Montgomery Planning: Rustic Roads

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Montgomery Planning

Montgomery County, MD

Montgomery Planning

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Rustic Roads

Rustic roads are roads in the Agricultural Reserve or rural parts of Montgomery County that exemplify the rural and agricultural character of the area. Exceptional rustic roads are roads that have such unusual and pleasing character that preservation of these roads is highly desirable.

Rustic and Exceptional rustic roads are preserved under the Rustic Roads Program, which provides a system for evaluating, protecting, and enhancing these scenic roadways. The program includes 98 roads. These roads are listed and described in the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan and in other area Master Plans as shown below.

Visit a Rustic Road

For visitors and area residents who live outside of the Agricultural Reserve, the Rustic Roads Program may be unfamiliar. Below are just a few ideas for trips into the Agricultural Reserve, often along our Rustic Roads:

Heritage Montgomery has created a video and podcast Rural Heritage Byway Tour, has an app of Life in a War Zone: Civil War History in Montgomery County and has a brochure, Community Cornerstones: A Selection of Historic African American Churches in Montgomery County Maryland. The majority of these tours and sites are in the Agricultural Reserve and are on Rustic Roads.
Two Maryland Scenic Byways are located in Montgomery County, and they include several Rusic Roads. Travel the C&O Canal and the Antietam Campaign trails.
Montgomery Countryside Alliance produces an Agricultural Reserve Resource Guide and interactive map that covers local farms, orchards, parks, equestrian facilities, historic sites, museums, and even two historic general stores.
Countryside Artisans of Maryland host Studio Tour Days several times per year featuring paintings, prints, fiber, furniture, sculpture, and more. A number of the studios are located on Rustic Roads.

Updates

March 2016: The RRAC welcomes Mike Knapp as the new staff coordinator and thanks Chris Myers for his support in the last year.
January, 2016: Congratulations to RRAC member Christopher Marston and his co-executive editor, Justine Christianson, on the publication of their new book, Covered Bridges and the Birth of American Engineering. The book is published by the National Park Service's Historic American Engineering Record. For information on or requesting or downloading a copy, follow the link above.
On October 19, 2015, the RRAC presented a status report to the County Council's Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment. View the presentation here.
Have you ever wondered how to find a rustic road? The new brown street name signs will make it easy to tell.

In 2012, the RRAC and MCDOT worked together to create a special steet name sign for rustic roads with a brown background. As you drive these roads, you should be starting to see the transition. It will take some time to change all of the signs, so for now, you will see both brown and green street name signs for roads in the Rustic Roads Program. In time, all of the rustic and exceptional rustic roads will be identified by their brown street name signs.
View the Rustic Roads Biennial Report (June 2015).
November 2014: Staff briefed the Planning Board on the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways Update on November 20, 2014 (staff report here). Descriptions of 28 current rustic roads and consideration of 13 roads that have been nominated for addition to the rustic roads program are included in this update. Community comments may be sent to Leslie Saville and Brian Jeeves (contact info below).

Master Plans

Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan (1996)
This document provides information about the program, its intent, history and regulations, as well as descriptions of the initial 66 roads designated under the program.
Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan, Clarksburg Master Plan & Hyattstown Special Study Area, Boyds Master Plan & Gaithersburg Vicinity Master Plan Amendment (2004)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Area Master Plans with Rustic Road Designations

Clarksburg Master Plan & Hyattstown Special Study Area (1994)
Fairland Master Plan (1997)
Cloverly Master Plan (1997)
Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan (1998)
Potomac Subregion Master Plan (2002)
Olney Master Plan (2005)
Damascus Master Plan (2006)
Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan (2010)
Sandy Spring Rural Village Plan (2015)

Rustic Roads Advisory Committee

The Rustic Roads Program is overseen by the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee (RRAC) and three agencies. The RRAC is comprised of seven citizen members who are appointed by the County Executive; they review and advise the County Executive, County Council, Planning Board, Department of Transportation, Department of Permitting Services and other county agencies on matters concerning rustic roads. Members review and comment upon roadway classifications, policies, regulations, and promote public awareness of the Rustic Roads Program.

Current members of the RRAC are:

Chair: Christopher Marston, Rural preservation
Todd Greenstone, Farmer
Tom Hartsock, Farmer
Sarah Navid, Engineer
Bob Tworkowski, Civic representative
Audrey Patton, Farmer, AAC representative
Jane Thompson, Civic representative
Staff coordinator:Michael Knapp (DPS)
Non-voting member:Leslie Saville (M-NCPPC)

RRAC Meetings

The RRAC meets six or more times a year. Meetings are normally held at 6:00 p.m. in the 9st Floor Conference Room of the Executive Office Building (note new time and conference room), 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD. After 6:00 pm, use the cafeteria entry on the south side of the building. Meetings are open to the public. The anticipated meeting schedule is below. To confirm the meeting will be held, to confirm the location, or to have an item placed on the agenda, please call the RRAC Staff Coordinator, Michael Knapp, 240-777-6335.

Upcoming meetings

Tuesday, July 26 | agenda
Tuesday, September 13
Tuesday, October 25
Tuesday, November 29
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Past Meetings

Agency Contacts

The three agencies overseeing the program and their responsibilities are:

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
- Classifications - Master Plans and Amendments
- Subdivision review and approval
- Contact: Leslie Saville, 301-495-2194, or Leslie.Saville@montgomeryplanning.org
Department of Transportation (DOT)

Executive regulations and policies
Roadway Maintenance, Division of Highway Services (240-777-0311)

Department of Permitting Services

Review and permitting of work in rustic roads right-of-way
Staff Coordination with Rustic Roads Advisory Committee
Contact: Michael Knapp, 240-777-6335, or Michael.Knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov

Additonal Documents

Chapter 49, Article 8
Advocacy Amendment, Chapter 49, Article 8 (effective August 11, 2016)
Executive Regulation 21-96 (July 2016 download)
Executive Regulation 21-96 (previous version)
Proposal for a Rural/Rustic Roads Program (March 1990)
Biennial Reports from the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee
Maryland Scenic Byways (the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and Antietam Campaign follow several rustic roads). The Scenic Byways Resource Protection Application shows the Byways corridors, resources and more.
An excellent design resource: Sustaining the Road Less Traveled: Context sensitive solutions for work on Maryland Byways
Another design resource that applies to many rustic roads: AASHTO's Guidelines for Geometric Design of Very Low Volume Local Roads (ADT less than or Equal to 400)
USDA Forest Service: Environmentally Sensitive Road Maintenance Practices for Dirt and Gravel Roads

Last updated: October 20, 2016

Montgomery County
Planning Department
2425 Reedie Drive, 14th Floor
Wheaton, MD 20902

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