MARYLAND DEMOCRATS PROPOSE MORE TRANSPARENCY, OVERSIGHT FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

ANNAPOLIS – Complaining that decisions about Maryland’s congested transportation system are made with no accountability or public input, Maryland Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday announced legislation that would create an Oversight and Planning Board for the Maryland Transit Authority.

The bill, sponsored by Delegate Brooke Lierman, D-Baltimore, would create a board composed of both government officials and private citizens.

“MTA is an extremely complicated multi-modal transit system, and yet does not engage in any long-term planning, does not produce regular performance or reliability reports, and does not accept public or local government feedback in any organized way,” Lierman said.

The board would evaluate the Maryland Transit Authority’s budget and policies as well as voice the concerns of residents who have problems with the agency.

Matt Clark, communications director for Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, called the announcement a “thinly veiled power grab” by the Democratically controlled legislature to weaken local authority.

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