Instead of building two bypasses that Carroll lawmakers called critical to reducing traffic congestion, the state announced Wednesday plans to upgrade existing county roads.
Funding for the Manchester and Westminster bypasses were passed over as the state works on existing roads, such as Route 140, which cuts the county in half from Eldersburg to Taneytown.
The bypasses need to be the “No. 1 priority,” said Sen. Larry Haines, adding, “I just think it?s the wrong plan with what we?re doing with Route 140.”
The state plans to extendRoute 97 over 140 and this year will study the Route 140 intersections with Center and Englar streets in Westminster to try to improve traffic flow.
Haines, R-District 5, has been lobbying for the bypasses since 1995.
Delaying them could mean they?re never built, another delegate said.
“If it?s off the table, it?ll be permanently off the table because there?ll be no land left to purchase,” said Del. Tanya Shewell, R-District 5A. “We?re not doing the right thing.”
The Manchester bypass neared the top of the county priorities for study this year, but Planning Director Steve Horn said he was satisfied with the state?s decisions.
“They understand the county?s priorities,” Horn said. “There are a lot of projects out there and there?s just not enough money.”
The state has $400 billion in unfunded transportation projects on the table. It hopes to raise money for them by increasing the gas tax nearly 1 cent each year to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of steel, asphalt and concrete, state Transportation Secretary John Porcari said.
Haines, however, wanted some assurance on his priorities before giving the tax his blessing.
“We?ve got some major needs, just like all the other jurisdictions,” he said. “We?d like some assurance.”
