High Gas Prices Fueling More ICC Controversy

WASHINGTON -- High gas prices are driving up the cost of road construction, and this is fanning the flames of an already hot debate over the Inter County Connector.

"Anybody who's looked at this knows the cost of a ton of steel and concrete and a ton of asphalt, which is made up of petroleum, have gone up sharply in the last few years," said transportation and environment advocate Greg Smith.

He said there is no way the ICC can stay on budget.

"This makes no sense. We have an opportunity to look at alternatives that cause less destruction to communities and the environment, that use less petroleum. And they'll get more cars off the road."

He pointed to projects like the proposed Metro Purple line between Bethesda and New Carrollton.

"Agencies and environmental and civic groups independently have studied alternatives to the Inter County Connector and other chunks of the Outer Beltway and shown that they actually perform better in terms of commute times and perform better in giving people more choice in terms of transportation."

Montgomery County Councilman Steve Silverman agreed that public transit is critical in the overall plan for the region.

"The fact of the matter is people live in areas that are not accessible to the Metro, and we have to make sure we provide a road system for people to get East-West," Silverman said. "The problem with waiting is we'll end up spending more when the ICC ultimately gets built. Every year there's a delay adds tens of millions of dollars to the price of the road project."

He said those who can commute on public transit are certainly being encouraged to do so.

"In the next ten days, the Montgomery County Council is going to vote on a $2 million transit initiative package that Council Member (Nancy) Florine and I have sponsored. A million will go to transit subsidies to get people off the road, and another million dollars to beef up our free bus service on select Ride On routes, again to get people off the roads."

Smith acknowledged that not everyone can or will give up their cars.

"At least provide the choice and the incentives to undertake those healthier ways of doing things." Smith said. "It is not too late."

He said federal agencies may still reject the Inter County Connector. If they don't, he said opponents plan to take ICC administrators to court.

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