MD 4 Corridor Study
Location: Calvert & St. Mary's Counties, Maryland
Client: Maryland State Highway Administration
JMT performed a Stage I, II, and III project planning study to
analyze the potential traffic and environmental impacts of widening
a roadway corridor.
The client requested that JMT undertake a corridor planning
study of MD 4 from the MD 2/4 split in Calvert County to MD 235 in
St. Mary's County. The study would analyze options to improve
existing traffic capacity and traffic operations, to increase
vehicular and pedestrian safety, and to support existing and
planned development in the area. Through this corridor, MD 4
was two lanes wide and included the 7,000 foot long Thomas Johnson
Memorial Bridge over the Patuxent River. Adding to the
criticality of the study was a major increase in personnel at the
nearby Patuxent Naval Air Station as a result of Department of
Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) shifts.
JMT provided complete environmental and engineering services to
complete Stages I, II, and III of the project planning study for
the potential improvements of MD 4, including the Thomas Johnson
Memorial Bridge. We also developed several at-grade and grade
separated alternatives for the MD 4/MD 235 intersection.
JMT's environmental staff completed an Environmental Assessment
involving comparison and analysis of impacts to wetlands; forests;
streams; Rare, Threatened & Endangered species; Section 4(f)
resources; cultural resources; air quality; noise analysis and
mitigation; and socioeconomic resources. We coordinated
closely with resource agencies to ensure concurrence on project
documentation as we developed a Conceptual Mitigation Plan for
natural environmental impacts associated with potential
improvements and completed a FONSI.
JMT's traffic engineers performed a range of services, including
travel demand forecasts, calculation of existing average daily
traffic and peak hour volumes, completion of traffic counts to
supplement client data, and development of no-build and build
traffic projections based on the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Government's TP+ model. We analyzed unconventional
intersection and interchange designs using VISSIM and SYNCHRO
simulation models. Transportation management plans were
prepared to address work zone construction issues.
The proposed alternatives were presented, along with the
environmental documentation, at public meetings, workshops and
hearings.
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