BRAC Update: Transition on Schedule

Despite rumors to the contrary, representatives for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) transition team overseeing the move of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda said Tuesday night that there is no official statement that the project will be delayed.

Capt. Mike Malanoski, commanding officer, Naval Support Activity Bethesda, presented an update to roughly 35 people at the Stone Ridge School—including members of Montgomery County’s BRAC committee. He also answered questions about traffic mitigation and potential problems.

“I’m hopeful we’ll be able to keep disruption to a minimum,” Malanoski said.

The meeting, which lasted roughly one hour, comes two months after Congress approved $300 million in the budget for transportation projects near BRAC-impacted military medical facilities.

Some of these funds will go to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and some to the Maryland Department of Transportation for projects around the National Navy Medical Center, said Phil Alperson, Montgomery County’s BRAC coordinator.

Alperson said the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment will handle the funds, but the county is waiting for guidelines about how to distribute the funds. Alperson also said the Maryland State Highway Administration is in the preliminary phases of constructing improvements at the main intersections in the area. That construction will begin later this summer.

Malanoski said the Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center conducted a rehearsal exercise June 12 to test the inpatient move that is scheduled to take place in August.

The BRAC recommendations mandate a realignment and movement of staff and resources at Walter Reed to new facilities currently under construction at Bethesda and Fort Belvoir, Va., by Sept. 15.

Malanoski and Jeff Miller, who was hired as the transportation program manager, said Tuesday night that despite the Sept. 15 targeted completion date, officials will still be working on transportation and traffic plans.

Malanoski encouraged anyone with questions or problems to call the BRAC Construction hotline at 301-319-BRAC (2722).

“I have every expectation that the next six months is going to be challenging,” Malanoski said.

Residents, however, are still concerned. Sarah Jones of Chevy Chase, who lives on Jones Bridge Road, one of the streets that will be directly affected by traffic realignment, said she came to the meeting out of concern for her children and other children in the neighborhood. 

Jones said she doesn’t mind the potential traffic jams, because at least then cars will be stopped. Her main concern is speeding cars. She said she is already working with the neighborhood association to try to mitigate any problems for children walking to the swimming pool across the street. 

Jones said solutions might be signs telling drivers that they are driving through a neighborhood, not just on a street, and possible traffic barriers in areas with high pedestrian traffic. 

“There are a ton of kids,” Jones said, as she drew a map showing the area. “I’m just really concerned about the kids.”