Duncan Smiles at Ehrlich

[OnBackground]

The Post carried an article this morning proclaiming the approval (shock!) by the state of a southern ICC route. The article includes a photo of Bob Ehrlich and Doug Duncan smiling really brightly and shaking hands. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/11/AR2005071100869.html">Not a pretty sight</a>. Would someone please remind Duncan that he's running as a Democrat? Thanks.

[Burma Jones]

1. I'm Liberal and I want the ICC

I grew up in Montgomery and can remember the series of "study underway" signs that dotted the landscape along the proposed route. This route has been in the works for over 40 years now and if Duncan, O'Malley, Leggett or any other Democrat picks the ICC as an issue to fight Ehrlich, they will lose. There are too many folks that want the ICC, it's a done deal.

Having said that, I oppose Ehrlich if only for his Moe Howard haircut. I also think that he is bringing the nasty sleazy Republican political style to a state that has consistently rejected this sort of behavior.

[The White Tree]

2. I may be less opposed to it now as well.

Edited for stupidity in typing. i couldn't stand looking at it (imposed? What the hell was I thinking?)

In my local paper they had a map of the route. I think they made several changes in it and it seems like it may be less obtrusive and less open to exploitation by development then the original proposals.

More like an expressway then anything else. Kind of like route 100 which I discovered 2 years ago and use to skirt the Baltimore beltway when heading to the beach.

One of the comments made, I think by Duncan was that the development was already there. I think that is in many ways true.

Another comment in the article was that for every 1 acre of land taken for this project they will set aside/purchase/reserve 5 acres for parkland/open space.

That could be a good trade off though I don't know much about that (or the ICC for the most part).

Regardless, this will not, in my opinion make a tremendous dent on any traffic problems in this area. Then again, what will?

[Burma Jones]

3. We moved back to the DC area from NY a couple years ago

We spent three years in NY while I worked for (and was subsequently dropped by) IBM. Prior to NY, we spent a few years in Northern Virginia, when we moved back to the area, Northern Virginia was never considered because of their absolute incompetance at traffic planning. Montgomery is far better than Fairfax County at controlling their traffic.

I went to Magruder High School (which will be about a half mile from the ICC) and the swath of available land has been there forever. I live near Germantown now, and often travel to NY - I would appreciate an easier way to get to I-95......

[CTD]

4. I support the ICC as well (and an OT)

I support the ICC as well. It's simply needed as has been for some time. Just look at the heavy truck traffic on route 28/198 from Rockville over to I-95 if you want proof. These roads were not designed for that type of traffic. But it's there.

Being local as well, I recall when the current right of way signs went up back in the late '80s. They're pretty ragged now.

Off topic- Magruder, eh? Small world. What year? 1989 here.

[Burma Jones]

5. 1977

[The White Tree]

6. I used to live in Germantown when I first moved tp Maryland

from NY State.

I'm not sure I would take the proposed route of the ICC if I was going to New York. The ICC will actually head back toward DC. Then you still have to contend with Baltimore.

I'd probably go either up to 70 through 270 or 97 and around Baltimore that way, or else take 15 up through Harrisburg to 81 and 78 (depending on where you are going in NY).

[seemunkee]

7. I live in Olney and would be about 5 miles from the ICC

and I'm against it. If this is about commuter traffic then let's build the Purple line first. The ICC is about moving trucks from 270 to 95.
Additionally they cut out the parallel bike path that was supposed to go along with this.

[Baltimore]

Top Ten

I see Ehrlich made Top Ten Conservative Idiots last week.

[Baltimore]

8. Top Ten

I see Ehrlich made Top Ten Conservative Idiots last week.