University Boulevard Corridor Plan
Report Summary: University Boulevard is home to an ethnically and economically diverse population and supports various residential, institutional, and commercial uses, including several prominent diverse retailers that often serve as community anchors and social support networks for foreign-born populations, religious communities and organizations, and communities of color. Panel tours the site with Montgomery County staff. The full University Boulevard corridor is a 12-mile stretch of road, of which a 3.4 mile stretch was selected for the Panel to review. This corridor faces the challenge of low density uses combined with high-speed, high-volume traffic.
The Montgomery County Planning Department convened a two-day Technical Assistance Panel with the overall goal of addressing community needs as they pertain to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The Panel was asked to explore potential opportunities for new infill development, bikeways, future bus rapid transit (BRT), and the potential for creating a “complete street” – a boulevard with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops and safe access.
The TAP Panelists listened to all the stakeholder concerns and spent time discussing some of the best ways forward, taking into account traffic patterns and potential economic development of the surrounding community, and the Panelists’ own professional expertise The Panel’s recommendations focused on ways to improve the quality of life for neighborhoods along the corridor (and enhancing property values) by improving the walkability, attractiveness, and safety of the area:. The goals included ways to beautify the adjacent areas with street trees, lighting and attractive Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) stations, making the transportation network safer for pedestrians, bikers and drivers, and accommodating growth and adding to the housing supply while substantially enhancing residents' ability to access and enjoy neighborhood amenities.