A Letter To The Editor: MD Transportation Funding Bill - HB 1018 & SB 908

Joe, I am hoping you can get this information out to our Eastern Shore Residents. This could be devastating to our economy & quality of life.

On Saturday March 19, 2016, the MD House of Delegates passed HB 1013 This bill severely lessenw the amount of transportation funds available to the Eastern Shore by favoring urban areas (Balt/Wash area).

Instead of the current system relying on experts and local officials to balance state-wide need, the proposal would establish nine goals that the department must consider. HB 1013 would severely limit how the Department of Transportation sets priorities for spending. The department is required to 'assign a score from 1 to 100 for each goal using the following measures:

"IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROJECT–BASED SCORING SYSTEM DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION, RANK MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE DRAFT AND FINAL CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.

THE STATE TRANSPORTATION GOALS ARE:

(I) SAFETY AND SECURITY;

(II) SYSTEM PRESERVATION;

(III) QUALITY OF SERVICE;

(IV) ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP;

(V) COMMUNITY VITALITY;

(VI) ECONOMIC PROSPERITY;

(VII) EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION; AND

(VIII) COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT; AND

(IX) LOCAL PRIORITIES AND PLANNING. ""

The details of each requirements are listed in the bill.

The scoring system is spelled out: each of the nine priorities is given 100 points maximum. Many of the measures promote mass transit over highways. 'Quality of service' requires measuring 'connections between different modes of transportation and promotes multiple transportation choices,' which are rarely found in rural communities. For 'environmental stewardship,' the requirement is to 'limit or reduce harmful emissions,' which is a statement against automobiles...

Other measures directly prioritize spending in urban communities over rural. 'Community vitality' measures how 'the project is projected to increase the use of walking, biking, and transit,' which is a SEVER disadvantage to rural communities, like those on the Eastern Shore. Both “economic prosperity' and 'equitable access to transportation' have drive time distances between individuals and employers, which would prioritize urban areas over rural areas with longer commutes. Congestion in rural areas would further strip away their ability to be a funding priority as time progresses...

This is the most devastating requirement for the Eastern Shore.

FOR REGIONAL EQUITY:

"THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MULTIPLY THE TOTAL COMBINED SCORE OF EACH MAJOR CAPITAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT BY A WEIGHTING FACTOR EQUAL TO ONE PLUS THE RESULTS OF DIVIDING THE POPULATION IN THE PROJECT COUNTY OR COUNTIES WHERE THE PROJECT WILL BE LOCATED BY THE POPULATION OF MARYLAND."

Maryland has 6 million total residents, with 1 million living in Montgomery County and 52,000 living in Dorchester County. That means Montgomery County (1 + 16 totaling 17) would have an almost 11 times HIGHER PRIORITY over Dorchester County (1 + .54 totaling 1.54). Wicomico County population is 100,000 meaning Montgomery County would have 8.5 times higher priority over Worcester County.

Population of MD Counties (per Cenus Bureau):

Mongomery Co 1,000,000

Prince George Co 950,000

Baltimore City 622,800

Anne Arrundel Co. 560,000

Baltimore Co. 850,000

Howard Co 310,000

Harford Co 250,000

Frederick Co 243,600

Washington Co 145,900

Carroll Co 167,800

Charles Co 157,700

St Mary's Co 105,000

Cecil Co 102,300

Wicomico Co. 100,000

Calvert Co 90,600

Allegany Co 72,950

Worcester Co 52,000

Queen Anne's Co 48,800

Talbot Co 37,600

Dorchester Co. 32,500

Caroline Co 32,600

Garrett Co 29,700

Somerset Co 25,800

Kent Co 19,800

There are 23 Counties in MD: The Eastern Shore Counties Rank 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd & 23rd.

It’s obvious to see where the legislators plan for the transportation money be spent.

The bill further states:

“The Department shall prioritize major transportation projects with higher scores for inclusion in the consolidated transportation program over major transportation projects with lower scores.”

This Bill and/or the similar Senate Bill will destroy the Eastern Shore. We will lose over 2,000+ highway construction jobs and numerous businesses. We lose these jobs, the whole economy fails.

The similar MD Senate Bill 908 is currently in committee. Governor Hogan will veto these bills, but the Senate has enough votes to over ride his veto.

I have contacted State Senator Jim Mathias & House Representative Carl Anderton, Jr. via e-mail. Rep Anderton responded within a few hours stating that he was against the bill. Even after a second e-mail, I have received NO response from Jim Mathias.

We need our residents of the Eastern Shore to join together to protect our share of transportation funding If not, there will be no money for road improvements, road expansion, bridge replacements and repairs and safety improvements.

Thank you!