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| Md. Democrats announce transportation agenda | Md. Democrats announce transportation agenda |
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| Maryland Democrats on Tuesday announced a transportation agenda designed to shed light on funding decisions and make suburban jobs more accessible to workers who live in cities and don’t own cars. | Maryland Democrats on Tuesday announced a transportation agenda designed to shed light on funding decisions and make suburban jobs more accessible to workers who live in cities and don’t own cars. |
| The legislative package, unveiled by House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), would also require the state to replace an aging and frequently congested Potomac River bridge crossing in Southern Maryland and create a citizen-oversight board for the Maryland Transit Administration. | The legislative package, unveiled by House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), would also require the state to replace an aging and frequently congested Potomac River bridge crossing in Southern Maryland and create a citizen-oversight board for the Maryland Transit Administration. |
| One proposal would launch a new process for determining which transportation projects deserve priority, a reaction to last year’s decision by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to shift more money toward highway projects in rural parts of the state. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. and Del. Pamela G. Beidle, Democrats representing districts in Anne Arundel County, would require the state to use a scoring system to determine which transportation projects to fund. Lower-ranked plans could win approval ahead of those that score higher, but the governor would have to justify such decisions. | One proposal would launch a new process for determining which transportation projects deserve priority, a reaction to last year’s decision by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to shift more money toward highway projects in rural parts of the state. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. and Del. Pamela G. Beidle, Democrats representing districts in Anne Arundel County, would require the state to use a scoring system to determine which transportation projects to fund. Lower-ranked plans could win approval ahead of those that score higher, but the governor would have to justify such decisions. |
| “Getting rid of the mystery of how, why and where roads get built in Maryland will only increase citizen confidence in the process,” Miller said. | “Getting rid of the mystery of how, why and where roads get built in Maryland will only increase citizen confidence in the process,” Miller said. |
| Hogan angered many Democrats last year when he rejected plans for the Red Line light-rail project through Baltimore even as he approved a similarly expensive plan for the Washington suburbs. He said the $3 billion project would be a waste of money, adding that its “fatal flaw” was the need for a $1 billion tunnel beneath the city. | Hogan angered many Democrats last year when he rejected plans for the Red Line light-rail project through Baltimore even as he approved a similarly expensive plan for the Washington suburbs. He said the $3 billion project would be a waste of money, adding that its “fatal flaw” was the need for a $1 billion tunnel beneath the city. |
| [ How Hogan made his first big mass-transit decision ] | [ How Hogan made his first big mass-transit decision ] |
| Hogan spokesman Matt Clark called the project-scoring bill a “thinly veiled power grab” and noted that Hogan’s six-year transportation plan provided $1.35 billion in new transportation funds and includes projects in every county. | Hogan spokesman Matt Clark called the project-scoring bill a “thinly veiled power grab” and noted that Hogan’s six-year transportation plan provided $1.35 billion in new transportation funds and includes projects in every county. |
| Several Republican county executives said they opposed the bill, among them Anne Arundel’s Steve Schuh, Harford’s Barry Glassman and Wicomico’s Bob Culver. “This legislation will bog down our transportation projects with unneeded inefficiency and bureaucracy,” Schuh said. | Several Republican county executives said they opposed the bill, among them Anne Arundel’s Steve Schuh, Harford’s Barry Glassman and Wicomico’s Bob Culver. “This legislation will bog down our transportation projects with unneeded inefficiency and bureaucracy,” Schuh said. |
| Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signed similar legislation last year after it was approved by his state’s Republican-controlled General Assembly. | Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signed similar legislation last year after it was approved by his state’s Republican-controlled General Assembly. |
| Another bill, sponsored by Del. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore), would expand state tax credits for employers who offer commuter benefits to their workers, doubling the monthly subsidy from $50 to $100 while reducing carpool eligibility from eight riders to six. | Another bill, sponsored by Del. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore), would expand state tax credits for employers who offer commuter benefits to their workers, doubling the monthly subsidy from $50 to $100 while reducing carpool eligibility from eight riders to six. |
| McCray said his bill would help working-class urban residents reach warehouses and other job centers emerging in suburban parts of the state. | McCray said his bill would help working-class urban residents reach warehouses and other job centers emerging in suburban parts of the state. |
| A third bill would require the Maryland Transportation Authority to replace the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in Southern Maryland by 2025, when it will reach the end of its 75-year life span. The state started making plans for the project in 2006 and has completed much of the design and preparatory work, at a cost of about $53 million. | A third bill would require the Maryland Transportation Authority to replace the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in Southern Maryland by 2025, when it will reach the end of its 75-year life span. The state started making plans for the project in 2006 and has completed much of the design and preparatory work, at a cost of about $53 million. |
| Sen. Thomas M. Middleton and Del. Sally Y. Jameson, Democrats from Charles County who are sponsoring the measure, said they were concerned that Republicans would push to replace the bridge’s decking rather than do a complete overhaul, particularly after Hogan reduced tolls last year that would help fully fund the replacement. | |
| [ Transportation chief: Toll cuts won’t hurt road projects ] | [ Transportation chief: Toll cuts won’t hurt road projects ] |
| “We’ve already stuck troughs in the Potomac,” Middleton said. “We can’t stop now.” | “We’ve already stuck troughs in the Potomac,” Middleton said. “We can’t stop now.” |
| Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn has said that spending cuts and growth in state revenue would offset the lower toll rates. | Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn has said that spending cuts and growth in state revenue would offset the lower toll rates. |
| Del. Brooke E. Lierman, a Democrat in Baltimore, also sponsored a bill that would establish a panel of transit riders and other state residents to advise the transit administration on spending, performance and policies. Members of the board would be appointed by the governor, House speaker, Senate president and county executives from jurisdictions served by the transit authority. | |
| Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report. | Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report. |