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Derwood residents say they are not surprised that the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Midcounty Highway was recently crowned the most congested in the county.

The intersection rose to the top spot this year after a sixth-place finish in last year's top 10 list compiled by Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning as part of its 2009 Highway Mobility Report.

"My husband and I have a view of Shady Grove Road from our house and we see it backed up every night at rush hour," said Pat Labuda, president of the Greater Shady Grove Civic Association who lives less than a mile from the intersection.

Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane, which is near National Naval Medical Hospital in Bethesda, took second place after coming in fifth last year, and Randolph Road at New Hampshire Avenue in the Colesville area rose from 10th place to the third worst.

In general, traffic congestion was listed as most severe in the downcounty area.

Justin Clarke, a transportation planner for Park and Planning and the lead writer of the report, said there could be numerous reasons why Shady Grove Road at Midcounty Highway took first place, including its access to Interstate 270.

The intersections were measured by using a mathematical formula that looks at factors such as lane configurations and the timing of traffic signals. GPS-equipped vehicles also traveled along some of the county's busiest roads to analyze peak travel times and collect speed samples.

Labuda said she thinks the intersection is so crowded because Shady Grove Road and Midcounty Highway are both major roads and lead people to and from Shady Grove Metro station.

"It seems like they should do a traffic assessment to see if the timing of the lights should be changed," she said. "I think that'd be helpful."

Labuda also suggested elongating the left-turn lane from Shady Grove Road onto Midcounty Highway.

Connie McKenna, who also lives less than a mile away from the intersection, said she has sat in traffic at the light during rush hour and worries congestion will worsen when the Intercounty Connector (ICC), which will connect Interstate 270 in Gaithersburg to Interstate 95 in Laurel, opens.

"Shady Grove Road is already totally jammed and the ICC will act as a magnet that will attract more traffic," she said.

The rest of the intersections on the list are along heavily-traveled roads, such as Rockville Pike and Connecticut Avenue, Clarke said.

"The remaining intersections in the top 10 are where they are because they're along major arteries that take you into the busy job centers," he said.

Traffic volume in the county is down from last year, which Clarke said goes hand in hand with a national trend. He said the total vehicle miles traveled in 2008 was down .3 percent from 2007. The national numbers went down 3.5 percent.

"The volume has declined here in the past year, but not as significantly as the nation and that's because of our strong economy," he said.

For the first time, Clarke said the report also includes pedestrian tallies, which were highest near Metro stations and along major bus lines, particularly Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard.

Clarke shared the report with the county's Planning Board Monday night. Royce Hanson, chairman of the board, said it is important that people make "behavioral changes" when it comes to getting to and from their destinations, such as shifting their work schedules.

The report will be submitted to the County Council to help set budget priorities for transportation projects, Clarke said.

-Shady Grove Road at Midcounty Highway in Derwood

-Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane in Bethesda

-Randolph Road at New Hampshire Avenue in Colesville

-Connecticut Avenue at Plyers Mill Road in Kensington

-Georgia Avenue at Norbeck Road in Aspen Hill

-Rockville Pike at Edmonston Drive in Rockville

-Connecticut Avenue at Randolph Road in Wheaton

-Veirs Mill Road at Twinbrook Parkway in Rockville

-Connecticut Avenue at Jones Bridge Road in Bethesda

-Rockville Pike (Wisconsin Avenue) at East-West Highway and Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda

Source: Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning