial from a regional perspective, and they link the Corridor
Capital Beltway. Roadway congestion in the arterial roadway network Cities together. These facilities are generally oriented in the north-
is most often experienced at signalized intersections. Five of the south direction (Metro Red Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, I-270,
County’s ten most congested intersections, identified by volume-to- MD 355, and Great Seneca Highway). Facilities that connect the
capacity ratio in the Department’s 2006 Highway Mobility Report, are radial facilities and form the east-west “rungs” of the network include
along MD 355. Other roadways carrying more than 50,000 vehicles a Ridge Road (MD 27), MD 118, Middlebrook Road, MD 124, Shady
day in the Corridor include Montgomery Village Avenue, Shady Grove Grove Road, Gude Drive, and the Montrose Parkway. The future
Road, I-370, and Montrose Road. Intercounty Connector, Purple Line, and the Capital Beltway (I-495)
will provide the most significant regional connections eastward toward
Prince George’s County.

MD 355/I-270 Project 13 January 2008

 GLOBAL AND LOCAL FORCES
Development in the Corridor is shaped by global and local forces that
shape the economy. Examining the forces will help guide short-term,
mid-term, and long-term planning efforts.

Global Forces
Climate Change
According to an overwhelming majority of scientists, greenhouse
gases are building up in the atmosphere and causing the global
climate to change with potentially disastrous results. Climate change
will affect how people live and work in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor and
sustain a healthy life. Climate change will require reducing the carbon
footprint of development, reducing auto emissions, and conserving
water. A related and overlapping concern is the deterioration of the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in the Corridor.
2010
Globalization and Competition
World Oil Production
Globalization is challenging the dominance of the American economy
will peak around by transferring technology abroad. Shifts in information technology
2010 that allow the rapid transmission of information coupled with an
increasingly educated workforce have contributed to the increased
competition for jobs and investment. Global competition will require a
focus on clusters of basic industries: international airport access; basic
research; venture capital; support services in law, finance and
accounting, media and management; high quality public services;
recreational and cultural facilities; and opportunities for affordable
housing.

Technological Innovation
Biotechnology and nanotechnology could have a profound influence
on the U.S. economy in coming decades. The manipulation of matter
at the atomic scale will revolutionize services, products, and
manufacturing. For example, health care will likely integrate molecular-

MD 355/I-270 Project 14 January 2008

genetic advances to yield personalized medicines. The RAND Focus on Clusters of Industries
Corporation believes businesses will be smaller with an increase in The Brookings Institute has found that advanced technology industries
self-employed and e-workers. clustered in a collaborative setting can foster scientific advancements.
Clusters are agglomerations of interrelated activities. They provide a
Energy mix of uses, living environments, and attention to high quality design
As oil production peaks and the search for new energy sources necessary to attract the highly mobile employees of knowledge based
continue, opportunities will be available to integrate new energy industries. Continuous innovation and scientific advancement
technologies into the built environment. Advances in the areas of solar requires a sharing of formal and informal information between firms
technologies, super-efficient electrolysis, and cold fusion are at various and workers in the high technology industry that can be provided in
stages of development and application. The University of Maryland clusters.
has recently established the Energy Research Center. Federal energy
research is located in the Corridor and could spur future economic
development in the energy sciences. Planning, and design
A sample diagram of the key facilities to be included in
implementation activities will need to accommodate new energy
an industry cluster
technologies as they become standard practice in the building
industry.

Greater Emphasis on Non-automobile Mobility

Roadway congestion has increased dramatically across the U.S. due
to increases in car ownership and total miles traveled. Pressure on
federal and state budgets for infrastructure repair and other expenses
will continue to reinforce the existing trend to shift travel costs from
taxes to user fees. Changing behavior, building facilities, and
improving land use will all be necessary to continue to provide access
in the Corridor.

MD 355/I-270 Project 15 January 2008

Local Forces
Population Changes
The County’s increase in population in the next decade is expected to Public Services, Recreational, and Cultural Facilities
be highest in people aged 35-65 years and older. The younger cohort Business growth depends on attracting and retaining highly skilled
is drawn by the area’s strong job market, and the older cohort will grow workers. Employers rely on a talented and skilled workforce,
as the existing population of baby-boomers age. An increase is also internationally recognized research and educational institutions, and
expected in children aged 0-19. Housing and services will be needed high quality communities for workers. In addition to ample
to serve this population raising families, facing retirement, and facing compensation, workers desire quality living environments that include
advanced age. Providing affordable housing choices will continue to good schools for their children, cultural facilities, and recreation
be a challenge. opportunities.

Availability of Land Affordable Housing

Montgomery County’s historic development pattern focuses growth High owner-occupancy rates mask the serious consequences of rapid
along the Corridor and reserves a significant portion of land for open housing price appreciation. Many homeowners could not afford to
space and agriculture. This pattern should continue with infill and purchase their current homes today. Middle and lower-income
redevelopment incorporated into existing street patterns, co-existing residents and people moving in from less expensive regions are being
with older buildings, and accessible to transit. Communities should be excluded from the housing market. Some businesses report that the
created with a mix of housing types and neighborhood serving retail cost of housing has made it much harder to recruit recent graduates
that is easily accessible from home and work. Open space that serves and employees with young families.
environmental and recreational functions should be incorporated into
development. Access
Ease of access is a significant local problem that affects quality of life,
International Airport Access particularly time, money, and the impact of pollution. Roadway
Montgomery County does not have a major commercial airport. It congestion has increased dramatically in 20 years with an increase in
depends on the region’s three international airports for air car ownership and total miles traveled.
transportation services: Baltimore/Washington International Airport,
Reagan/Washington National Airport, and Dulles International Airport. Support Services in Law, Finance and Accounting, Media,
To remain competitive, Montgomery County needs to improve Management, and Health
connectivity with other advanced technology clusters around the About fifty-nine percent of the County’s economy is in the private
country and the world by providing better connections to these sector. This sector includes professional and technical services,
regional facilities. Montgomery County has service for small private construction jobs, and retail. The Corridor’s 18,000 plus businesses
planes at the Montgomery County Air Park located in Gaithersburg. employ more than 300,000 people, or seventy-four percent of industry
employment countywide.

