What is the ICC?

ICC stands for Intercounty Connector. It is a proposed road that is intended to connect Interstate 270 in Montgomery County with Interstate 95 in Prince George's County (that's why it's called "intercounty"). Other names for the road include the Outer Beltway and I-370.

At Longmead United Against the ICC, we believe the ICC is more than just a road—it is a disaster. It would be a six-lane highway, with traffic of all kinds (including tractor-trailers) and a speed limit of sixty miles per hour. The highway would cut through existing communities, leading to greatly increased noise, air, and water pollution. There would be devastating consequences for animal and plant life in the area, and a decreased quality of life for nearby residents.

Building the ICC would be extremely expensive. The construction cost is currently estimated to be $2.1 billion. When financing costs and likely budget overruns are considered, the total price tag is over $3 billion. Under the current financing plan, future transportation funds from the federal government to the state would be used to pay off the ICC debt. This means that for the next 30 years, federal money that could be used for public transit or maintaining existing roads and transit systems would not be available. The state would have to take funding away from other important budget items, such as schools, health care, and essential services.

Additionally, the ICC would cut through open spaces and wetlands that are important to the quality of life of all residents of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Depending on the route of the highway, it could cause extensive damage to stream valleys, including Lake Needwood, Paint Branch, Northwest Branch, Mill Creek, Rock Creek, North Branch, Batchellor's Run, and tributaries to the Patuxent River. Plant and animal life would be devastated, and air and water quality would be seriously threatened.

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