Some Bethesda Projects May See Delays

A project to in Bethesda and the construction of a new south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station have been recommended for delays.

In his recommended amendments to the fiscal 2011-16 Capital Improvements Program, County Executive Isiah Leggett recommended design funds be pushed back from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2013 for the library.

“We felt that we needed to delay that to have the benefit of some of those savings,” said Patrick Lacefield, a county spokesman. “One concern is once you build these things, you have to staff them, and right now our operations budget is extremely stressed.”

The project would modernize the facility, which has been serving the Bethesda community for 48 years. Initial plans had called for adding 9,300 square feet of space, expanding book collections and adding group study and tutor space.

But the project may be delayed even more in the future, Lacefield said.

The capital improvements budget undergoes a full review every two years. Since this is an “off year,” in which only changes and amendments are hashed out, the project could be highlighted for more delays in next year’s CIP, Lacefield said.

Another Bethesda project, , was recommended to have some construction funds delayed from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2015, Lacefield said. That entrance would also serve a station on the Purple Line, a planned light rail project that doesn’t yet have a clear timeline.

“The project schedule was basically delayed subject to the construction of the Purple Line,” Lacefield said.

Leggett has transmitted his proposal to the County Council, which must vote on the measures.