Federal Funding Aims To Alleviate BRAC Traffic in Md., Va.

A portion of that federal funding will be used to renovate roadways and public transportation surrounding Bethesda Naval Medical Center. A planned BRAC relocation of Walter Reed Army Medical center to Bethesda in September is expected to increase the workforce by 33 percent.

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin says the improvements have a dual purpose.

"What we are talking about is safety here, as well as being able to get to your location in a timely way," says Cardin.

Potential upgrades to the already congested area include a pedestrian underpass beneath Rockville Pike. But Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett cautions that although improvements are slated to start soon, they will take some time to complete.

"All of the things that we need to do in terms of construction will not be available, so we will have to transition to that, but help is on the way," he says.

In Virginia, the funding will go toward the widening of U.S. Route 1 near Ft. Belvoir, which is expected to get 20,000 new jobs this year through the BRAC process.

The funds are part of the Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations bill approved Friday by Congress.