MD 355/I-270 Project 16 January 2008

Basic Research
Montgomery County’s economic niche is in the research, and in the
development of prototypes of biotechnology. Approximately fifty
percent of the jobs in the technology sector are research-oriented.
This includes research, testing, and other support services for
pharmaceutical companies and federal agencies. The biotechnology
industry in Montgomery County was born out of the federal research
laboratories at the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug
Administration, the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
These federal facilities provide a critical mass of bioscience labor
force, including scientists who become entrepreneurs of biotechnology
firms. The federal government has several programs that encourage
entrepreneurship by its scientists. The founders of The Institute for
Genomic Research, Human Genome Sciences, and Celera Genomics
came from these facilities.

Technology Transfer and Venture Capital Markets

Technology transfer and venture capital markets are critical to the Corridor employment base
biotechnology industry in ensuring a strong financial base. There is a Source: M-NCPPC analy sis of 2004 County Business Pattern data
weak presence of venture capital in the state to support the bioscience 18%
Professional, Scientific, Technical Serv ices
community. Other states are ahead of Maryland in tapping funds from Retail trade
13%
large pharmaceutical companies, state and local funding sources, and
Health Care and Social Assistance
venture capital. 28%
Support Serv ices
10%
Construction
Accommodation & Food Serv ices
9%
7% Finance & Insurance
7% 8%
Other

MD 355/I-270 Project 17 January 2008

 3
VISION
RECOMMENDATIONS

The Corridor has evolved from a rural area into an important work place for
360,000 workers, and a community of choice for 425,000 residents. Along its 27
mile length, MD 355 has changed from a trail to major artery carrying as many as
five million person trips per day. This project is intended to help transform the
Corridor from a series of often separate and unrelated places into a related
series of connected and enhanced, livable centers. The project is also intended
to transform MD 355, the “main street” of the Corridor into a unique boulevard
that reflects the best characteristics of the adjacent communities. The centers in
the Corridor will be connected by an augmented transportation system. To
realize this vision for the Corridor, the following recommendations were
developed as overall guides to decision-making.

ENHANCING THE CENTERS

Foster Sustainability and Enhance the Natural Environment
Emphasizing green community and building design will reduce the negative
impacts of development on the environment and may contribute to improving it.
Reducing carbon dioxide, providing walkways and bikeways, decreasing
imperviousness, and planting trees are key components in creating green
communities and buildings. Opportunities for exercise and recreation should be
integrated into the design of centers and their connections.

MD 355/I-270 Project 18 January 2008

Create a Coordinated System of Centers
A coordinated system of distinct centers based on the role, location,
land use, and amount of development will create communities with
unique character and economic position throughout the MD 355/I-270
Corridor. Advanced technology and biotechnology uses should be
clustered, with increased housing, entertainment, and neighborhood
retail options developed in relationship to federal facilities and higher
educational opportunities that drive job creation and innovation.

Emphasize Civic Design in Each Center

An increase in density and mix of uses requires attention to the quality
of civic design. Centers should be designed for livability, with attention
to the character of the streets and pathways, open space, and place
making features. The form and function of each center should reflect
its role in the Corridor.

Augment the Open Space and Recreation Opportunities

A variety of open space and recreation opportunities will include
stream valley parks, green space in residential areas, urban parks,
and other open spaces.

The adjacent map identifies the centers in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor

CONNECTING THE CORRIDOR

MD 355/I-270 Project 19 January 2008

CONNECTING THE CORRIDOR MAJOR THEMES
Connect the Centers In response to the opportunities arising from the forces discussed
Connecting the varied centers with transitways, bikeways, and earlier, the following recommendations should be considered when
pedestrian routes will improve the ability of workers and residents to planning in the Corridor.
take advantage of the range of opportunities in the Corridor.
Connecting the Corridor to downtown Washington, D.C. and to the  WORK
park system will expand living and working opportunities in the Establish an economic strategy that meets the needs of the basic
Corridor. and non-basic sectors of the knowledge based economy in
Montgomery County.
Enhance Mobility
Residents and workers will need easy access to activities that make  LIFE
up their daily lives, including the benefits of walking instead of driving. Enhance the quality of life in centers and communities in the
st
Constructing facilities including roads, transit, bicycle routes, and Corridor to serve the needs of the 21 Century.
pedestrian paths integrated with land use patterns and staged to
ensure delivery will add mobility options.  ACCESS
Improve access in the Corridor through multi-modal connections
Establish MD 355 as a Boulevard by providing a mobility strategy to serve the Corridor’s economic
MD 355 forms a significant impression of the Corridor and adjacent and social functions.
neighborhoods. Improving its form and function will provide a special
identity for MD 355 and the adjacent communities. Design features will  HEALTH
make each community distinct with place making features, parks, and Foster sustainable growth by developing a strategy for improving
open spaces. environmental and personal health for residents and workers in
the Corridor.

