RECORD GROUP 6: PUBLIC WORKS

AND TRANSPORTATION

1932-2000

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Transportation in Montgomery County was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works until 1972, when the Department of Transportation was formed to handle all transportation and public works activities excluding the management of solid waste. In 1996 the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) was created to bring together the former Department of Transportation with the Department of Facilities and Services and the Division of Solid Waste Services, which had previously been part of the Department of Environmental Protection. DPW&T is responsible for ensuring the safe and convenient movement of persons and vehicles on County roads; planning and coordinating development and construction of County government facilities; operating the traffic system and road network in a safe and efficient manner; and maintaining the County's road system, bridges, storm drains, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, alleys, bikeways, streetlights, traffic signals, and other traffic devices.

PROCESSING PROCEDURES

General processing procedures consisted of discarding duplicates, unnecessary binders, and routine transmittals. Oversized documents and photographs were removed from the original location in their assigned series and placed in separate containers. Separation sheets were inserted in the original location within the folder to indicate the new location of any records placed elsewhere.

PROVENANCE

The collection was culled from various accessions of printed material.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection comprises 4.5 cubic feet of material dating from 1932 to 2000 produced by predecessor departments or component divisions of what is now the Department of Public Works and Transportation. Records also include items generated by unidentified or non-government parties that relate to transportation issues within the County. Materials comprise studies, reports, proposals, policy statements, and surveys relating primarily to traffic and transportation, but also to other public works such as facility construction and renovation.

For further information regarding the disposition of solid waste, also consult the finding aids of Record Group 6, the Department of Environmental Protection.

Records are arranged by DPW&T office or division into nine series:

Series I: Department of Transportation

Series II: Division of Solid Waste Services

Subseries 1: Dickerson

Subseries 2: Monthly Reports

Series III: Facilities and Services

Series IV: Division of Parking

Series V: Division of Transit Services

Subseries 1: Transit Services

Subseries 2: Commuter Services

Series VI: Division of Transportation Engineering

Series VII: Office of Planning and Project Development

Series VIII: Office of Transportation Planning

Series IX: Division of Fleet Management Services.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I: Department of Transportation, 1932-2000 (1.25 cu.ft.)

This series contains materials created by or for the Department of Transportation (DOT) or by predecessor departments. It also includes items relating to County transportation issues and non-government agencies. This series contains studies and reports relating to specific projects, such as 1962 and 1988 to 1992 Bethesda traffic studies, reports on the Silver Spring Transportation System Management District from the early 1990s, environmental analyses of Great Seneca Highway during the 1980s, and a 1983 report from the Citizen's Advisory Committee on the Intercounty Connector. It also contains surveys of County-wide programs and systems, including the 1986 Approved Road Program, regulation of the taxi industry, a 1977 20-year highway needs study, and a 1974 report on County commuter rail facilities. The earliest material contains papers on the construction of bridges across Paint Branch, a 1950 study on rural road problems, and County-enacted road construction code and standard specifications issued in 1950, 1962, and 1967. The series also contains material relating to County facilities, such as a 1968 space utilization study of the County Courthouse, a 1969 Detention Center feasibility study, a program plan of action and transportation management study for the County Government Center, and department newsletters, titled The Works, from 1998 and 2000.

Records are arranged in chronological order and then alphabetically within each year.

Series II: Division of Solid Waste Services, 1995-1999 (2.5 cu.ft.)

The mission of the Solid Waste Services Division is to manage the County's solid waste in an environmentally and economically sound manner through a comprehensive program of detoxification, reduction, reuse, and recycling. The Operations Section oversees the Shady Grove transfer station, recycling center, the closed Gude and Oaks landfills, the resource recovery and composting facilities at Dickerson, the leasing of Site 2 properties, and the contract for out-of-County haul of waste. The Planning Section operates the facilities at Dickerson and commercial recycling programs, interacts with citizen committees and the public in general, and produces the monthly and annual reports. The Collections Section contracts with private companies for the collection of waste in the down-County area, and oversees inspection, enforcement, and the handling of complaints.

