County Council adopts 2025 technical update to Master Plan of Highways and Transitways, removes northern M‑83 and adds limits on using aspirational transit for

The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday adopted the 2025 technical update to the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways, removing the northern section of the long‑unbuilt Mid County Highway extension (M‑83), expanding a corridor study, and adding language to the adoption resolution that limits using ‘‘aspirational’’ transit projects as assumptions in future land‑use and capacity decisions.

The vote to approve the plan as amended was 10–1. Chair Glass moved the adoption; Council member Lukey seconded. Council member Balcom recorded a dissenting vote.

Why it matters: The master plan is the county’s comprehensive inventory of existing and planned roadways and transitways. Removing the northern M‑83 — a project studied for decades but never built — alters what planners may treat as available roadway capacity when reviewing future master plans and development proposals. Council members who supported the change said the update aligns the plan with projects that are realistically being planned, funded or considered by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT); opponents and some Up‑County members said the county must also produce viable alternatives and timely studies for travel and transit needs north of Shady Grove.

Most important facts • Chair Glass opened the council discussion by characterizing the update as ‘‘a comprehensive inventory of significant existing and planned roadways and transitways across Montgomery County.’’ Sofia Aldrich, project manager in the Montgomery Planning Department, told the council the scope included full incorporation of the Complete Streets design guide and the county’s new streets and road classification law and added a new…