For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) was awarded $250,000 in funding by the Maryland Department of Transportation to support the development of a mixed-use transit development project in North Bethesda. The grant will fund community outreach efforts to facilitate public input for the project design.
“We will use this grant money to help build a safer, more prosperous future, with investments in transportation and infrastructure that promote economic development and improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The $250,000 award will help us to ensure that this development reflects the needs of the community it serves and positions North Bethesda as a world-class destination for talent. I want to thank the State’s DOT for their support in moving this project forward.”
The planned development, Project Connect , is envisioned as a 13.9-acre mixed-use community hub located by the North Bethesda Metro Station, with housing, shopping and entertainment, anchored by employers of the County’s growing life sciences industry and accessible through public transportation and pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
“Thank you to the Moore-Miller Administration for this funding to support community outreach as we move forward with this transformative project at the North Bethesda Metro in the Pike District,” said Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart. “As we look at improving access to the metro, creating public spaces and improving pedestrian and bike safety, hearing directly from members of our community will be vital to the success of our efforts.“
The project includes adding a new northern access point to the North Bethesda Metro Station and installing infrastructure that will support the future County Flash Bus Rapid Transit system, which will serve MD 355.
The grant is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund . The fund was established to advance development projects near transit stations that improve safety, spur economic growth and increase connectivity in communities across Maryland.
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“These grants will help jumpstart the progress of building unique, dense communities around transit stations that will further connect Marylanders to opportunities,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Thank you to Governor Moore and all our partners in the General Assembly for the creation of the TOD Fund. Our collective vision and investment to increase development near transit stations will create dividends of economic prosperity in Maryland for decades to come.”
Project Connect is being developed by the County in partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). The anticipated completion date is 2030.
“Project Connect is envisioned as a complete community, with access to jobs, housing, entertainment and necessities, centered around public transit and connected by pedestrian pathways,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “As we plan for the future of transit-oriented development in Montgomery County, it is important that we do so in a thoughtful and community-centered way. This TOD grant from MDOT will allow us to engage the community in the planning process. I want to thank MDOT for their support.”
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=47306