It would be difficult to argue that traffic congestion is not a problem in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Most people would agree that the Capital Beltway is one of the most dreaded traffic routes in the region, perhaps even the country. When NCPPP asked us to research the approaches Virginia and Maryland were taking to relieve congestion on the Beltway, on the surface it appeared as though the issue was rather straightforward; Virginia was taking positive action while Maryland remained in neutral. However, it became rapidly apparent that the situation was more complex than originally thought and that the subject warranted objective research. Although the states share a highway and a common interest in improving highway infrastructure for the 21st Century, they operate under different legal and administrative structures and face distinct challenges and opportunities in adding capacity to the Beltway. Below is a list of conclusions and subsequent recommendations for NCPPP. It is not necessarily an all-inclusive list, but based on our research, we find these to be the most pertinent.