The series is divided into two subseries: Dickerson and Monthly Reports.

Subseries 1: Dickerson, 1995-1997 (2.5 cu.ft.)

Responsibility for the management of solid waste disposal was transferred from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Division of Solid Waste Services in July 1995. This subseries contains environmental monitoring reports for the resource recovery facility and the facilities master plan for solid waste operations in the Dickerson area.

The subseries is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.

Subseries 2: Monthly Reports, 1996-1999 (4 folders)

This subseries consists of the monthly reports from the Division. Records are arranged in chronological order.

Series III: Facilities and Services, 1984-1987 (0.25 cu.ft.)

The mission of the Division of Facilities and Services is to provide facilities and supporting services to all departments of the County government and to preserve the County's capital investment in buildings and equipment. Specific services include security, parking management for County-owned or operated facilities, leasing, building maintenance, food service, recycling, engineering and capital projects management, space utilization support, and printing and mail processing. The series contains phone directories from the 1980s, and 1985 energy conservation guidelines for architectural/engineering technical services.

Materials are arranged in chronological order and then alphabetically within each year.

Series IV: Division of Parking, 1983 (1 folder)

The Division of Parking is responsible for supporting the comprehensive development of the Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton, and Montgomery Hills Central Business Districts and promoting their economic growth and stability by supplying a sufficient number of parking spaces; promoting and complementing a total transportation system through a balance of rates and parking supply to encourage the use of efficient and economical transportation; and developing and implementing parking management strategies to enhance the economic development of the Central Business Districts.

This series consists of a 1983 parking needs study for Silver Spring.

Series V: Division of Transit Services, 1993-1996 (4 folders)

The mission of the Division of Transit Services is to provide an effective mix of public transportation services in the County. The Division oversees the Ride-on, paratransit, and commuter services programs, and licenses and inspects the taxi industry.

This series is divided into two suberies, Transit Services and Commuter Services, which is one of its components.

Subseries 1: Transit Services, 1993 (2 folders)

The subseries consists of the final report of the North Bethesda Transportation Management District Task Force as well as a report on long range transit plans from 1993.

Subseries 2: Commuter Services, 1995-1996 (2 folders)

This section was created in January 1992, during a reorganization of the Department. Originally called Management of Alternative Transportation Services/MATS, it comprised the former Ride-Sharing Unit and the Silver Spring Transportation System Management District (TSMD).

The TSMD was established in 1987 and began operating in May 1988. Its purpose was to address insufficient transportation infrastructure, traffic congestion, poor pedestrian access, and safety concerns that were identified as restraining the further economic revitalization of Silver Spring. The TSMD was originally part of the Director's office. It is supported by a twelve member Advisory Committee, whose members represent local businesses and the surrounding areas.

The County Council formulated four goals for the TSMD in order to manage development in the Silver Spring Central Business District: increase transportation capacity, reduce traffic congestion, reduce air and noise pollution, and promote traffic safety and pedestrian access. The County sought to facilitate further economic development in this district by managing the transportation system through planned capital improvement projects and implementing policies and services that would constrain the demand for auto use while encouraging the use of commuting alternatives. Reducing the demand for road capacity was also expected to assist in achieving the goals set by the Council. The TSMD has created a partnership with downtown businesses through the implementation of individual traffic mitigation plans, on-site promotions, and annual commuter surveys. It has also utilized a series of transportation demand management strategies that include financial incentives that encourage the use of mass transit and high occupancy vehicles and provide disincentives for single occupancy vehicles. These strategies include fare subsidies, carpool discounts, and special parking charges.

This subseries contains the District's annual reports for FYs 1994 and 1995. Council legislation establishing the District specified numerical objectives to measure success in meeting certain goals. Therefore each report contains data on such items as employee commute patterns and auto occupancy rates by employer, intersection level of service ratings, parking supply and utilization, status of road and intersection improvements, transit availability and use, and carpooling and vanpooling use.