 DESIGN
Design MD 355 to improve the character of the different centers
and communities it serves by creating both general design
This diagram of Montgomery principles for the Corridor as a whole and more specific design
County and the Study Area principles for each segment.
identifies I-270, I-495, and
MD 355. It also shows the
Metrorail stations and the
MARC Transit Line

MD 355/I-270 Project 20 January 2008

WORK
Establish an economic strategy that meets the needs of the basic  Create strong and vibrant centers.
and non-basic sectors of the knowledge based economy in  Strengthen the Johns Hopkins University and University of
Montgomery County. Maryland research and graduate programs in Shady Grove as well
as connections to the main campuses and federal research
Economic competition is expected to become even more intense over facilities including NIH and NIST.
time due to advanced educational systems, lower wages, and an ever
expanding global workforce. With this in mind, the State of Maryland Address the energy problem as follows:
subsidizes incubator space, has its own venture capital fund of which  Promote the use of alternative energy sources, conservation
forty percent goes to biotechnology companies, provides tax relief to measures, recycling, and alternative modes of transportation.
early-stage biotechnology ventures, and has appointed a Maryland  Emphasize public transit, walking, biking, and telecommuting.
Stem Cell Research Commission. Supporting the expansion of  Establish an energy audit program and promote energy efficiency
university programs and federal research facilities is important for the in all buildings and community planning.
future to continue broadening interest in the Corridor to attract
students, workers, and entrepreneurs. As a major research and
development area, the Corridor is well positioned to remain
internationally competitive if it responds effectively to global forces.

Strengthen the County’s comparative advantage in biotechnology

and advanced technology sciences by establishing an economic
strategy that meets the needs of the knowledge based economy
as follows:
 Cluster future job and industry development into compact, mixed-
use centers proximate to federal and higher educational facilities
to increase job creation and innovation, and foster collaboration.
 Connect the centers to each other, to the region, and to the world
to provide better access to information, research, jobs, and
activities.
 Connect to Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
 Expand the basic knowledge based industries in the Corridor by
supporting industrial, laboratory, wholesale firms, and space for
new firms to start and grow.
 Maintain high quality public facilities and amenities.
 Foster population diversity. Example of a laboratory building in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center

MD 355/I-270 Project 21 January 2008

 Because the lifestyles people want for themselves and their families
LIFE are varied and unique, Montgomery County will need to provide a wide
Enhance the quality of life in Corridor centers and communities
st variety of options within the Corridor including a range of
to serve the needs of the 21 Century.
neighborhoods and housing types, parks and recreation opportunities,
art and cultural venues, and well designed civic spaces. Provide for a
The centers of development in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor vary widely
diverse and growing population in the Corridor as follows:
and often lack strong, identifiable character. This is largely due to
 Plan for complete communities that contain a wide range of
sprawling automobile oriented development patterns, limited
housing types and choices to meet the needs of all incomes, ages,
opportunities for gathering in areas with clustered uses, and lack of a
and household types.
fine grained street pattern. Amenities are important to current
 Implement improvements to the design and operation of MD 355
residents, and they need to be part of the community with easy
as it traverses through the Corridor in a manner that improves the
access. They will be even more important in the future to attract
character and design of the adjacent centers.
workers to live and work in the Corridor.
 Establish a better balance of jobs and housing within the Corridor
to reduce travel distance, conserve energy, and reduce emissions
from automobiles.
 Increase entertainment, recreation, and retail opportunities.
 Maintain high quality public schools and expanding higher
education opportunities in the Corridor, with special attention to
graduate education programs that are related to workforce
development.
 Include new small urban spaces and neighborhood parks.
Farm Women’s Market,
Bethesda CBD  Provide new urban parks and trail connections to the regional
stream valley park system.
Proposed public open space,  Focus on community design in the centers with attention to
Shady Grove Metro Station livability, character, varied open spaces, and place making
features to help define distinct communities and provide an overall
positive impression of the Corridor.
 Augment and enhance existing high quality communities.
 Preserve and enhance the character of the Historic Districts of
Clarksburg and Hyattstown.
 Focus development in compact clusters including employment and
housing served by public transportation.
 Provide housing that together with transportation is affordable for
households with incomes below the County median.

MD 355/I-270 Project 22 January 2008

ACCESS  Explore area congestion pricing for central areas to influence both
the time of travel (combined with flex time for workers) and choice
Improve access in the Corridor through multi-modal connections
of mode for travel.
by providing a mobility strategy to serve the Corridor’s economic
 Use value pricing for express lanes on I-270, the Inter-county
and social functions.
Connector, and I-495.
 Build the Corridor Cities Transitway from Shady Grove to
Access affects the quality of life by connecting home, work, services,
Clarksburg.
education, entertainment, and recreation. Congestion is a major
 Build the Purple Line from Bethesda to Silver Spring to New
constraint on the intensity and distribution of land uses in the Corridor.
Carrollton through portions of Prince George’s County.
More than half the jobs in the Corridor will be filled by residents living
elsewhere. Travel within the Corridor is largely north to south and can  Expand MARC Train service including a new White Flint Station.
be expected to increase with development in Frederick County, MARC is a key element of the overall strategy of reducing the
Clarksburg, Germantown, and Gaithersburg. Improving access by growth in automobile trips as it serves a market for longer trips.
connecting the Corridor’s centers with transitways, bikeways, and  Identify funds for MARC Rail equipment acquisition and
pedestrian routes will help the Corridor function as a single place. The rehabilitation if service is to be maintained and improved over
Metro Red Line and the future Corridor Cities Transitway link centers time.
within the Corridor and to the region’s resources. Providing adequate  Maintain the capacity expansion schedule for the Metro Red Line,
access in the Corridor will require policies that result in modifying and protect the current investment in Metrorail, along with
travel behavior, adding facilities, and refining land uses to encourage enhancing its ability to accommodate future transit oriented
non-automobile travel. Without all three types of policies, further development is critical.
expansion of the Corridor will be severely constrained. Changing  Identify funds to increase Metro capacity at Shady Grove for
travel behavior will require public policies that manage parking through passenger access and egress to and from the platform. Longer
restrictions on the location, pricing, and supply of parking spaces to term, there is a need for new station entrances at Bethesda,
discourage single-passenger automobile use. Improve access in the Medical Center, White Flint, and near Montgomery College.
Corridor as follows:  Build bikeway systems in centers, along the Corridor, between
 Require new development and provide incentives to existing centers, and links to stream valley and other bikeways to provide a
development to enter traffic demand management programs and fully connected system.
provide facilities to reduce automobile trips and promote transit,  Implement new Road Code standards.
walking, and biking.  Focus on pedestrian access to Metro stations and bus stops.
 Identify appropriate park and ride lots to intercept longer distance  Incorporate intermodal transfer stations and needs into Master
trips and provide access to transit. Plans and Sector Plans.
 Improve information systems to educate travelers on mode, route,  Improve transit operations (e.g., shorter headways on major
and time-of-day options for both real time and planning decisions. arterials, bus lanes, and queue jumping for express service).
 Continue to provide funding for transportation system capacity and  Increase private investment for system capacity and traffic
maintenance, especially for transit vehicles. demand management.

