Home  Blog County Council TV debate includes tunnel discussion
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County Council TV debate includes tunnel discussion |
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From Forest Estates resident Adam Pagnucco:
"Newstalk 8 had a debate today between Valerie Ervin and Hans Riemer,
the two Democratic candidates running for our county council
district. The debate took place at 4 PM and will replay tonight at
11 PM (on News Channel 8). I called into the show and asked about
the Georgia Avenue tunnel and the metro station development. I taped
the show and transcribed their responses. Following is my transcript
of what they said - Adam Pagnucco"
Adam from Silver Spring: Thank you for taking my call. You know, I
live near the Georgia Avenue and Forest Glen intersection. My
neighborhood is Forest Estates. And that intersection has a metro
station and it was also named as the most congested intersection in
all of Montgomery County. It's very dangerous. We've had a lot of
accidents there. My neighbors and I are trying to get a tunnel put
under Georgia Avenue so we can cross over to the metro station
safely. At the same time, the Metro Authority is proposing a new
housing development on top of the metro station. There will be about
200 units there, and this is despite the congestion that we've got
and the fact that our local elementary school has 7 trailers on it
already. So my question is to both candidates. What is your
position on funding the tunnel and improving the congestion at that
intersection? And what is your position on building new housing on
top of that station at that intersection?
Bruce DuPuyt, News Channel 8, Moderator: Sorry to interrupt. I used
to take that metro station all the time, and boy, do you take your
life into your hands when you attempt to cross at that exact spot.
Thank you for raising those important issues. We'll begin with you,
Ms. Ervin.
Valerie Ervin, Candidate for County Council: This is a constant
concern among residents in District 5 about the dangers of this
pedestrian safety issue, and especially at this particular
intersection.
DuPuyt: Georgia and Forest Glen.
Ervin: Georgia and Forest Glen. This gentleman is asking a very
good question because the way that Montgomery County has done its
planning is to focus density around Metro. Unfortunately, what we're
seeing now is so much density around Metro that there must be some
place where we can cut off as we're counting the numbers of new
housing developments going in around Metro. I see it as a big
concern and I would like to support A) the tunnel under Georgia
Avenue, and B) either a moratorium or some sort of a tax to keep, to
make sure that the development doesn't go way overboard. And a lot
of people think that that's what the case is.
DuPuyt: Same two-part question for you, Mr. Riemer, in terms of the
tunnel and the development.
Hans Riemer, Candidate for County Council: I've been a big advocate
for the tunnel. I've had to cross that intersection many times and
I've actually been out helping to support the community and
advocating for that tunnel. It would cost about 8 to 10 million
dollars. I think it would be a good expenditure for the state.
What's needed from the council member is coordinating between the
state agencies, the school system, obviously the county government to
secure the funding for it and push it through. Regarding the
development there, it's important that… Now, this is WMATA's
property, so it could be hard to stop. But should it go forward,
it's important that it help benefit the community overall. And that
means perhaps the money could be brought from that development into
constructing the tunnel and make sure that any impact on the schools
or the roads are mitigated. And the council member has to fight to
make sure that's the case. |
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