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Montgomery County Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Expansion Impacts Hundreds of Property Owners

Posted April 22, 2026 at 1:10 PM

Eminent Domain and Condemnation, Litigation, Montgomery County Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), News & Events

Montgomery County is investing heavily in a county-wide bus rapid transit (BRT) system along major corridors. Unfortunately, the land acquisition phase – in which the County is taking steps to acquire land along the roadway for the expansion – has many of the impacted property owners feeling concerned.

Currently, the County is acquiring private land along Veirs Mill Road between Wheaton and Rockville. Next up will be Colesville Road / U.S. Route 29 followed by Rockville Pike / Maryland Route 355.

Miller, Miller & Canby represents several owners of single-family residential lots, multi-family residential properties, and commercial parcels along Veirs Mill Road regarding County offers to acquire permanent and temporary easements for the project. The County’s offer may be unexpected, the process daunting and complex, and the impact real and significant.

“There is no requirement that a landowner accept the County’s time-constrained offer,” explains Miller, Miller & Canby Eminent Domain attorney Ben Schneider. “By law, the County must pay for the fair market value of the square footage of the easement, pay for the improvements on that square footage, including parking or landscaping for example, and pay for any diminution in value the project will cause the remainder of the property not being taken.”

It may be beneficial to retain an attorney to review the County’s offer to be sure that the compensation package covers the maximum available, legally compensable damages, which may include compensation for lost parking, reduced car access, and loss of a usable backyard.

Attorneys Ben Schneider and Joe Suntum are currently in touch with Montgomery County officials helping clients navigate this process. As Miller, Miller & Canby celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, the firm is proud of its long, storied history representing landowners impacted by eminent domain projects like the BRT, including the Intercounty Connector (ICC) and Purple Line.

Learn more about Miller, Miller & Canby’s Eminent Domain and Condemnation practice.

If you have questions about the process or your rights, contact Ben Schneider at bmschneider@mmcanby.com.

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