MD 355/I-270 Project 23 January 2008

Corridor Access:
Map of Metro Stations,
Bethesda Parking District:
Metro Purple Line,
Potential for the White Flint
Corridor Cities
and Twinbrook Metro Station
Transitway, I-495,
areas
I-270, and other roads

 Find a location for all bus and rail infrastructure including garages,  Improve the housing to job ratio in the Corridor to allow more new
maintenance areas needed for additional Metrorail, Metrobus, and Corridor workers to live nearer their work. Land use determines
Ride-On services as well as the Corridor Cities Transitway and the the viability of alternative transportation options, and careful
North Bethesda Transitway. consideration of the jobs/housing balance, and the character and
 Purchase more Ride-on buses to serve the Corridor. location of development near transit facilities should include
 Improve signal coordination especially along MD 355. mobility. Revise existing land use policies to permit housing and
 Improve street systems and transit station access through creation other supporting uses to be added in areas where they were
of street grids. previously excluded from employment areas, and use new Sector
 Implement policies that change the design and operation of MD Plans and Master Plans to create higher density mixed-use,
355 as it traverses the County so that it contributes to the transit-oriented centers.
character and design of the centers and open spaces.  Transform roadways that divide communities to ones that help
connect and unify communities.

MD 355/I-270 Project 24 January 2008

HEALTH
Foster sustainable growth by developing a strategy for improving adjacent to residential areas, local urban parks, and other open
environmental and personal health for residents and workers in spaces.
the Corridor.  Incorporate health care facilities in Corridor Cities and centers with
connections to major hospitals and medical research centers.
Through planning and design, development should foster sustainable  Create opportunities through the Zoning Ordinance to conserve
design that produces a safe, healthful environment. Montgomery energy and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels by encouraging
County needs to increase the proximity of housing and jobs, and the use of: alternative energy sources; salvaged, refurbished, or
create an environment that encourages walking, biking and use of remanufactured materials, products, and structures; reusable or
transit, and sets exemplary environmental standards. Planning should recycled materials; locally available building materials; recycled or
integrate varied land uses, open space, mobility, natural resources, recyclable product packaging; and durable products that are
and efficient energy use. Plan for sustainability as follows: longer lasting than conventional products.
 Accommodate growth by transforming the Corridor’s automobile-
oriented development pattern into one that is transit-oriented and
walkable.
 Emphasize green site and building design to reduce impacts of
development on the environment.
 Increase tree cover in the Corridor by requiring aggressive forest
conservation measures, planting street trees, and landscape
planting.
 Reduce impervious surfaces to improve the water quality of
watersheds by requiring green building practices, “context
sensitive” street and road design to create greener streets, and
increased requirements for pervious open space.
 Enhance opportunities for active and healthful living through the
protection of the Agricultural Reserve as a source of local food and
provide farm markets in the Corridor for sale of local fresh
produce.
 Improve opportunities for an active life style for Corridor residents
and workers by providing a continuous network of walkways and
bikeways, recreation centers, and parks throughout the Corridor.
Open space area in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor
 Create a variety of open space and recreation opportunities along
MD 355 to provide significant active and passive recreation
options including regional stream valley parks, green space

MD 355/I-270 Project 25 January 2008

 DESIGN
Design MD 355 to improve the character of the different centers
and communities it serves by creating both general design
principles for the Corridor as a whole and more specific design
principles for each segment.

The MD 355/I-270 Corridor within Montgomery County from Friendship

Heights to Frederick County will include the following design elements:
 Centers - High quality pedestrian oriented areas with both public
and private employment opportunities, local and regional retail, a
mix of residential unit types, and Historic Districts.
 Boulevards and Streets - These connections accommodate a
variety of functions including automobiles, service vehicles,
bicycles and pedestrians. Enhancing the character of MD 355 as
the main street for the Corridor should be a priority.
Improvements to MD 355 at Shady Grove Road
 Open Spaces - Augment and enhance the variety of open spaces
including stream valley parks, urban parks, public spaces, and
Enhanced local street in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor recreation areas.
 Landmarks and Icons - Establish place making features including
landmarks and nodes that enhance the character of the Corridor
as a special place.

GENERAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES

The following general design principles apply to the entire Corridor.
This section is followed by more specific design principles for each of
the segments along MD 355.

MD 355/I-270 Project 26 January 2008

CENTERS
Centers in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor
The MD 355/I-270 Corridor includes a variety of mature and emerging
centers. The map on the adjacent page locates several of the centers.
These centers provide a variety of economic roles and functions
including:

 Mixed-Use Central Business Districts (Friendship Heights and

Bethesda).

 Federal Government Resources (NIH/Naval Medical, NIST, and

the Department of Energy).

