Howard County executive candidates agree the county?s transportation system needs improvement, but they differ on whether the authority should be separated into an independent department.
“I would establish a Department of Transportation and take it out of the Department of Planning and Zoning,” said Democratic candidate Harry Dunbar, the only candidate to promise a separate unit.
This would give transportation a higher priority, Dunbar said, speaking Tuesday at a candidates? forum hosted by the Transportation Advocates, an independent advocacy group.
The transit authority has been housed for the past 10 years in the Department of Planning and Zoning, since the county merged two bus lines, said county Transportation Division Chief Carl Balser.
At the time, funding constraints drove county officials to rely on contractors to run the system, with the county charged with oversight and guiding policies, Balser said.
As the county?s transit needs grow, some critics are suggesting a separate office may mean higher visibility and more money, Balser said.
Democratic Candidate Kenneth Ulman said he would consider looking at a separate transportation department, but the current approach seems to work fine.
“I believe we?ve got a good system and a good organizational model with transportation in the Department of Planning and Zoning,” said Ulman, the county council member for District 4.
His challenger, Independent Stephen Wallis, said he was not sure about a change, but he would research the best practices of other local jurisdictions.
However, he said he would work to give transportation a higher priority.
Republican candidate Chris Merdon said he hasn?t made a decision on the topic yet.
The current council member for District 5 said he would put together a transition team to research the possibility.
However, Balser said housing the transportation duties alongside the zoning authority allows his staff to be closely involved in development plans.
“I believe that the placement of the bus system within Planning and Zoning is actually a good fit, because a lot of what drives the need for additional bus service is new development,” he said.
Dick Kirchner, chairman of Transportation Advocates, said the group hasn?t taken a position on whether there should be a separate department, but said the role should be more prominent.
The forum was held at theFlorence Bain Senior Center in Columbia.
