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Council members press to restore Summit Avenue extension to county CIP
Summary
Committee members urged reinstating the shovel-ready Summit Avenue extension in Kensington after the County Executive recommended deferring the $31.4 million project beyond 2030 to free bond capacity. County staff said the executive cited land-acquisition costs and uncertain redevelopment readiness as key reasons for the deferral.
Members of the Montgomery County Transportation and Environment Committee on March 3 urged restoring the Summit Avenue extension in Kensington to the FY25-30 capital improvements program after the County Executive proposed delaying the $31,400,000 project beyond 2030 to create bond capacity.
District Council member (unnamed in the transcript) told the committee the Town of Kensington and local stakeholders had prepared the project and that the town had offered land appraised at $500,000 to support redevelopment. "I think it's time for us to move forward with this project," the district council member said, recommending the committee reconsider putting Summit Avenue back into the six-year CIP.
Chair opened the discussion noting frustration that the project has been deferred repeatedly, calling the situation "Groundhog Day" and saying the project is one of the few shovel-ready items that meets housing and economic-development goals. Several council members echoed that the project would foster walkable neighborhood connections and create affordable-housing opportunities identified by the town and planning board.
Director Conklin, representing Montgomery County Department of Transportation, said the Executive's principal concerns were the project's sizable bond capacity and the high proportion of costs attributable to land acquisition. "All of that being said, the principal reason is the $31,000,000 of bond capacity here," Conklin stated, and added that the administration did not view the redevelopment opportunity as sufficiently "ripe" to justify county-funded acquisition at this time.
Conklin also explained that if an active redevelopment partner assembles parcels and dedicates right-of-way through the planning/entitlement process, the county could avoid full acquisition costs. Council members countered that without keeping the project in the CIP the county risks losing momentum and the town's commitments.
After debate the District Council member formally recommended the committee reconsider restoring Summit Avenue to the CIP; the chair signaled support and the committee moved on without a formal roll-call vote recorded in the transcript.
The committee did not adopt a binding change during the session; members said they would continue discussions with the administration and the Town of Kensington about financing options and development partnerships.
