Traffic Fuels Contrasts in Montgomery Race

Candidate Steven A. Silverman, center, talks to Richard Hoye of Bethesda during a tour of the proposed route of the Purple Line, an east-west light-rail link he supports building. (By James A. Parcell -- The Washington Post)

From cozy house parties in Chevy Chase to town halls in Olney, residents invariably ask the same questions of the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County executive: What are you going to do to ease the county's commuting headaches?

How can we travel from east to west to buy groceries during rush hour or safely cross the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Forest Glen Road?

In the first competitive contest for Montgomery's top elected job in 12 years, the two leading contenders -- Isiah "Ike" Leggett and Steven A. Silverman -- have at times struggled to give voters a distinct choice on the defining issues. But their approach to the traffic problem highlights a clear divide.

Leggett says traffic is bad because the county is growing too fast. Silverman says the county hasn't built roads and mass transit fast enough.

To Silverman, an at-large County Council member, the answer lies in leveraging millions in county money to tackle neglected projects rather than "waiting another 20 years for the state to step up to the plate."

Leggett, a former council member, emphasizes the need to slow development so road and transit construction can catch up. Or else, he said, "the level of growth has consumed you, and you're back where you started -- or worse."

The man they hope to succeed -- three-term County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) -- swept into office on a promise to encourage development and economic growth. That philosophy helped enrich the already prosperous county government but fueled grumbling about clogged roads.

A recent Washington Post poll found a level of frustration distinct among Montgomery residents. Twenty percent of voters ranked transportation as the biggest problem facing Maryland, a response three times as high as in any other part of the state. An additional 13 percent put growth and development first, compared with single-digit percentages in all other jurisdictions.

In debates and interviews, the candidates in the Sept. 12 primary have attacked these concerns from opposite ends. Silverman's steady support for building a light-rail link, known as the Purple Line, between Bethesda and New Carrollton has appealed to groups such as the county Chamber of Commerce and the Action Committee for Transit, a group that advocates for mass transit. It could attract voters in the most densely populated parts of the county, where residents complain about the difficulty driving from east to west.

Leggett's focus on growth and decision to limit his campaign contributions from developers have won him the backing of the Sierra Club and Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, which tracks developer donations. His slower-growth platform could appeal to voters who want to protect the county's Agricultural Reserve, even though both candidates have promised to limit development there.

It's hard to miss Silverman's billboard-size message at some of the county's busiest intersections: "Sick of Traffic? Vote Silverman." His glossy mailer features an enraged female driver with the words: "Traffic so snarled you're seeing purple?"

On the council, Silverman has helped identify $160 million in county money that could be offered as matching dollars to the state for transportation projects. Traditionally, it has fallen to the governor and legislature to pay for state roads.