November 14 1996

Ms. Philomena S. Hefter
5595 Pageland Lane
Gainsville VA 20155

Dear Ms. Hefter:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the Virginia Department of Transportation´s Western Transportation Corridor Study. Although we have followed what has happened during the course of the study, we have not formally participated in or commented on the study because it is entirely located within Virginia.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) continues to remain opposed to any new crossing of the Potomac River east of the immediate vicinity of Point of Rocks. MDOT Secretary David Winstead reaffirmed that in a letter to Virginia DOT Secretary Robert Martinez in a letter last year (copy enclosed). Both Montgomery and Frederick counties in Maryland also remain unalterably opposed to a new Potomac River crossing east of the immediate vicinity of Point of Rocks. A new highway crossing east of the Point of Rocks area would be inconsistent with the general plans of both counties which call for low density agricultural and open space land use. The State of Maryland and both counties are unwilling to accept the direct and secondary environmental impacts of such a facility. We have receive the assurances of Virgina DOT officials that a new highway crossing between eastern Loudoun County and Montgomery County and/or Frederick County is not planned and will not be considered in the context of the Western Transportation Corridor Study.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify our position on this issue. Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions regarding our position on this matter.

Very truly yours,

Neil J. Pedersen, Director
Office of Planning and
Preliminary Engineering

Enclosure
cc: Mr. Ken Lantz (w/incoming)
Secretary Robert Martinez (w/incoming)

My telephone number is (410) 545-0411
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 717, Baltimore, MD 21203-0717
Street Address: 707 North Calvert Street, Baltimore MD


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