The reports are in chronological order.

Series VI: Division of Transportation Engineering, 1987-1989 (3 folders)

This series consists of the 1987 to 1989 Approved Road Program, which was established to determine road capacity under the County's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances in order to identify roads that could be considered for a local area review. The 1986 Approved Road Program and those from the 1990s can be found in Series I, Department of Transportation.

The programs are in chronological order.

Series VII: Office of Planning and Project Development, 1986-1996 (0.2 cu.ft.)

This series contains feasibility studies and project prospecti for specific projects, such as an east-west transitway, Muncaster Road, a US Route 29 busway, and a Germantown Transit Center. It also includes a 1995 Strategic Highway Plan.

Folders are arranged in chronological order and then alphabetically within each year.

Series VIII: Office of Transportation Planning, 1975-1984 (0.3 cu.ft.)

Reports and studies in this series include a bikeways plan, a 1978 transportation resources analysis, and transportation policies and action plans from 1983 and 1984. The series also contains assessments of Muddy Branch Road and Great Seneca Highway.

Records are arranged in chronological order and then alphabetically within each year.

Series IX: Division of Fleet Management Services, 1996-1998 (3 folders)

The objectives of the Division of Fleet Management Services (DFMS) are to plan for, acquire, and maintain the County motor vehicle, equipment, and transit fleet in support of the transportation and construction equipment requirements of all County agencies and the County Ride-On system. In addition, the Division acts as a coordinating agency on all technical and administrative matters pertaining to equipment and related transportation needs.

The Division underwent a reorganization and name change in FY 1996, and is now organized into the Office of the Division Chief and two sections. The Office of the Division Chief is responsible for the overall administration of the Division, including personnel management, planning activities, and policy development and enforcement. The Management Services Section administers and manages the automation systems, vehicle parts, fuel, budgetary, financial, and contractual activities of the Division. It is also responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, and disposition of the County's automotive fleet. The Fleet Services Section provides for the administration, maintenance, and repair of heavy equipment and machinery and the maintenance of County transit coaches and paratransit mini-buses. The Division operates repair facilities; acts as lead agency with regard to equipment, technology and energy-related areas; and provides central oversight for petroleum management for the County.

This series consists of three annual reports from 1996 through 1998 arranged in chronological order.

Box 1

Series I: Department of Transportation

History and Construction of the Bridge Across Paint Branch on Columbia Pike in Montgomery

County, Maryland, 1932

History and Construction of Paint Branch Gorge Bridge, Montgomery County, Maryland, 1935

Local Rural Road Problems in Maryland, Bulletin A-59, 1950

Montgomery County Road Construction Code and Standard Specifications, 1950

Road Classification Plan for the Upper Montgomery County Planning District, 1956

Montgomery County Road Construction Code and Standard Specifications, 1962

Traffic Study Bethesda, 1962

Montgomery County Construction Code and Standard Specifications, 1967

Interstate Route 70-S Maryland Traffic Corridor (Montgomery and Frederick Counties), Draft,

1968

Space Utilization Study of the Montgomery County Courthouse, 1968

Detention Center Feasibility Study, 1969

Contract 3827-C Site Preparation Central Sanitary Landfill Part II Specifications for Site Work and Structures, 1972

Program Plan for Action, County Government Complex, 1973

Traffic Impact Analysis of Proposed Landfill Sites, 1973

Commuter Rail Facilities in Montgomery County, Background Report, 1974

Silver Spring Metro Station, Interim Access Study, 1975

Montgomery, 1979-1998, Twenty Year Highway Needs Study, 1977

Comprehensive Staging Plan, Draft, 1979

Transportation Management Study for the County Government Center, 1979

Interim Alternates Report, Volume I, Project Planning Studies for Great Seneca Highway from

Middlebrook Road to Maryland Route 28, 1980

Final Environmental Statement/6(f) Evaluation: Great Seneca Highway, Montgomery County,