 Regional Retail Places (Friendship Heights, White Flint Mall and

adjacent retail, and Lake Forest Mall).

 Life Sciences Centers (Shady Grove Life Sciences Center and

Twinbrook).

 County Government Center (City of Rockville).

 Historic Villages (Gaithersburg Old Town, Clarksburg, and

Hyattstown).

 Housing Resources (Grosvenor, Shady Grove, and Clarksburg

Town Center).

 Centers of Education (Shady Grove, City of Rockville, and

Germantown).

 Cultural Resources (Strathmore Concert Hall, Germantown Black

Rock Center for the Arts, and other facilities in the Bethesda
CBD).

 New Center (Between Shady Grove and the City of Rockville with
a new Metro station, an education center, and mix of uses).

MD 355/I-270 Project 27 January 2008

Macro Design Principles - Centers
Design principles for the centers in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor include
establishing a system of communities and centers based on the
function and role they perform. New development should be
concentrated in these centers. Improving the design to serve the
st
function and role of each center will provide a resource for the 21
Century that is greater than each center acting separately. The key
macro design principles for these centers include the following;
 Design and planning for science clusters.
 Design public spaces that foster collaboration between mixed-
uses.
 Provide flexible, mixed-use zoning that includes housing, retail,
offices and laboratories.
 Provide parking districts or the equivalent.
 Design new public spaces.
 Design for including neighborhood serving retail.
 Improve the character and function of all streets including closely
spaced street trees, additional public use space, and stronger
pedestrian networks.
 Demand exceptional design for major buildings and public facilities
 Provide buildings as well as neighborhoods that meet the
standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
 Focus on the design and function of the public realm with attention
to livability, visual impression, varied and active public streets and Twinbrook Metro Station Area:
open spaces, and place making features that make communities Example of a science cluster with new public spaces, neighborhood retail,
streetscape standards, highest densities near the Twinbrook Metro Station
distinct and provide an overall positive impression.
 Implement a “tenting” approach to development, with the highest
densities nearest to Metro.
 Design the portals of each center along MD 355 to signal that one
is entering or leaving a particular district or center.

As example, the White Flint Metro Station area should be designated

as the downtown of North Bethesda with a diverse mix of uses and a
compact, pedestrian oriented environment.

MD 355/I-270 Project 28 January 2008

BOULEVARDS AND STREETS

The boulevards and streets in the MD 355/I-270 Corridor serve a Macro Design Principles - Boulevards and Streets
variety of roles and functions. Augmenting and enhancing the  Substantially augment and enhance the character of MD 355 as a
character of MD 355 should be a high priority. The design challenges boulevard, and consider Wisconsin Avenue as the primary name.
for the Corridor include recognizing that boulevards and streets serve  Create streets that are context sensitive to the centers and
a variety of functions as follows: communities, and establish design principles that identify and
 I-270 - Major freeway for long distance and through travel support the different characteristics of communities along the
connections, automobile oriented. entire length of MD 355.
 MD 355 - Main street of the Corridor for local travel within and  Create opportunities to design streets to reduce the speed of
between centers, first impression of the Corridor, space for transit through traffic and make communities more pedestrian oriented.
vehicles, and often pedestrian oriented.  Design each segment of MD 355 to signify and reflect the
 Urban Streets - Primary public realm for each center that may character of each center (e.g., urban boulevard, parkway,
serve automobiles, transit vehicles, service vehicles, bicycles, and business district street, or two-lane rural road).
pedestrians.  Create street grids to distribute local traffic.
 Residential Streets – Important places that serve the stable,  Provide for pedestrian crosswalks, and on-street parking.
single-family neighborhoods.  Provide closely spaced street trees.
 Main street for the Historic Districts of Clarksburg and Hyattstown.  Provide a grid system of streets to distribute local traffic.
 Provide for sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians
 Establish special street furniture (e.g. street lights and benches) in
the centers.

Green Mile Boulevard, Bethesda Urban Boulevard, Bethesda CBD Rural Road, Hyattstown

MD 355/I-270 Project 29 January 2008

OPEN SPACES
The MD 355/I-270 Corridor has a variety of high quality open spaces. Macro Design Principles - Open Spaces
These open spaces include:  Expand the opportunities for providing high quality public use
 Stream Valley and Regional Parks – Rock Creek Stream Valley spaces through incentive zoning techniques (e.g. Village
Park, Black Hill Regional Park, the Germantown Buffer, Great Commons at Friendship Heights, Hampden Square, Shady Grove
Seneca Park, and Little Bennett Regional Park. Park, Clarksburg Town Center, and Rockville Town Center).
 Recreation Parks and School Fields.  Connect the centers to the regional park system and other open
 Urban Parks and Open Spaces – Friendship Place Plaza, spaces.
Bethesda Metro Center/Chevy Chase Bank Park, Twinbrook  Increase recreation opportunities within walking distance of each
Station Public Park (approved), Shady Grove Metro Park center.
(proposed), Clarksburg Triangle Park (approved Legacy Open  Incorporate environmental preservation and enhancement to
Space). complement the built environment in each center.

Variety of Open Spaces:

 Wisconsin Place, Friendship Heights
 Hampden Square, Bethesda
 Town Green, City of Rockville

MD 355/I-270 Project 30 January 2008

LANDMARKS AND ICONS

Landmarks and icons are important place making features. These Macro Design Principles – Landmarks and Icons
features establish the character of each area. Some of the important  Include public art as a part of an expanded incentive zoning
place making features include: program.
 District of Columbia Marker, Friendship Heights.  Incorporate public art in public use spaces that celebrates the
 Madonna of the Trails, Bethesda. unique characteristics of each local place or center.
 Bethesda Crescent Building, Bethesda.  Develop a unique streetscape program for each center.
 Public Art Projects, Bethesda.  Focus on high quality design of both public and private buildings
 Bethesda Naval Medical Building, Bethesda. that could serve as icons.
 Strathmore Hall and Concert Hall, Grosvenor.  Provide flexibility in zoning regulations that provides opportunities
 Nuclear Regulatory Building, White Flint. to design high quality science buildings.
 Old Montgomery County Court House and Civil War Soldier,
Rockville.
 COMSAT Building, Clarksburg.

