Baltimore-Washington Parkway Widening Feasibility Study

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Baltimore-Washington Parkway Widening Feasibility StudyEnvironmental Effectsoverall image of the facility. The No-Build scenario would have no direct park property impacts.However, B-W Parkway users would likely be affected by worsening traffic conditions over time.The B-W Parkway provides a park setting to welcome visitors and locals alike to the Nation’s capital, butno real opportunities for visitors to stop and experience the park. The B-W Parkway not only connectsthe two large tourist destinations of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland, the corridor alsocontains many attractions itself. The corridor is home to the Patapsco Valley State Park, Greenbelt Park,and environmental research facilities including BARC and the Patuxent Research Refuge. None of thefour build options under consideration are expected to substantively change the transportation role ofthe B-W Parkway.68 November 2012
Baltimore-Washington Parkway Widening Feasibility StudyOwnership and Management8.0OwnershipandManagementManagement and ownership of the B-W Parkway is divided between the NPS and the Maryland SHA.The Maryland SHA owns and operates the northern 10-mile section of the Parkway between I-695 andMD 175. The NPS owns and operates the southern 19-mile stretch of the Parkway between MD 175 andNew York Avenue/U.S. Route 50 and the boundary with the District of Columbia. If it is determined thatthe B-W Parkway can be widened to three lanes in each direction along the entire corridor, then aquestion of ownership and management of the parkway would arise. An issue of impairment wouldneed to be determined by the NPS in order to establish resulting ownership and management.8.1PotentialTransferofOwnershipThere are implications associated with adding a third lane in each direction to the B-W Parkway thatmay affect the ability of the NPS to operate and maintain the corridor within its current legislatedmandate. According to the NPS legislation, critical resources must be conserved “…in such manner andby such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” 7The potential impact of such a major change in the physical and aesthetic characteristics, and historical,and cultural integrity of the B-W Parkway due to widening requires an impairments analysis to beconducted by the NPS. If a determination of impairment is made, this would prevent the NPS fromimplementing any widening proposals. If the National Park Service was directed to move forward, then afederally legislated transfer of ownership and management of the NPS section of the Parkway wouldneed to be pursued. Currently, the NPS does not have an agreement in place with any State or Federalagency other than the District of Columbia that would dictate the process by which a transfer, or anexchange, of park land would be undertaken. There would thus be additional time needed for thedevelopment of such an agreement. Congressional oversight may not be needed for the actual transferbut may be needed to remove the B-W Parkway from the National Park System. As such, this effortwould involve planning and development from the Director of the National Park Service and theSecretary of the Interior prior to any discussion of transfer or exchange of this magnitude. However,considering the short-term and long-term costs of widening the Parkway, the State of Maryland wouldneed to appropriately assess their willingness to assume ownership and maintenance of the NPS sectionof the B-W Parkway.8.2ImpairmentAccording to the NPS Directors Order-12 (DO-12) and their Management Policies of 2006, the issue ofimpairment would arise. The NPS would need to make a determination if the potential widening of theB-W Parkway would impair the park’s resources and values. The Management Policies of 2006 providesthe following definition of impairment.7 Public Law 643 – 81st Congress, Chapter 525 – 2D Session, H.R. 599069 November 2012
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