Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan
The Montgomery County Planning Department is finalizing the recently approved 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 proposes revisions to current policies and programs.
Rustic Roads Profile Viewer Map
The Rustic Roads Profile Viewer Map allows community members to view the complete road profiles for roads that are currently in the Rustic Roads Program or have been nominated for inclusion in the program. (Planning Board Draft road files coming soon!)
Updates
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
The Planning Board Draft of the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update was transmitted to the County Council.
- Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update – Volume I: The Plan – Planning Board Draft (12 MB)
- Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update – Volume II: Road Profiles – Planning Board Draft (80 MB)
Traffic and Crash Analysis:
- Rustic Roads FMP Update Traffic and Crash Analysis Part 1 – Report, Tables, and Heat Maps
- Rustic Roads FMP Update – Traffic and Crash Analysis – Part 2A – Crash Maps for Existing Rustic Roads (Avoca Lane through Moore Road)
- Rustic Roads FMP Update – Traffic and Crash Analysis – Part 2B – Crash Maps for Existing Rustic Roads (Mount Ephraim Road through Zion Road)
- Rustic Roads FMP Update – Traffic and Crash Analysis – Part 3 – Crash Maps for Nominated Rustic Roads
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.
- Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update – Introduction, Recommendations, and Implementation – Public Hearing Draft (12 MB)
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Public Hearing Draft (Full Appendix) (77 MB)
If you prefer smaller files for quicker download, the Road Profiles Appendix is also available in four parts:
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Public Hearing Draft – Part 1 – Aitcheson to Dickerson School (19 MB)
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Public Hearing Draft – Part 2 – Dustin to Meeting House (22 MB)
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Public Hearing Draft – Part 3 – Montevideo to Stoney Creek (23 MB)
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Public Hearing Draft – Part 4 – Stringtown to Zion (18 MB)
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.
- Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update – Introduction, Recommendations, and Implementation
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Part 1 – Aitcheson to Dickerson School
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Part 2 – Dustin to Meeting House
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Part 3 – Montevideo to Stoney Creek
- Rustic Roads FMP Update_ Road Profiles Appendix – Part 4 – Stringtown to Zion
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.