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Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan

The Montgomery County Planning Department has finalized the 2023 Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update, which adds new roads to the Rustic Roads Program and provides the necessary descriptions for several roads that are currently in the Program. Work on the plan update began in July 2019. This project included the review of 25 nominated roads, new descriptions for 29 roads currently in the Rustic Roads Program, updates to significant features, changes to the designated extents of some roads, and text corrections and additions. The Master Plan Update also proposed revisions to current policies and programs. See the master plan page for the approved plan.

Rustic Roads Profile Viewer Map

The Rustic Roads Profile Viewer Map allows community members to view the Planning Board Draft road profiles for all roads considered in the 2023 Update. (Approved road profiles are coming soon!)

View map full screen

Updates

December 20, 2023

M-NCPPC’s full commission approved and adopted the plan.

July 25, 2023

The County Council approved the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update and Bill 30-23, which updates the membership of the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee. Planners are working on a final Approved and Adopted version of the plan.

July 7, 2023

The Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update is continuing to work its way through the County Council’s master plan review. On July 11, the Council will hold a public hearing on Bill 30-23, which proposes changes to County Code Chapter 49 regarding the composition and duties of the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee. The language in the draft bill comes directly from the Planning Board Draft of the plan. See the Council staff report.

The Council’s Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee plans to hold a work session on the RRFMP Update and Bill 30-23 on July 17. The full Council’s work session is tentatively scheduled for July 25.

February 24, 2023

Map of Rustic Roads as Recommended in the Planning Board Draft of the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update
Map of Rustic Roads as Recommended in the Planning Board Draft of the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update

The Planning Board Draft of the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update was transmitted to the County Council.

Traffic and Crash Analysis:

Click on the map to see the recommended rustic roads.

February 9, 2023

The third and final work session for the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update was held February 9, 2023. The Planning Board approved the Planning Board Draft of the plan and authorized transmittal to County Council for the next step of the process. See the Planning Board agenda for the staff report and testimony. View the staff presentation. The Planning Board Draft will be posted soon!

January 26, 2023

The second work session for the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update was held January 26, 2023. See the Planning Board agenda for the staff report and attachments. View the staff presentation.

January 5, 2023

The first work session for the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update was held January 5, 2023. See the Planning Board agenda for the staff report and attachments. View the staff presentation.

November 17, 2022

The Planning Board held the Public Hearing on the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update. The public record remained open until December 9, 2022.

Prior to the Public Hearing, Planning Staff provided a briefing to the new Planning Board members. View the staff presentation and video recording of both meetings, with the briefing beginning at 2:51:45 in the video and the public hearing starting at 4:38:00.

October 14, 2022

The Public Hearing for the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update has been scheduled for November 17 at 6 p.m. in the Wheaton Headquarters auditorium.

If you prefer smaller files for quicker download, the Road Profiles Appendix is also available in four parts:

October 6, 2022

Planners presented the Working Draft of the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update to the Planning Board and asked the Board to approve the document as the Public Hearing Draft and to set the Public Hearing date. Due to the plan’s size, the document has been broken into several parts.

April 21, 2022

Planners presented a briefing on the plan’s status to the Planning Board. View the report, attachments, and Planning Board presentation.

March 17, 2020

View the draft list of rustic roads and the corresponding map.

February 6, 2020

The Planning Board approved the Scope of Work for the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update. View the staff report and presentation.

New Histories for Old Roads

Originally presented at the 2022 Montgomery County History Conference, the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee invited Cultural Resources Planner Kacy Rohn to make an encore presentation of her talk on March 22, 2022.

Timeline

  • February 6, 2020
    Scope of Work Approved
  • February 2020 – April 2022
    Staff research and feedback from the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee on initial draft road descriptions
  • April 21, 2022
    Planning Board Briefing
  • September 2022
    Planning Board Review of Working Draft
  • Fall/Winter 2022/2023
    Planning Board Public Hearing and Work Sessions
  • February 2023
    Planning Board approved Planning Board Draft; Draft transmitted to County Council
  • April 18, 2023
    County Council to hold public hearing
  • July 17 and 25, 2023
    County Council work sessions. The Council approved the master plan on July 25th.
  • Summer/Fall 2023
    Planning Board and Full M-NCPPC to approve and adopt final plan

Frequently Asked Questions

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Staff Contacts

Roberto Duke
301-495-2168
Email

Jamey Pratt
301-495-4588
Email