Plans to Expand Military Facility In Bethesda Stir Traffic Worries

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) supports a proposal to speed funding to expand the naval medical center in Bethesda. (By Joe Marquette -- Bloomberg News)

A review panel's recommendation that the Pentagon accelerate the expansion of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda drew a wary reaction yesterday from local officials and neighbors concerned about traffic problems.

The Pentagon's Independent Review Group, which is examining flaws in outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, released a draft report Wednesday recommending that the Army hospital be closed as soon as possible and replaced by a facility to be built on the Bethesda campus.

The report says the Pentagon should speed up the 2005 decision by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission to consolidate medical care at the Bethesda facility. It recommends that money to break ground for the expansion be released as soon as possible and that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates "accelerate or waive" an environmental study being conducted by the Navy.

But Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who represents Montgomery County in Congress, said yesterday, "We shouldn't be cutting any corners.

"Some people are saying let's slam on the brakes; others are saying we should hit the accelerator," Van Hollen said. "I think we should proceed in a deliberate way."

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), a strong proponent of closing Walter Reed in favor of an expanded facility in Bethesda, welcomed the Pentagon group's recommendation to speed funding. But he cautioned against waiving the environmental study.

"I don't suggest in any way we should shortcut the environmental review process," Warner said yesterday in an interview.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing yesterday, Warner elicited a promise from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England to "accelerate whatever aspects we can" in Bethesda and at a larger hospital at Fort Belvoir.

"I do concur it's in the best interest of our men and women to get a facility built at Bethesda, to move out of Walter Reed into Bethesda," England said.

But some members of Congress, including Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), insist that Walter Reed be kept open. "What you're doing is changing horses in the middle of the stream at a time when soldiers need the best medical care," Moran said yesterday.

A war funding bill passed last month by the House would bar the use of any money for closing Walter Reed. In the version passed by the Senate, it would not be closed unless there was no disruption in patient care.

Moran said many House members want to keep the language for keeping it open in the final bill.