BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - The Department of Defense says Montgomery County has been awarded $40 million in grants for transportation projects at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda.

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Defense officials say the grants will help Walter Reed deal with increased traffic caused by base realignment. The DOD say the realignment has increased personnel at Walter Reed by almost a third and doubled the medical center's visitor load. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the grant Monday.

Defense officials say the money will be used on projects including a bicycle and pedestrian path under Maryland Route 355 that will connect the medical center and a Metrorail station. Three high-speed elevators are also planned to connect the street level of the medical center to the Metrorail mezzanine level 120 feet below.