Status/Project Update
Updated September 2025
The Little Falls Parkway Vision Zero Project, now expected to begin construction in late September 2025, aims to improve bicyclist and pedestrian safety at the Capital Crescent Trail crossing and along Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road by reducing the total number of travel lanes from four to two and installing traffic calming measures. The project also includes the installation of a shared-use path and separated bike lanes along the south side of the Parkway and modifications to the interim Capital Crescent Trail crossing.
Project Description
Montgomery Parks launched the Little Falls Parkway pilot project in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures to vehicles of Little Falls Parkway. As part of the pilot, Montgomery Parks implemented a study and public input process that determined a permanent two-lane configuration on Little Falls Parkway would adequately accommodate current and future vehicle traffic, while providing significant safety and accessibility benefits to Capital Crescent Trail and other park users.
On April 27, 2023, the Montgomery County Planning Board voted 4-0-1 to approve a permanent two-lane configuration of Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue, using the northbound travel lanes. The Board made no recommendation on how to modify or re-appropriate the unused southbound travel lanes, which have remained open for recreational usage since the Planning Board decision. Planning Board reports are available for download below.
On May 8, 2023, The Montgomery County Council voted to require that any realignment of the remaining two lanes between Dorset and Arlington on Little Falls Parkway be reviewed by the Council before any funds could be used for that purpose. Subsequently, the Council also requested Parks develop an alternate Parkway design (“Council-Requested Alternate Option”) using the existing grass median to separate the northbound and southbound drive lanes, for review alongside the Planning Board-approved configuration.
On November 27, 2023, the County Council’s Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee reviewed both the Planning Board-Approved Configuration and the Council-Requested Alternate Option and supported adoption of the Council-requested alternative, a road diet consisting of one vehicle travel lane in each direction with a grass median in the middle, and a protected shared-use path built in the right-of-way of one of the former south-bound lanes.
On January 23, 2024, the Montgomery County Council reviewed and approved the PHP committee’s recommendation for the road diet on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. The Council-approved configuration included modifications based on feedback and recommendations from the November 2023 PHP Committee work session.
Between Arlington Road and Hillandale Avenue, the Council approved the permanent removal of unused asphalt pavement to ensure the safety of Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) users crossing the Parkway. A separated shared-use path will be provided between Arlington Road and the Capital Crescent Trail crossing, enhancing community connectivity to the existing shared-use path at the northern terminus of Little Falls Parkway. South of Hillandale Road to Dorset Avenue, all existing pavement is retained, and a buffered bike lane will be provided in the unused former southbound drive lane. Low-profile separators will be used to block off the unused drive lanes, which do not prevent usage by emergency vehicles when needed. Additional work will include safety enhancements at Arlington Road, Hillandale Road, and Dorset Avenue, improved signage, relocation of traffic signals, stormwater management, and accessibility improvements. View the PDF of the Council-approved design here.
Following the County Council approval of the Little Falls Parkway two-lane configuration, Montgomery Parks began detailed design development and continued coordination with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) for review of the project, per Capper-Cramton Act (CCA) requirements. After hosting a Virtual Public Scoping Meeting on March 12, 2024, NCPC provided final approval in September 2024. Construction work is scheduled to begin in late September and is expected to take 6 – 8 weeks.
Project Timeline
| Date | Project Stage and Resources |
|---|---|
| June 2019 | Facility Plan Recommendation for Capital Crescent Trail Crossing at Little Falls Parkway Safety Improvements Project presented to the Planning Board. Additional attachments available under Item #8. |
| June 2022 | Pilot project phase one. A single-lane road diet was implemented on Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road. |
| October 2022 | Pilot project phase two. All vehicular traffic shifted to the northbound lanes of Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road with Open Parkways use in the southbound lanes. |
| February 15, 2023 | Public meeting to present Little Falls Parkway pilot project traffic studies. Access the recorded virtual presentation here. A copy of the question and answer transcripts is also available. |
| March 30, 2023 | Montgomery County Planning Board hearing on Little Falls Parkway pilot project traffic studies. View the March 30, 2023 Montgomery County Planning Board meeting here. The staff report can be accessed here and additional attachments are available under Item #12. |
| April 27, 2023 | Montgomery County Planning Board meeting work session during which the Little Falls Parkway pilot project was approved as a permanent two-lane road diet between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. The Planning Board did not make a recommendation on how to modify or re-appropriate the unused southbound travel lanes, which have remained open for recreational usage since the Planning Board decision. View the April 27, 2023 Montgomery County Planning Board meeting here. The staff report and recommended site plan are also available. |
| May 8, 2023 | The Montgomery County Council voted to require that any realignment of the remaining two lanes between Dorset and Arlington on Little Falls Parkway must be reviewed by the Council before any funds can be used for that purpose. |
| October 25, 2023 | A letter from the County Council invited Montgomery Parks to the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee to review the Planning Board-Approved Configuration and a Council-Requested Alternate Option. |
| November 27, 2023 | Montgomery Parks presentation to Montgomery County Council Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee (PHP). The PHP committee reviewed the Planning Board-Approved Configuration and a Council-Requested Alternate Option and provided feedback. The Council-Requested Alternate Option was advanced to the full County Council. The PHP Staff Report can be found here. |
| January 23, 2024 | Montgomery County Council approved a revised configuration for Little Falls Parkway, incorporating feedback and recommendations from the PHP Committee. View a PDF of the Council-approved design here and the County Council Staff Report here. |
| March 12, 2024 | The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPS) will begin its review process with a public scoping meeting on March 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM virtually. Per the Capper-Cramton Act (CCA) of 1930, the NCPC has approval authority over park development in parkland acquired via CCA federal funding, to protect and preserve the region’s watersheds and adjacent parkland. More information on the meeting details can be found on NCPC’s webpage on Little Falls Parkway |
| June 6, 2024 | NCPC Information Presentation on the Little Falls Parkway Improvements (No commission action). A recording of the presentation is available here. |
| September 5, 2024 | NCPC reviewed and approved the Little Falls Parkway Improvements at the final review meeting. A recording of the meeting is available here. |
| Spring 2025 | Detailed design and permitting are underway. |
| Fall 2025 | Construction to start. |