Ahead of the Curve: An Introduction to the Bethesda Unified Mobility Program
How the Proposal Could Impact Future Real Estate Development Projects in Downtown Bethesda.
By Matthew M. Gordon, Esq.
Partner at Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C.
This article was updated on July 16, 2021, for accuracy. For more information, please contact the author.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) released a revised draft of the Bethesda Unified Mobility Program (BUMP) Cost Estimating Analysis in June of 2021. While MCDOT initially released a memo stating that it transmitted the revised draft of the BUMP to the Montgomery County Council, MCDOT subsequently clarified that the revised BUMP proposal still needs to be reviewed by the Director of MCDOT and County Executive before it will be transmitted to the County Council. The revised draft identifies several different approaches for application of the BUMP (described in greater detail below); however, it should be noted that various approaches are still being considered by MCDOT. Previously in 2019, MCDOT had presented its initial draft of the BUMP proposal through a series of presentations to stakeholder groups and open houses. Until now, the original BUMP proposal had not been advanced beyond the initial presentations in 2019.
The highlights of the BUMP proposal are as follows:
- The BUMP includes a total overall budget of $88,362,050 and includes funding for transit improvements, intersection improvements, and pedestrian/bicycle improvements.
- MCDOT’s transmittal to the Council presents two options for assessment of the BUMP fee: (a) an option where the fee is assessed on the basis of “person trips” generated; and (b) an option where the fee is assessed on the basis of “vehicle trips” generated, as further defined by and applied through the County’s 2020-2024 Growth and Infrastructure Policy.
- The BUMP fee would be assessed on the basis of net-new development (i.e., new development projects will receive credits for existing development being demolished).
- New development projects are still required to make frontage improvements and pay development impact taxes.
- The transmittal identifies a proposed assessment of $2,315 per “person trip” or $3,247 per “vehicle trip” as shown in Table 7-4 below.
- The transmittal includes a chart showing the projected fees depending on the type of development (e.g., multi-family, office, retail), as shown in Table 7-5 below.
Let Selzer Gurvitch help you.
If you have concerns or questions relating to the application or impacts of the BUMP to your development project, please contact Bob Dalrymple or Matt Gordon.
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C. Robert “Bob” Dalrymple, Esq. |
Matthew M. Gordon, Esq. |
Disclaimer: The information contained in this material is not intended to be considered legal advice and should not be acted upon as such. Because of the generality of this material, the information provided may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without legal advice based on specific factual circumstances.