Technical update revises street types to conform to Montgomery County’s “complete street” street types and makes recommendations on unbuilt sections of Midcounty Highway Extended
Rockville, Md. – The Montgomery County Council voted to approve the Montgomery Planning’s 2025 Update to the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways on July 29, 2025. The technical update was required due to County Council’s approval of two bills in 2022 (Bill 24-22 and 34-22 ) that revised the street types identified in Chapter 49 of the County Code, also known as the “Road Code,” to conform to the county’s Complete Streets Design Guide . Version 1.2 of the Complete Streets Design Guide was reviewed and approved by the Planning Board in May 2024. While the updated County Code provides an interim translation from the previous functional classification system to the new complete streets classification system, adjustments to these default translations were needed for various road segments in the county.
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The Montgomery County Planning Board , part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), transmitted the Planning Board Draft to the County Council and County Executive in April 2025.
Review the Planning Board Draft of the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways Technical Update
The plan also makes recommendations related to the unbuilt northern and southern segments of Midcounty Highway Extended (M-83) including:
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- Remove the northern section of M-83 from the plan.
- Conduct a comprehensive study of travel needs along the Clarksburg to Montgomery Village corridor to determine if there is sufficient master-planned transportation capacity to accommodate existing and planned development, as well as the feasibility and timeline of implementing planned and existing master-planned transportation improvements.
- Retain the southern section of M-83 between Shady Grove Road and the Intercounty Connector (ICC) until a more detailed planning and engineering feasibility study can be completed.
“We’re proud of this approval for this important update, which supports a more connected, accessible, and forward-looking transportation network in the county,” said Planning Board Chair Artie Harris. “My thanks to the staff for their detailed analysis and strong outreach that helped ensure this plan reflects the voices and priorities of our community.”
About the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways
The Master Plan of Highways and Transitways is a comprehensive summary of all significant existing and planned roadway and transitway infrastructure in Montgomery County. It provides a road map for making transportation investments in the county. While the plan is focused on highways and transitways, it includes provisions that impact all modes of transportation, including preserving rights-of-way to accommodate future transportation systems, identifying the number of lanes dedicated to general traffic, and designating the target speeds for individual roadways.
Periodically, the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways requires a countywide technical update to ensure that transportation investments are being evaluated and considered consistent with current county policy.
For updates and link to press release, see here: https://montgomeryplanning.org/?p=66091
