Background on the Intercounty Connector
Our transportation system is out of balance with our region's needs. In the past, more roads have brought still more traffic and over-development. Now Gov. Ehrlich is pushing to make matters worse with the ICC, a six-lane, 18-mile highway across Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. The state's own Final Environmental Impact Statement showed no significant congestion relief from the ICC for the Beltway, I-270, or I-95, and increased traffic on many local roads. Costing taxpayers at least $3 billion dollars, including financing, the ICC would severely limit our region's transportation choices and hamper efforts to fund priority transit projects and Metro expansion. The ICC would also cause massive environmental damage, destroying hundreds of acres of parkland, contaminating three major watersheds, and sending toxic runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.

Why Oppose the Inter County Connector?

The ICC costs too much. The proposed ICC would cost at least $3 billion, including financing, which would put serious funding constraints on other regional priorities, especially Metro and other public transit, and divert investment from Prince George's County.
The ICC would not solve our region's traffic problems.
Despite promises by ICC proponents, the state's owns studies have shown the ICC would come in short as a solution to traffic problems in the region.
“an ICC would not be expected to provide relief to the Beltway”-- ICC FEIS, Chapt. IV, page 353
“As expected, the construction of the ICC, under any Build Alternative, would have a negligible impact on freeway operations in the future. I-270 and I-95 are north-south oriented freeways and therefore demand in the future is not expected to be helped by an ICC.” -- ICC FEIS, Chapt. IV, page 380
According to The Washington Post, Fri., Sept. 17, 2004: "State officials have dropped claims that the highway [ICC] would reduce traffic congestion on the Capital Beltway or other major roads." Numerous studies show new highway facilities induce additional traffic, without relieving existing roads.
The ICC would promote sprawl development. It could financially destabilize counties and drain resources away from existing communities. It would destroy dozens of homes and devalue thousands of others.
The ICC would harm the environment. The ICC would destroy some of the region's last and best wetlands and forests with clearcuts across three of the county's major watersheds, and would cross streams 77 times. It would destroy 144 acres of parklands. In its path are threatened and endangered plant species, champion hardwood trees, and fast-disappearing wildlife habitat.
The ICC would undermine efforts to restore the Anacostia River, Potomac River, and Chesapeake Bay. The ICC would further pollute the Chesapeake Bay and the Anacostia by increasing toxic runoff, currently the #1 source of water contamination in the Bay's watershed.

Environmental and Smart Growth Groups Release New Study: ICC Rates as Worst Option, Finds Alternatives Perform Better
Study available online.
A 2005 study of the ICC and alternatives finds four practical, cost-effective options perform better than the Intercounty Connector (ICC) on most measures, including reducing traffic, air pollution and overall cost. The report was conducted by Smart Mobility, Inc., a nationally recognized traffic modeling firm, and was sponsored by regional and national environmental, transportation and smart growth groups.

Learn more: visit www.SaveCommunities.org

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