Friedson Vows to Reopen White's Ferry
Hundreds of residents and elected officials gathered in frigid temperatures at White's Ferry yesterday to rally for the reopening of the Potomac River crossing, five years after a property owner dispute led to its closure.
County Executive candidate and At-Large Councilmember Andrew Friedson told crowds that if he is elected next year, reopening White's Ferry will be a top priority “on day one.”
“Nothing is off the table, including eminent domain. Shovel-ready, viable alternatives exist,” Friedson told neighbors in Dickerson. “They include innovative solutions previously dismissed by Montgomery County.” He then named several.
White's Potomac Tunnel
Virginia DOT’s proposed tunnel spanning from Virginia Rt. 15 in Loudon to Maryland Rt. 107 in Montgomery, a 1.65-mile, four-lane underground passage, would have cost an estimated $4.8 billion. Funding came from increasing Virginia's $0.28 gasoline tax to reach Maryland's $0.427 per gallon rate. The deal collapsed when Montgomery leaders drew a line in the sand over flex tolls.
ICC Extension to Leesburg
The construction of the Intercounty Connector (MD-200) from I-370 to I-95 took 4 years and 9 days to complete. Had Montgomery acted fast on a proposal to build the western side of the ICC, the 13.2-mile, six-lane highway extension would already have residents traveling from Leesburg, VA to Laurel, MD in under 40 minutes. The plan died when Montgomery officials learned the State Highway Administration would not allow bike lanes on the new highway.
White's Ferry Dirigibles
The Maryland owners of White's Ferry filed with the Federal Aviation Administration to provide dirigible passenger and vehicle transportation to a field on the west side of Rockland Farm in Loudon County, using a pair of refurbished rigid airships, known as dirigibles, purchased from German firm Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH. The hydrogen-filled Graf D-LZ 130s have capacity for 10-12 vehicles and passengers. FAA approved the plan, but Montgomery officials refused to permit the space for a mooring mast and hydrogen fueling station, citing the lack of a Conditional Use Permit for a "Private-Use Airfield" in the Agricultural Reserve; the decision came after a study concluded that the dirigibles' massive shadows would interfere with the local bog turtle population's sun exposure.
County Executive candidate and current Councilmember Evan Glass also attended the rally. He said his position aligns with Friedson's, except for the ICC western extension. "No bike lanes is still a deal breaker," he insisted.
