Montgomery Parks is expected to begin construction on a controversial permanent reconfiguration of Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue this week. The project, expected to be finished by early December, reduces the existing four-lane road to two lanes and adds a new protected shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.
Approved by the Montgomery County Council in January 2024, the $1.7 million project will convert one of the former southbound lanes into a bike and pedestrian path and install a grassy median. The plan also includes the removal of unused pavement. While the Capital Crescent Trail and the Parkway will remain open during construction, the project has faced sharp criticism from nearby residents who came out to protest this past Monday morning, 9/29, during rush hour.
Protestors argue that the reconfiguration is unnecessary, duplicative, and a poor use of public money—particularly given the proximity of the Capital Crescent Trail, a popular and fully separated route already serving cyclists and pedestrians. At a cost of roughly $4.25 million per mile, critics say the project fails to deliver enough value for its price.
“There’s simply no need to duplicate what the Capital Crescent Trail already offers,” said Irv Lieberman, a long-term Bethesda resident. “It’s a waste of taxpayer money and will only add to traffic congestion.”
Lieberman has taken his message public—literally. This week, he was seen holding a protest sign at the project site, calling out County Councilmember Andrew Friedson for supporting the plan. The large banner reads:
“THANK ANDREW FRIEDSON FOR THIS TRAFFIC MESS. TAXPAYER’S COST: $1,700,000. VOTE HIM OUT. OPEN ALL 4 LANES NOW.”
Long-time Bethesda resident Irv Lieberman protests the Little Falls Parkway reconfiguration on-site, calling for all four lanes to be reopened.
A petition opposing the project gathered more than 5,600 signatures, with strong resistance from neighborhoods such as Sumner, Kenwood, Springfield, and the Westmoreland Citizens Association (WCA). Residents say their input was disregarded.
Many District 1 residents, whose Council Member Andrew Friedson supported the project and is Chair of the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee, say they feel ignored by their elected representative. “He has not done a good job protecting the clearly-stated interests of many of his constituents,” said Rebecca Hanson, a resident of Westmoreland Hills. “We voiced our concerns through every available channel, and it made no difference.”
Supporters say the redesign promotes pedestrian and cyclist safety and aligns with the county’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate serious traffic injuries and fatalities.
The protestors argue that there are other better and cheaper ways besides reconfiguring the Parkway and closing two lanes to car traffic to do this including better marking, more lights, and possibly even a pedestrian bridge to take the Capital Crescent Trail safely over the Little Falls Parkway. A similar bridge already takes the Capital Crescent Trail over River Road.
Further, limiting free-flowing car traffic along Little Falls Parkway detracts from the original design of the parkway which was intended to smoothly move traffic between neighborhoods from the southern end of Montgomery County to downtown Bethesda. Aside from creating frustration for drivers, impeding traffic on Little Falls Parkway will cause more cut-through traffic in the neighborhoods and more pollution as cars are stuck in traffic idling.
“This is a classic case of government, especially the County Council, ignoring the people most affected,” said a Kenwood homeowner. “They’re calling it ‘traffic calming,’ but we’re bracing for traffic chaos.”
Construction is expected to continue through early December, depending on weather conditions. Whether the project meets its stated goals—or further stokes local frustration—remains to be seen.
