Plans for Montgomery County’s proposed rapid bus system hit a bump Thursday as planners spent hours debating whether the system as envisioned is necessary or even feasible. Aimed at alleviating gridlock, the network would rely on buses that run in dedicated lanes on many major roads, like Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue and Route 355. The latest plans include 23 routes on 150 miles of road.
But planners at Thursday’s Planning Board meeting could not decide whether to build the system to fit the county’s current needs or to fit a vision of the county 40 years from now. Some pushed for more lanes and more routes, while others argued that making a bigger system would be unnecessarily costly and lengthen the process.
Two dedicated lanes on every route would create a “high quality level of service,” said Planning Commissioner Casey Anderson.
Even if the county builds only one lane now, putting two dedicated lanes in the official plans would allow the county to claim right of way — the right to take parts of residents’ and businesses’ properties to expand the roadway — just in case the system needs to be expanded, said Planning Commissioner Norman Dreyfuss.
But on some routes, two dedicated lanes would be excessive, said County Councilman Marc Elrich, D-at large, who proposed the system. For example, Route 29 currently needs only one dedicated lane that switches directions to accommodate rush hour — traveling south in the morning and north in the evening.
Requiring right of way also would make the plans more costly and more unpopular with residents, said Commission Chairwoman Francoise Carrier.
Transit Task Force Chairman Marc Winston reminded the board that the cost to build the system is not clear, so relying on a cost-benefit analysis is useless.
The project was last estimated to cost between $2.3 billion and $2.5 billion to build, according to Deputy Council Staff Director Glenn Orlin. A more recent estimate — expected to be released in January — sets a lower price, said Elrich, who wouldn’t reveal the number.
