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Hogan finds robust support for transportation plans — in rural Maryland Hogan finds robust support for transportation plans — in rural Maryland
(about 20 hours later)
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) heard mostly thank-yous Thursday as he crisscrossed the Republican-friendly Eastern Shore, announcing new road and bridge projects, drawing drastically different responses than he has received from critics in Baltimore and the Washington suburbs.Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) heard mostly thank-yous Thursday as he crisscrossed the Republican-friendly Eastern Shore, announcing new road and bridge projects, drawing drastically different responses than he has received from critics in Baltimore and the Washington suburbs.
Less than a month after the Democrat-majority General Assembly overturned his veto of legislation that requires the state to score transportation projects before choosing which plans to fund, the Republican governor has embarked on a three-day tour of Eastern Maryland, partly to visit jurisdictions that benefit from his latest decisions.Less than a month after the Democrat-majority General Assembly overturned his veto of legislation that requires the state to score transportation projects before choosing which plans to fund, the Republican governor has embarked on a three-day tour of Eastern Maryland, partly to visit jurisdictions that benefit from his latest decisions.
Salisbury resident Michelle Neal, waiting for the governor to appear in rural Somerset County, said Maryland policy makers tend to ignore parts of the state west of the Bay Bridge. Salisbury resident Michelle Neal, waiting for the governor to appear in rural Somerset County, said Maryland policy makers tend to ignore parts of the state east of the Bay Bridge.
“The Eastern Shore is often neglected because we don’t have as strong a voice as maybe Annapolis and Baltimore and those areas do,” she said. “I’m glad to see the governor coming down here to talk about the projects he’s backing. Across the bridge, sometimes they forget that we’re here, except when it’s time to go to the beach.”“The Eastern Shore is often neglected because we don’t have as strong a voice as maybe Annapolis and Baltimore and those areas do,” she said. “I’m glad to see the governor coming down here to talk about the projects he’s backing. Across the bridge, sometimes they forget that we’re here, except when it’s time to go to the beach.”
On Thursday, the governor highlighted projects that might have scored low with the state’s rating system, but nonetheless make a difference for Eastern Shore businesses and residents.On Thursday, the governor highlighted projects that might have scored low with the state’s rating system, but nonetheless make a difference for Eastern Shore businesses and residents.
[Maryland legislature overrides veto of transportation bill][Maryland legislature overrides veto of transportation bill]
At one stop, Hogan announced $26 million to renovate a series of bridges on U.S. 13 in Wicomico and Somerset counties. Currently, heavy trucks can’t use the eastern half of one span in Wicomico, often forcing them to use alternative routes that go through Delaware.At one stop, Hogan announced $26 million to renovate a series of bridges on U.S. 13 in Wicomico and Somerset counties. Currently, heavy trucks can’t use the eastern half of one span in Wicomico, often forcing them to use alternative routes that go through Delaware.
“Completion of this project will not only open the bypass for area commerce, but it will also positively impact local residents, tourists and businesses for years to come,” Hogan said.“Completion of this project will not only open the bypass for area commerce, but it will also positively impact local residents, tourists and businesses for years to come,” Hogan said.
Many Democratic lawmakers have questioned the governor’s transportation-funding decisions, particularly his rejection last year of a $3 billion light-rail project that would have served parts of Baltimore.Many Democratic lawmakers have questioned the governor’s transportation-funding decisions, particularly his rejection last year of a $3 billion light-rail project that would have served parts of Baltimore.
Some said his policies are politically motivated, noting that he approved an expensive commuter-rail project for the Washington suburbs and pumped more money into roads and bridges in jurisdictions where support for him was strong during the 2014 election.Some said his policies are politically motivated, noting that he approved an expensive commuter-rail project for the Washington suburbs and pumped more money into roads and bridges in jurisdictions where support for him was strong during the 2014 election.
The project-rating legislation is partly a response to Hogan’s transportation choices. The governor has said it will stifle local input and skew toward transit projects in heavily populated areas, but supporters contend that the law will increase transparency by forcing the administration to justify any decisions to fund lower-scoring picks.The project-rating legislation is partly a response to Hogan’s transportation choices. The governor has said it will stifle local input and skew toward transit projects in heavily populated areas, but supporters contend that the law will increase transparency by forcing the administration to justify any decisions to fund lower-scoring picks.
Hogan’s appearances on Thursday also included a tour of a welding business; participation in a certificate-graduation ceremony at the facility; a ribbon cutting to celebrate the 20-year extension of a contract for minor-league baseball’s Delmarva Shorebirds to use a Wicomico stadium named after the founder of Perdue Farms, which has a heavy presence in Maryland; and a tour of a Chesapeake Bay marina in Somerset.Hogan’s appearances on Thursday also included a tour of a welding business; participation in a certificate-graduation ceremony at the facility; a ribbon cutting to celebrate the 20-year extension of a contract for minor-league baseball’s Delmarva Shorebirds to use a Wicomico stadium named after the founder of Perdue Farms, which has a heavy presence in Maryland; and a tour of a Chesapeake Bay marina in Somerset.
On Friday, the governor plans to visit Ocean City Elementary School, tour businesses on Assateague Island and in downtown Berlin, and make a transportation announcement in Worcester County. His office has not released details about the project he will discuss during the latter event.On Friday, the governor plans to visit Ocean City Elementary School, tour businesses on Assateague Island and in downtown Berlin, and make a transportation announcement in Worcester County. His office has not released details about the project he will discuss during the latter event.
Ernie Colburn, president and CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, applauded Hogan for “realizing there is life beyond the Bay Bridge.”Ernie Colburn, president and CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, applauded Hogan for “realizing there is life beyond the Bay Bridge.”
He said other governors have made one or two trips each year to the Eastern Shore, but he added that “the frequency with Governor Hogan I have no doubt will be more.”He said other governors have made one or two trips each year to the Eastern Shore, but he added that “the frequency with Governor Hogan I have no doubt will be more.”