I-270 HOT Expansion & American Legion Bridge Improvements

With the National Capital Region (NCR) expecting to add 1 million jobs, 1.3 million residents, and 3.7 million daily trips by 2045 improvements to the NCR transportation grid were critical. As an answer to this coming growth, the State of Maryland put forth a public-private partnership to invest over $6 Billion in state highway expansion. 

The project was placed before various local and regional boards for approval. The Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance (NVTA), an organization dedicated to enhancing and growing all transit options in the Washington region, wanted the project to move forward in the face of well-funded opposition.

Fells Group was tasked by the NVTA to generate positive support for the project in general as well as drive constituent communication to members of the Maryland Board of Public Works, Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, Maryland General Assembly, and local county governments.

Goal:

Drive messages of support to elected officials from their constituents and business leaders and deliver positive vote outcomes. 

Strategy:

Fells Group implemented and managed digital, television, radio, and grassroots canvassing tactics, patch through calls, influencer targeting, and direct constituent support to show elected officials support for replacing and improving American Legion Bridge and accompanying HOT improvements.

Outcome:

Through our work we were able to reverse a Transportation Planning Board Vote from 80/20 against to 70/30 in the midst of two months.  Without this approval, the entire $6 billion project would have failed. 

In addition we were able to push forth two approval votes through the Board of Public Works to approve work to begin on Phase 1 of the project as well as generate the majority of positive comments for both the DEIS and SDEIS public comment period. 

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