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Monday, January 19, 2015

Congressional Democrats push Red Line, but Hogan won't commit

Maryland Congressional Democrats ratcheted up the pressure Thursday on Gov.-elect Larry Hogan to approve the Red Line, but Hogan maintained he isn't making a decision on the Baltimore light rail project or its Washington, D.C.-area Purple Line sister.

Nine U.S. Senators and Representatives signed a letter sent to Hogan supporting the $2.9 billion Red Line and $2.45 billion Purple Line. The letter touted the projects' economic benefits and up to $900 million in federal funding that would disappear if Maryland does not move forward with the light rail lines.

"The entire Baltimore and Greater Washington area Congressional delegations have fought hard to ensure that federal funds are available to support the Red and Purple Lines, and we have worked closely with State and local leaders to put in place the many components needed to qualify the projects for federal funding," said the letter, which was signed by U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin and U.S. Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, Steny Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Chris Van Hollen, John Sarbanes, Donna F. Edwards and John Delaney.

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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good. All decisions take time and research.

Anonymous said...

That's where all our highway tax money goes. That project does us no good on the shore.

Anonymous said...

Just that list of "Tax & Spenders" is enough to put the brakes on and do some research. Thank you, Larry.

Anonymous said...

Both of these projects are projects that replace buses with fixed rail on the justification that said fixed rail will increase property values and thus increase property tax assessments.

Nether will reduce traffic congestion, increase transit use or reduce transit trip times.

Both will be copies of the the existing Baltimore Central Light Rail, sometimes called the by the transit fanning community The White Sail.

Sand Box John