Gov. Larry Hogan, Democrats spar over I-270, Beltway expansion plan

BETHESDA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - In a fiery speech Tuesday, Gov. Larry Hogan revealed the Maryland Board of Public Works will vote Wednesday on a major plan to widen Interstate 270 and the Beltway.

While some applaud the move, others are voicing their opposition to the plan.

Montgomery County's Executive Marc Elrich told FOX 5 he's frustrated with Hogan's tough rhetoric over Interstates 270 and 495.

The Republican governor went at his critics hard on Tuesday, calling those opposing his plans "out-of-touch left-wing politicians."

"We've proposed the only serious solution to this issue," Hogan said. "These politicians have done absolutely nothing for decades and they've done nothing but spread misinformation. They've offered no real solutions."

Hogan has been pushing his plan as a way to ease what he calls "soul-crushing" traffic along I-270, the Beltway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

The public/private partnership known as P3 would contract with a private company to widen the roads and add toll lanes, much like Virginia's side of the Beltway already has.

Democrats in Montgomery and Prince George's counties oppose adding lanes to ease congestion and the cost of tolls for people who can't afford them.

Elrich told FOX 5 his opposition to Hogan's plan isn't "left wing" any more than Hogan's proposal is "right wing."

"They don't understand our planning," Elrich, a Democrat said. "They sure don't understand our congestion. If Hogan thinks he's solving congestion in Montgomery County by focusing on the Beltway alone he's sorely mistaken."

Elrich said his plan was to turn some of the lanes into bus-only lanes and add capacity immediately by eliminating median lanes. On Tuesday, Hogan said his opponents have "done nothing but spread disinformation." The board of public works is set to vote on the matter Wednesday morning in Annapolis.

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