Madonna of the Trails, Bethesda Crescent Building, Bethesda CBD Naval Hospital Center, Bethesda-Chevy Chase

MD 355/I-270 Project 31 January 2008

DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR EACH SEGMENT ALONG MD 355
The segments include the following areas:

 Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Western Avenue to I-495

 North Bethesda including Grosvenor, White Flint and Twinbrook

I-495 to Twinbrook

 City of Rockville
Twinbrook to Gude Drive including Montgomery College

 City of Gaithersburg and Shady Grove

Gude Drive to Great Seneca Creek (Germantown)

 Germantown
Great Seneca Creek to MD 27 (Clarksburg)

 Clarksburg
MD 27 to Hyattstown

MD 355/I-270 Project 32 January 2008

Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Western Avenue to I-495

MD 355/Wisconsin Avenue through the Bethesda CBD

MD 355/I-270 Project 33 January 2008

Bethesda-Chevy Chase: Role and Character  Improve bike connections.
The design emphasis for this area should focus on augmenting and  Enhance bus service along MD 355 including connections to the
enhancing the existing stable communities along MD 355. New National Institutes of Health and the Bethesda Naval Medical
development should be concentrated in the centers. The centers Center.
include the following:  Maintain the setbacks from MD 355 for the existing federal
 Friendship Heights CBD - Southwestern “gateway” to Montgomery facilities.
County with a concentration of medical and professional offices,  Improve the pedestrian access to the NIH Metro Station from the
high-rise residential buildings, and retail facilities. Naval Hospital area.
 Bethesda CBD - High quality offices, residential buildings, a
concentration of retail and restaurants, and entertainment facilities. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Study is
 National Institutes of Health/Naval Medical Center – Federal recommending relocating some functions currently at the Walter Reed
facilities including research, and hospital facilities important to the Army Hospital to the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Montgomery
economy of the Corridor and Montgomery County. County is currently evaluating a range of recommended actions to
 Westbard - Neighborhood shopping area along River Road. address growth issues of the Naval Medical Center.

The area along MD 355 between Friendship Heights and the Bethesda
CBD is referred to as the “Green Mile,” and it is envisioned as a grand MD 355/Wisconsin Avenue in the Bethesda CBD
boulevard that preserves the green and residential character of the
adjacent communities. New development should be concentrated in
the centers and away from the “Green Mile” and the stable residential
areas.

Design Recommendations
 Maintain and enhance the special streetscape for the Bethesda
and Friendship Heights Central Business Districts
 Retain and improve the green, residential character of MD 355
between Friendship Heights and Bethesda (e.g. the “Green Mile”)
and other residential areas as follows:
- Add trees and other plantings to the median.
- Retain and enhance the existing green character by
enhancing the perimeter landscaping.
- Provide continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street.
- Retain building setbacks and maintain the existing setbacks
as green space.
- Limit the use of Special Exceptions.

MD 355/I-270 Project 34 January 2008

North Bethesda including Grosvenor,  Consider on-street parking in the White Flint area especially during
off-peak times.
White Flint and Twinbrook  Limit off-street parking along MD 355, and provide adequate
I-495 to Twinbrook landscaping for parking lots.
 Increase design alternatives for transit including local buses
Role and Character  Expand and improve the medians.
This segment of MD 355 is envisioned as an area that transitions from  Expand the grid system of streets especially in the Twinbrook and
I-495 to more intense development at the White Flint area. This area White Flint areas.
includes institutional uses, a cultural facility, residences, and a portion  Establish a parking district or an equivalent in the White Flint and
of Rock Creek Park. This area also includes significant strip Twinbrook areas.
commercial development and the White Flint Mall with significant  Improve design standards by creating incentive zoning tools, and
surface parking areas and large setbacks of buildings. The centers in establishing a new zoning framework or form-based code.
this area include:
 Create a business improvement district to assist in funding of
 Grosvenor maintenance and promotion.
 White Flint  Reinforce the role of the White Flint area as a multi-faceted
 Twinbrook downtown for North Bethesda with a rich mix of uses.
 Rock Spring Park  Maintain the role of the Grosvenor area as a primary cultural center
for the Corridor.
Design Recommendations
 Improve connections to Rock Creek Stream Valley Park and the
 Increase green space including small urban parks and other open
Rockville Millennium Trail.
spaces.
 Build the North Bethesda Transitway to connect Rock Spring Park
 Provide additional crosswalks, sidewalks and curbs to improve the
to the Metrorail system.
pedestrian safety.
Variety of Centers Surface parking and low density development Proposed White Flint Crossing Existing Rockville Pike/MD 355

MD 355/I-270 Project 35 January 2008

City of Rockville Design Recommendations
Twinbrook to Gude Drive including Montgomery College
 Coordinate with the City of Rockville to transform the form and
function of MD 355 into a boulevard.
Role and Character
 Create a grand avenue with a “green character” that
The City of Rockville is the location of the County Government with
accommodates new development at Montgomery College, more
high-rise office buildings, stable residential areas, and a newly
businesses, and residential uses.
revitalized Town Center. Along MD 355 and south of the Town
 Establish a new Metro station near Montgomery College.
Center, automobile-oriented retail uses continue. Beyond the Town
 Provide a local shuttle service or transit circulator.
Center, low scale retail uses are located along MD 355 to Gude Drive
and the Campus of Montgomery College. The City of Rockville is  Utilize existing parking areas for redevelopment.
beginning a study of the potential to improve the function and  Create more pedestrian connections to establish a walkable
character of MD 355. Improving the coordination between the City of environment.
Rockville and Montgomery County for the design of MD 355 is a  Build closer to the street with spacious sidewalks.
unique opportunity.  Create a grid of streets to improve access and connectivity.
 Use new mixed-use zones and design guidelines to achieve
desirable form.
 Update environmental streetscape standards.
Rockville Town Center and Public Library Twinbrook Station Project