Maryland, Volume 2, 1983

Report of the Citizen's Advisory Committee on the Intercounty Connector/Rockville Facility,

1983

Traffic Analyses Associated with Phasing of Washingtonian Center Zoning Application No. G-

439, 1985

Approved Road Program, 1986

Final Environmental Statement/6(f) Evaluation: Great Seneca Highway, Volume 1, 1986

Final Report: A Comparison of Entry Regulation in the Taxicab Industry in Counties

Demographically Similar to Montgomery County, Maryland, 1986

Ready Reference, 1986

Montgomery VillageAvenue Traffic Forecast and Assessment, 1988

North Bethesda Traffic Mitigation Study, Final Report (2 folders), 1988

Silver Spring Transportation Management District Annual Report, 1988

Storm Drain Design Criteria, 1988

Preliminary Engineering and Planning Services for Bikeways and Trails, 1989

Proposal for a Rural Rustic Roads Program, 1990

Silver Spring Transportation System Management District FY90 Annual Report, 1990

Environmental Documentation Report: Proposed Germantown-Montgomery Village Connector (M-83), Executive Summary, 1991

North Bethesda Transitway Feasibility Study, Final Report (2 folders), 1991

Silver Spring Transportation System Management District FY 91 Annual Report, 1991

Box 2

Approved Road Program, 1992

North Bethesda Transitway Study, Final Report, 1992

Silver Spring Transportation System Management District FY 92 Annual Report, 1992

Annual Report: Journey to Excellence, 1993

Approved Road Program, 1993

Approved Road Program, 1994

Intercounty Connector Study, Preliminary Needs Assessment, Draft, 1994

Approved Road Program, January 1995

Approved Road Program, July 1995

Annual Report Silver Spring Transportation System Management District

Fiscal Year 1995, 1996

Fiscal Year 1996, [1997]

(The) Works, 1998

(The) Works, 1999

(The) Works, 2000

Series II: Division of Solid Waste Services

Subseries 1: Dickerson

Ogden Martin Systems Environmental Test Report

Ash Sampling and Analysis Results, 1995

Volume 1: CEMS Performance Specification Test Report (folder 1 of 2), 1995

Box 3

Volume 1: CEMS Performance Specification Test Report (folder 2 of 2), 1995

Volume 2 : Clean Air Engineering Report on Compliance Testing, 1995

Part 1-B (3 folders), 1995

Part 2 (2 folders), 1995

Part 3 (3 folders), 1995

Part 4, 1995

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Acceptance Test Reports for the Performance Standards and Performance Tests (2 folders), 1995

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Acceptance Test Report Appendix: Supporting Data and Test Logs

Volume 1 (4 folders), 1995

Volume 2 (2 folders), 1995

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility Monthly Operations and Emissions Report, November-December, 1995

Summary of the Final Report on Multimedia Environmental Monitoring Program for the Pre- operational Phase of the Montgomery County Solid Waste Resource Recovery Facility near Dickerson, Maryland, 1995

Box 4

Environmental Test Report: Entropy Inc. Report on Compliance Testing Volume 2, Part 1, 1996

Facilities Master Plan for the Solid Waste Operations in the Dickerson Area Draft, 1996

Facilities Master Plan for the Solid Waste Operations in the Dickerson Area, Appendices, Draft (4 folders), 1996

Box 5

Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility Quarterly Discharge Monitoring Report, 1996

Notice of Final Determination and Opportunity to Request a Contested Case Hearing, Report of Findings, Final Permit, Tentative Draft Permit, 1996

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Operations and Maintenance Plan, Dickerson Massburn Facility, 1996

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility

Addendum to Monthly Operations and Emissions Report for Montgomery County DOT, April-June 1996

Addendum to Monthly Operations and Emissions Report for Montgomery County DOT, June 1996

Fourth Quarter 1995 Ash Characterization Report, 1996

Monthly Operations and Emissions Report

January-April, 1996

May-June, 1996

August-September, 1996

October 1996

November 1996

Quarterly Operations and Emissions Report

Fourth Quarter, 1996

Summary Reports on December 1995-August 1996 Quarterly Tests Conducted for the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility, 1996

Facilities Master Plan for the Solid Waste Operations in the Dickerson Area, 1997

Final Report on Ambient Air Toxics Monitoring for the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility near Dickerson, Maryland

Part 1: Organic Compounds, February 1994-February 1995

Volume 2 of 5, Appendices (2 folders), 1997

Volume 4 of 5, Appendices (2 folders), 1997

Volume 5 of 5, Appendices, 1997

Part 2: Trace Metal, February 1994-February 1995, Volume 2 of 2, Appendices (4 folders), 1997

Final Report on Ambient Air Toxics Monitoring for the Pre-operational Phase of the Montgomery County Solid Waste Resource Recovery Facility near Dickerson, Maryland, Part 2: Trace Metals, 1997

Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR), 1997

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility Quarterly Operations and Emissions Report First Quarter, 1997

Box 6

Second Quarter, 1997

Third Quarter, 1997

Summary Reports on the November 1996-May 1997 Quarterly Tests and Continuous Emissions Monitoring (CEM) System for Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility, 1997

Environmental Test Reports Vol. I: Executive Summary, April-October 1998

Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility 1997 Emissions Certification Report, 1998

Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility Fourth Quarter 1997 Discharge Monitoring Report, 1998

Ogden Martin Systems Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility Quarterly Operations and Emissions Report, 2^nd Quarter 1998, 1998

Summary Report of the November 1997 Quarterly Stack Tests Conducted for the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility, 1998

Updated Dispersion and Deposition Modeling Analysis for the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility, Dickerson, Maryland (Draft), 1999

Subseries 2: Monthly Reports

Monthly Report

1996

1997

1998

1999

Box 7

Series III: Facilities and Services

Detention Center Feasibility Study, 1969

Phone Directory, 1984

Energy Conservation Guidelines for A/E Technical Services, 1985

Phone Directory, 1987

Procedure Manual for Printing, 1990

Customer Service Survey - Summary and Recommendations - COB Cafeteria, [1993]

Series IV: Division of Parking

Silver Spring Sector VII Parking Needs Study, Phase D - Final Report, 1983

Series V: Division of Transit Services

Series 1: Transit Services

Final Report of the North Bethesda Transportation Management District Task Force, 1993

Transit Services: Long Range Transit Plan, 1993

Series 2: Commuter Services

Silver Spring Transportation System Management District Annual Report FY 1994, 1995

Silver Spring Transportation System Management District Annual Report FY 1995, 1996

Box 8

Series VI: Division of Transportation Engineering

Approved Road Program

1986

1987

1988

1989

Series VII: Office of Planning and Program Development

East-West Transitway Feasibility Study, 1986

Germantown Transit Center Project Prospectus, 1994

Muncaster Road Project Prospectus, 1994

Strategic Highway Plan, 1995

US 29 Busway Feasibility Study, 1996

Series VIII: Office of Transportation Planning

Montgomery County in Motion, A Short Range Bikeways Plan, Final Draft, c.1975

Transportation Resources Analysis Study for Montgomery County, Maryland, 1978

Box 9

Environmental Assessment for Muddy Branch Road from MD Route 28 to MD Route 355, 1981

Findings of No Significant Impact for Muddy Branch Road from MD Route 28 to MD Route 355, 1982

Draft Environmental Statement/Section 4(f) Involvement: Great Seneca Highway Corridor Study, 1983

Transportation Policy, Action Plan and Background, Executive Statement, 1983

Transportation Policy for Montgomery County, Staff Draft, 1983

Transportation Policy, Action Plan and Background, Executive Statement, 1984

Series IX: Division of Fleet Management Services

Annual Report, 1996

Annual Report, 1997

Annual Report, 1998