In a major shift, Navy officials say in a report obtained by The Examiner that they will recommend the federal government pay for some projects to help relieve the congestion caused by the transfer of military medical services from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Bethesda.
Navy leaders said in a December draft report that it was not their responsibility to fund any of the potentially $200 million in long-term transportation projects needed to ensure traffic flows smoothly in the already clogged area. In the final version of the report, to be released today, they changed their tune.
“Several potential improvements external to [National Naval Medical Center] that could directly enhance access to NNMC are also being evaluated and the Navy is submitting a request for [Defense Access Road] certification for those that are recommended for implementation,” the report says.
The military Base Realignment and Closure project is expected to bring as many as 2,500 new workers to the site of Bethesda’s National Naval Medical Center, and nearly double the number of patient visits when Walter Reed closes in less than four years.
Montgomery leaders say they were heartened to see the change in mindset, though it is merely the first step in process of getting federal funds.
“We have a recognition here that their activity will have a significant impact on the surrounding area and the federal government will need to contribute to the resolution of this,” County Executive Ike Leggett said.
Leggett and Council President Mike Knapp sent strongly worded letters to Navy officials this winter telling them they felt their first report was erroneous in saying the projects should be funded by state and local governments. Montgomery County BRAC coordinator Phil Alperson said the shift was “significant.”
“This is not money in the bank yet, but it gets us on a path toward some actual funding,” Alperson said. “They can’t do this project if there is a gridlock situation where doctors, patients and emergency vehicles can’t get to the facility.”
