'Science City' Approved by Montgomery County

Well, it looks the City of Tomorrow was approved yesterday. The county has finally given the green light to JHU development program. The CCT will feature prominently in the 'Science City' and is mentioned in Nancy Floreen's blog.

"Most of the new development cannot proceed until funding is obtained for the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT). The CCT would be either a light rail or bus rapid transitway transportation system extending from the Shady Grove Metro Station to Clarksburg."

and

"The new community would be chiefly served by I-270 and the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT), which would be either a light rail or Bus Rapid Transit extension from the Shady Grove Metrorail Station. The plan calls for the Urban Square at the CCT station to be “a hub of daily activity with space for special events and gatherings, as well as some community retail for the convenience of CCT riders, workers and area residents.”"

I do really wish that they wouldn't mention the BRT alternate. I dislike it so much, and I don't even want to admit that it is still a consideration.

More coverage at:
WTOP - Science City planned off Shady Grove

"The county wants to see a proposed light-rail or light-bus transit system connect "Science City" to the Shady Grove Metro station."

Washington Examiner - County aproves 'Science City' campus

"Key to the plan is a proposed light-rail or light-bus transit system that would connect Science City to the Shady Grove Metro station"

Washington Post - Montgomery County gives go head for 'Science City'

"This creates the market and the density that the Corridor Cities Transitway needs," said Montgomery Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson, whose staff devised much of the plan approved by the council. The "science city" could triple the number of jobs in the area west of Interstate 270 to at least 60,000, many of them high-paying. The development also will include retail and 9,000 housing units.

The transitway would link the Shady Grove Station on Metro's Red Line with the science city and run north, ending a few miles south of Clarksburg.

Without the additional riders, the light-rail line endorsed by the County Council would be too costly to compete for federal money. The allocation of federal transit funds is based largely on whether transit projects save enough passengers enough time to justify the federal investment."

I just wish that there was a construction or completion requirement for the CCT rather than just a "funding commitment" to start the 'Science City'. Oh well, time will tell. It's only 2010 you know, we still have years to go on this one.