Rockville, MD – Today Senators Ben Cardin, Barbara A. Mikulski, and Congressman Chris Van Hollen, (all D-MD) announced the Defense Department will release $18.3 million to the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration (SHA) to improve access to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda.
Maryland SHA will manage a $23.1 million project, consisting of $18.3 million grant funds and other funding of $4.8 million, to construct the Maryland Route 185 (Connecticut Avenue) and Jones Bridge Road/Kensington Parkway intersection improvement project. The project improves transportation access to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. Today’s announcement is the second of four grants expected to be awarded to the state of Maryland for traffic-mitigation issues surrounding the new Walter Reed.
“This additional funding will make a difference for the thousands of wounded warriors and their families who will use the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, as well as Montgomery County’s beleaguered commuters,” said Senator Cardin. “As a delegation, we have been united in our efforts to ensure federal support for the expanded medical facility and the tens of thousands of new military and civilian jobs being brought to our state through the BRAC process. I am pleased that we will be able to provide much-needed road upgrades to improve safety and reduce BRAC-related congestion.”
“I fought in the Senate to BRAC-proof Maryland’s bases, now I am working to BRAC-ready our transportation systems. Our troops fight overseas to protect our freedom, they shouldn’t have to fight traffic to get the care they’ve earned when they get back,” said Senator Mikulski, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds the Department of Defense. “The Walter Reed National Military Center at Bethesda will be the frontline in delivering care to our wounded warriors. I am proud to partner with my Team Maryland colleagues to make BRAC a success and secure the federal funding needed to meet the increased demands on our community.”
“Our community is proud to be the home of the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In order to make sure it is a world-class center of excellence for our veterans, we must ensure patients, families, and base personnel are able to access the facility. We must also reduce BRAC-related congestion in the surrounding community,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “This funding will help do just that. It’s a win-win for everyone and key to making a successful transition at the new Walter Reed.”
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