$250,000 of state funding has been approved for Montgomery County’s Project Connect, which promises a transit-oriented life sciences center at the North Bethesda Metro Station. The grant will be used to assist with public outreach and feedback.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) was awarded $250,000 in funding by the Maryland Department of Transportation to support the development of a mixed-use transit development project in North Bethesda –  Project Connect. The grant will fund community outreach efforts to facilitate public input for the project design. As previously covered on Conduit Street, this massive undertaking is being developed by the County in partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). The anticipated completion date is 2030.

The planned $47M development, is envisioned as a 13.9-acre mixed-use community hub located by the North Bethesda Metro Station. It will include housing, shopping, entertainment, and be anchored by employers of the County’s growing life sciences industry. A major feature is the sites accessibility through public transportation as well as pedestrian and bicycle pathways.

Local leaders highlighted the importance of community engagement as the project moves forward. From Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart:

As we look at improving access to the metro, creating public spaces and improving pedestrian and bike safety, hearing directly from members of our community will be vital to the success of our efforts.

The grant is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund. The fund was established to advance development projects near transit stations that improve safety, spur economic growth and increase connectivity in communities across Maryland. These funds come on the heels of the announcement that the global real-estate company Hines is slated to develop the project.