In addition, several of the preliminary routes utilize the winding
      east-west path for the Georgetown Branch light rail, a much-debated
      proposed trolley line linking Silver Spring and Bethesda.

    Meanwhile, the future $40 million transit center, which will replace the
      current downtown Silver Spring Metro station, would be a likely terminal
      on any new rail system, Kay said.

      However, he cautioned that none of the proposed routes are definitive.
      The new transit center, slated for completion in 2002, will be a regional
      nexus for public transportation, including buses, Metro rail and commuter
      rail. It will house shops and eateries, and will feature a roofed,
      cascading walkway dubbed the "urban-spine," according to preliminary
      architectural designs.

      The transit center's design will also leave ample room for future rail
      lines or expansions, Kay said.

      Yet, while state officials and local lawmakers look toward long-term
      solutions, traffic conditions on the Beltway in Silver Spring and
      elsewhere continue to deteriorate in the interim.

      The Beltway already brims at capacity along the Woodrow Wilson Memorial
      Bridge in southern Prince George's County.

      In fact, congestion on some sections of the Beltway during weekends has
      surpassed bustling weekday rush hour levels, according to a February
      survey by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
      Furthermore, Beltway congestion in Silver Spring could grind to a
      standstill later this year and next summer, when workers begin major
      renovations to several aging bridges supporting the highway. Traffic in
      both directions will be shifted and lanes narrowed between Georgia Avenue
      and New Hampshire Avenue during the work.

      The Beltway's current traffic problems simply underscore the need for a
      comprehensive, long-term strategy, officials said.

      Kay and Pedersen said a long-term plan will likely comprise a combination
      of both transit and transportation options.

      "The [study] will certainly effect a lot of people for many years to
      come," Pedersen said.

      Tonight, representatives from the Maryland Department of Transportation
      will host a public forum in Silver Spring to receive community feedback on
      their preliminary proposals, as well as discuss other ways to curb Beltway
      traffic.

      The meeting will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Northwood Center, 919
      University Blvd. West in Silver Spring.

      For more information, call Sue Rajan of the State Highway Administration
      at 410-545-8514.