National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) has approved new climate change commitments to its planning process and also removed the proposed I-270/I-495 express toll lanes project from an air quality analysis that the TPB is required to undertake as it updates the region’s long-range transportation plan, Visualize 2045. As an effect, the Maryland project with the aim to improve I-495 and I-270 roads has been removed from the June 2022 update of the regional plan.

In order to meet federal requirements and advance to the construction phase, regional projects must be included in the long-range plan. Inclusion in the plan affirms that projects collectively meet federal air quality standards and have financing in place to build, operate, and maintain the regional transportation system.

Back in May 2021, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) in the USA reduced the scope of improvements for the capital beltway highway by removing part of the planned toll lanes. The revamped project was about to focus on the construction of two high-occupancy toll lanes for the stretch from Interstate 270 to I-370 and a new American Legion bridge.