MD 355/I-270 Project 36 January 2008

City of Gaithersburg and Shady Grove
Gude Drive to Great Seneca Creek (Germantown)

Role and Character

Design Recommendations
Employment, commercial, and residential development are located
The City of Gaithersburg’s 1999 Frederick Avenue Corridor Plan
along MD 355 (Frederick Avenue) in the City of Gaithersburg. The
envisions the MD 355/I-270 Corridor as a distinct environment that is
primary centers in the City of Gaithersburg include:
visually improved and includes pedestrian and bicycle facilities and an
 Lake Forest Mall area improved economic environment. The City divides this link into three
 Gaithersburg Old Town districts:
 Northern Employment District
Automobile oriented businesses are located along MD 355 between
 Fairgrounds Commercial District
the Rockville Metro Station and Shady Grove and outside the City of
 Southern Residential District
Gaithersburg. The centers in this area include the following:
 Shady Grove Metro Station Community - This center will be a
Proposed Crown Farm Mixed-Use Development:
mixed-use community with a concentration of residential uses
.
Housing, retail, office and high school along the Corridor Cities Transitway
instead of the existing County Service Park.
 King Farm (Rockville) - A mixed-use, transit-oriented community
located west of MD 355 directly across from the Shady Grove
Metro Station.
 Shady Grove Life Sciences Center - This center includes the
Adventist Hospital, Eight Universities of Maryland, and a
concentration of biotechnology and advanced technology
companies.
 Belward Campus of Johns Hopkins University - This center will be
a research and education facility for the life sciences.
 NIST - This key federal facility provides an important center for
improving and measuring technology innovation in the Corridor.

MD 355 is envisioned to have streetscape improvements and

accommodations for pedestrians with an enhanced median.

MD 355/I-270 Project 37 January 2008

 Recommendations for the area outside the City of Gaithersburg
include:
 Create zoning tools that allow for the creation of science clusters
st
in the Gaithersburg West area that serve the needs for the 21
Century including:
- A mix of uses including provisions for laboratory buildings,
office buildings and residential space.
- Foster local serving retail and hotel space.
- Focus on pedestrian and bicycle circulation within each center
and to the regional park system.
- Create an extensive system of small urban spaces that foster
collaboration between residents and employees throughout
each cluster
Proposed open space at the Shady Grove
 Improve the character of MD 355 between Gude Drive and I-370:
Metro Station
- Incorporate a green landscaped median into future
improvements to MD 355.
MD 355 Improvements: Street trees, crosswalks, wide sidewalks, trees in the - Require more trees and landscaping.
median, and location for the Corridor Cities Transitway
- Change the classification of MD 355 from an arterial to a
business district street.
- Create space for dedicated bus lanes as part of the shared
use of streets.
 Increase the importance of the pedestrian movements over
vehicular movements.
 Build closer to the street with spacious sidewalks.
 Limit surface parking along MD 355 and Shady Grove Road.

Design coordination between the City of Gaithersburg, the City of

Rockville and Montgomery County is critical to improving the character
of MD 355 in this area.

MD 355/I-270 Project 38 January 2008

Germantown Recommendations include:
Great Seneca Creek to MD 27 (Clarksburg)  Transform the employment area along I-270 to a mixed-use area
with a concentration of employment, local serving retail and
Role and Character housing to create a high quality Corridor designed to serve the
st
In Germantown, MD 355 is located in the eastern portion of the Master needs of the 21 Century as follows:
Plan area. The centers include: - Create tree-lined, pedestrian oriented streets.
- Add an internal circulator, transit route with safe pedestrian
 Germantown Campus of Montgomery College - This campus is
access.
located east of I-270 in the southeastern area of Germantown. It - Provide flexible mixed-use zoning.
will include education buildings as well as buildings for private - Provide an opportunity for new housing and building types to
research and development. distinguish Germantown from other locations.
 Milestone area - This area includes a concentration of “big box”  Build the Corridor Cities Transitway.
retail and residential development along MD 355 and east of I-270.  Improve access to the Black Rock Center for the Arts from the
 Germantown Town Center and Employment Corridor along future Corridor Cities Transitway.
 Design the site of Montgomery College as a place for academics,
I-270 - The Town Center includes existing retail shops and the
and research and development.
Black Rock Center for the Arts located west of I-270. In addition,
 Provide the opportunity to redevelop the Milestone Center into a
the Town Center has significant areas for expansion to the north “main street” retail format with mixed-use, connected storefronts,
and along I-270 to the Germantown Buffer area. and structured parking located on internal parcels.

The villages of Middlebrook and Neelsville are located along MD 355.

Each village is distinguished by its own identity and character. Each
village has a mix of housing types, retail, and identifiable activity
areas. The existing Germantown Master Plan envisions MD 355 as
more hospitable to pedestrians.

Design Recommendations
The Germantown Employment Corridor will be a comprehensive,
connected urban center extending from the MARC Station on the
west side of I-270 through the Town Center transit and civic core to
MD 355, the Milestone Retail Center, and Montgomery College on
the east side of I-270.

