Rockville Pike can be an unpleasant place to walk.

The six-lane, highway-like road along the strip malls and parking lots of White Flint is heavy on traffic and light on the type of streetscaping in Bethesda Row or even Woodmont Triangle.

Montgomery County and the developers behind the many mixed-use projects planned for the corridor would like to see that change. On April 27, the group leading the charge for smart growth initiatives will offer a glimpse of what that future might hold.

On that Saturday, the Coalition for Smarter Growth will host one of its walking tours in the area. “White Flint: From Drag to Desireable,” will show how planners hope the massive redevelopment proposed for the area around the White Flint Metro station will transform Rockville Pike from “auto-oriented commercial strip to accessible and vibrant walkable community.”

Friends of White Flint reports the event is expected to include county planners and representatives from Rockville-based Federal Realty, which is building the Pike & Rose project at Mid-Pike Plaza.

The event, from 10 a.m. to noon, is free. For more information and to register, visit the website.

Read the original article at Bethesda Now >>

file photo courtesy Bethesda Now