Local
Light rail vote gives heavy boost to Science City
By: Bill Myers
Examiner Staff Writer
November 20, 2009
Advocates for the so-called "Science City" project have been given a big boost by the Montgomery County Council's decision to build a light rail system along Interstate 270.
Science City, a Johns Hopkins University-proposed 60,000-job complex in Gaithersburg, had been facing intense resistance from preservationists and environmentalists who say the proposal is too much development too quickly and would clog the once-bucolic region with traffic.
Light rail changes everything, Science City advocates say, because it would allow commuters to jump on trolleys from the Shady Grove Metro station to Science City.
The County Council on Tuesday voted to approve a light rail route through Science City along an expanded I-270. It's now up to the state to decide whether to fund light rail, but Science City advocates said they felt optimistic after the vote.
"It's definitely good news for all of the master plans in that corridor," said Rich Parsons, former president of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and now spokesman for the Corridor Cities Transitway and a consultant to Johns Hopkins. "None of these plans are going to succeed if we don't have the transportation infrastructure."
David McDonough, a real estate executive with Johns Hopkins, said the light rail vote "provides an overwhelming endorsement" for the university's plans.
Those hoping to curb Johns Hopkins' massive plans for Science City -- including Council President Phil Andrews -- were dismayed by the vote.
"The vote for light rail doesn't bode well for our area," said Donna Baron, who is leading a neighbors coalition to scale back Science City's proposal.