Proposed expansion to the Germantown Town Center indicating the

Corridor Cities Transitway

MD 355/I-270 Project 39 January 2008

Clarksburg
MD 27 to Hyattstown

Role and Character

This area serves as a gateway to the County that respects, highlights,  Establish MD 355 as a four lane boulevard through
and connects the historic and natural areas including the large most of the Transit Corridor area in Clarksburg.
expanse of parkland. The Clarksburg area includes the following  Establish Observation Drive as a main street for the
centers connected by the Corridor Cities Transitway: Transit Corridor with the Corridor Cities Transitway
 COMSAT located
Proposed in the median.
Clarksburg Town Center
 Shawnee Lane Center
 Clarksburg Town Center

In addition, the area includes the Historic Districts of Clarksburg and

Hyattstown located along MD 355. The area between Clarksburg and
Hyattstown includes the Little Bennett Regional Park.

Design Recommendations
 Maintain the mix of uses, design guidelines and planning principles
for the Transit Corridor Area established in the Clarksburg Master
Plan.
 Locate public facilities including schools along MD 355 and
minimize the location of high density housing in close proximity to
MD 355.
 Require street facing buildings with parking in the rear along MD
355.
 Enhance the Historic Districts as follows:
- Design a bypass for the Historic District of Clarksburg.
- Maintain the buffer to the Historic District of Hyattstown
- Encourage infill that accommodates revitalization.
- Maintain the two lane character of MD 355 in each District.
 Provide a transit connection to Little Bennett Regional Park.
 Provide connecting bike paths and walkways.
Two Lane MD 355 rural road, Hyattstown

MD 355/I-270 Project 40 January 2008

 4
Short-Term
IMPLEMENTATION

Current Master Plans

The Shady Grove Sector Plan and the Woodmont Triangle Amendment to the
Bethesda CBD Sector Plan have been completed, and the Twinbrook Sector
Plan is scheduled for a public hearing with the County Council in early 2008. The
recommendations reinforce each area’s role in the Corridor and together will
increase housing by over 16,800 dwelling units. In Shady Grove and in the
Woodmont Triangle, the job potential is decreased in favor of housing.

Twinbrook Sector Plan

This Sector plan creates an opportunity to establish a new advanced technology
and biotechnology cluster in Twinbrook. This Sector Plan expands the proposed
transit oriented neighborhood located adjacent to the Twinbrook Metro Station. It
also maintains a location for industrial uses that serve the central portion of
Montgomery County as well as the high technology cluster. This Sector Plan
also establishes green community planning principles, and connects this center
to the Metro system, and the regional and local park system.

Zoning Tools
Create new zoning tools that will foster the creation of a mixed-used center at the
Metro stations and the other transit stations along the Corridor Cities Transitway.
The zoning tools should emphasize the design of each center, and transit and
pedestrian orientation. The zoning tools should include a requirement for
consistency with Master Plan recommendations.

Growth Policy Studies

The project will address jobs/housing balance, parking management and design
excellence.

MD 355/I-270 Project 41 January 2008

 improvements to MD 355 and I-270 are also critical transportation
Mid-Term projects. New parking districts in the White Flint and other areas
White Flint
should be considered, along with additional pedestrian and bicycle
The White Flint Sector Plan is scheduled for completion in 2008, and it
connections to the transit stations and the stream valley park system
will provide an opportunity to increase housing and create a distinct
are needed. Completion of the Bethesda Trolley Trail from the White
downtown for North Bethesda.
Flint Metro Station and the Capital Crescent Trail would provide one of
the needed connections.
Germantown
A Germantown Master Plan amendment is underway for the area’s Housing Policy Element to the General Plan
employment corridor. This Master Plan will provide another The Housing Policy Element as an amendment to the General Plan
opportunity to add housing and create a mixed-use center that will address affordable housing in the Corridor. Special emphasis on
establishes an attractive living and working environment. retaining the supply of existing affordable multi-family housing will be a
focus of this effort.
Gaithersburg
The Master Plan for Gaithersburg West is an opportunity to enhance Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
the Life Sciences Center, supported by Johns Hopkins University and Facilities will be created through a combination of CIP and private
the University of Maryland. sector funding.

Building Green Communities

Federal Facilities
Encouraging green buildings during regulatory planning will be an
Changes in the Corridor include the expansion of some federal
ongoing effort intended to maintain and enhance air, water, forest
facilities. The relocation of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to
resources and reduce dependence on the automobile. The M-NCPPC
the Bethesda Naval Medical Center is expected to have transportation,
is taking on particular studies to address these issues. The Green
housing, and local economic impacts. Expansion of NIH, NIST and
Infrastructure Functional Plan will identify and evaluate existing
NRC facilities is also expected.
sensitive and important environmental features, and identify natural
resources and opportunities for conservation, mitigation, restoration,
Long-Term and enhancement. The Water Resource Functional Plan will assess
Future Master Planning the County’s capacity to sustain future development in the areas of
The Master Plan for the Gaithersburg East Vicinity, and phase two of water supply, wastewater and stormwater management that meet
the White Flint Sector Plan is included in the Long-Term Program. federal and state water quality standards. The Environment and
Energy Plan will examine how Montgomery County can meet ongoing
Transportation Facilities environmental, economic and social needs, and it will identify actions
The planned Metro Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway will to improve sustainability through reducing green house gas emissions,
influence redevelopment in the Corridor. Suggested by the community improving watershed protection, increasing the green infrastructure,
and under consideration by WMATA is a new Metro station to serve improving forest conservation, establishing green community and
the Rockville Campus of Montgomery College located between Shady building standards, and providing impervious surface control.
Grove and the City of Rockville. An expanded bus network and

MD 355/I-270 Project 42 January 2008

 5 APPENDIX

PowerPoint Presentations
(Available as Separate Document)

MD 355/I-270 Project 43 January 2008