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Maryland communities eager for the economic growth from the Defense Department's base realignment share Bethesda's frustration with the lack of federal money available for new roads and services that will accommodate thousands of new jobs.

Officials dealing with Base Realignment and Closure issues in Anne Arundel and Harford counties said they recognize the challenges, particularly with transportation, but that the benefits to the region represent an important step forward.

"We planned this. We realize that this is our future," said Bob Leib, the special assistant for BRAC to Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold.

"We're moving to a knowledge economy. That's really a shift for this community. … It's exciting," said Karen Holt, BRAC coordinator for the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor that represents counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

About 5,800 jobs are expected to be created through BRAC at Fort Meade, while 8,000 to 9,000 jobs will be added to Aberdeen, according to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda will add 1,400 jobs, and Andrews Air Force Base is expected to gain 400 positions through BRAC.

Fort Meade and Aberdeen are also dealing with significant job growth not directly related to BRAC. At Fort Meade, more than non-BRAC 16,000 jobs are expected over the next several years. At Aberdeen, the number of new non-BRAC jobs in coming years could be as high as 10,000.

Money for regional projects related to BRAC is perhaps the largest ongoing concern.

Gen. Mike Hayes, managing director of the office of military and federal affairs at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, said communities probably will have to be patient.

"We're not optimistic that we will get help from the Department of Defense in the short term, apart from planning money," Hayes said.

Montgomery County BRAC coordinator Phil Alperson said the county has "very conservatively" estimated that $70 million will be needed for BRAC-related transportation improvements.

The Defense Department recently agreed to pay for $1 million in improvements at an entrance to the current National Naval Medical Center off Wisconsin Avenue where Walter Reed will open. Alperson said his understanding was that the money will come from outside the Defense Access Road program normally used to pay for such improvements.

Leib said his region has fought for earmarks but recognizes that funds are limited.

Without a dedicated funding stream for BRAC around the state, communities are forced to look for money wherever they can.

"The biggest apprehension is the fiscal restraints," Holt said. "We've done our planning. We know what needs to be done. It's just a question of finding the funding."

Leib said since much of Anne Arundel County is relatively rural, compared to other parts of the state, BRAC represents a more dramatic change.

At the same time, he said the county has six public schools on Fort Meade land, and that the county and the military have maintained a strong relationship throughout the BRAC process.

Leib said some of the BRAC-related projects on the table, such as improving Md. 175 and Md. 198, have been in the works for some time even though the roads handle current traffic adequately.

"Will it be adequate for 22,000 additional cars? No. But we're working through that," Leib said.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has identified 26 BRAC-related projects. Some major highway improvements could take 10 to 15 years to complete, said Asuntha Chiang-Smith, executive director of the BRAC Subcabinet that helps coordinate federal, state and local governments in the BRAC process.

"The last thing you want to do is to have all your construction projects happening at the same time," she said.

Communities around Aberdeen Proving Ground are also focusing on upgrades to local education that will prepare members of the labor force for BRAC jobs.

Holt said the community wants to make sure the local work force is ready to fill the new jobs.

A recent study showed that counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware will be in a position to fill more than 50 percent of the new BRAC and non-BRAC jobs at Aberdeen, with transfers from other installations taking up the remainder.

"We do have the available work force. People are very interested in these jobs," she said.

Because of larger BRAC and non-BRAC growth in Anne Arundel and Harford counties, Alperson said Bethesda is in a different position.

"They're going to have much, much different development issues. They're going to have to build houses and schools and build their infrastructure," he said. "Bethesda is developed. The jobs are already in the area."