Henry Wixon, President

January 18, 2005

Mr. Wesley Mitchell
Project Manager, Intercounty Connector
Mail Stop C-301
Project Planning Division
Maryland State Highway Administration,
707 North Calvert Street,
Baltimore Maryland 21202

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

The Glenn Dale Citizens Association takes no position on whether the Intercounty Connector should be built. The proposed highway would have both beneficial and detrimental impacts, and different people in our community see those factors differently.

We do believe, however, that if the ICC is built, it should include a continuous bike path along most of the right-of-way, in excess of the 7.7 miles currently proposed. We understand that environmental factors may make it difficult to build the entire 18-mile trail envisioned in the master plan, but we see no valid reason why the bike trail could not cross Interstate 95, US-29, New Hampshire, or Georgia Avenues.

Therefore, the next version of the environmental impact statement should consider a trail along the entire ICC right-of-way except for the environmentally sensitive areas.

Yours truly

Henry Wixon
President.

January 18, 2005

Senator Leo E. Greene
Miller Senate Office Building, 2 East Wing
11 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991

Dear Senator Greene:

The Glenn Dale Citizens Association takes no position on whether the Intercounty Connector should be built. The proposed highway would have both beneficial and detrimental impacts, and different people in our community see those factors differently.

We do believe, however, that if the ICC is built, it should include a continuous bike path along most of the right-of-way, instead of the current proposal for five short, unconnected trails along the ICC with a combined length of 7.7 miles. People in our area are increasingly appreciating the usefulness of bicycle trails for recreation, exercise, and non-polluting transportation. Although a trail along a highway may, at first glance, not strike you as a major community asset, the W&OD/Martha Custis Trail along I-66 from Falls Church to Rosslyn is extremely popular and has become a major transportation route for bicycle commuting. People in the Bowie/Glenn Dale area are certain to use the ICC trail, if it is built. Environmental factors may make it difficult to build the trail in two parts along Paint Branch and Northwest Branch. But aside from those two areas, we see no valid reason why the rest of the trail can not be built as anticipated in the master plan.

We understand that you are opposed to the ICC. We do hope, however, that you will support any amendments to fund the bike path, even if you ultimately vote against the ICC itself.

Sincerely,

Henry Wixon
President