OK, so we made it this far into the new year, but there is still a lot to which we should be looking forward.
A new administration will be here with promises of more focus on public transportation.
A new secretary of transportation ? who looks and sounds a lot like the guy who was in the job four years ago ? will be charged with a big balancing act:
» The bridges and tunnel statewide are getting older and many are starting to deteriorate
» The fleet of transit buses could use new equipment and a new driver or two
» The highway system is in need of some improvements and some new options
Oh yeah, there still isn?t enough money to do everything and the Intercounty Connector between Montgomery and Prince George?s counties will gobble up a good portion of it.
Pay to drive at different times
Some options need to be explored more seriously this year: Congestion pricing.
This is going to be tried on a stretch of Interstate 95 north of Baltimore City and basically means you will pay more to drive in extra lanes during certain times of the day.
I?d like to see the same theory used at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to give an incentive for vacationers to hit the road at different times of the day.
Let?s talk about sponsorships
Officials in San Francisco have put out to bid the naming rights for the Golden Gate Bridge.
Is there a good reason why that wouldn?t work here? There is a lot of value in such a venture.
Just think about how many times a certain bank gets mentioned every time the Ravens are playing at home.
We have some major bridges and tunnels that would be perfect candidates for naming rights, and the state could make millions from selling them off.
A toll for driving in Baltimore City?
To reduce the congestion downtown, those driving into Baltimore City during certain times of the day should pay a toll.
This would make the transit system even more attractive and cut down on the need for so many police officers controlling traffic in intersections.
It?s worked in London, and it could work here, too.
The problem is it might work against some of the downtown businesses.
Correction
Yes, Yes, Yes. We made a mistake on the name of the state?s transit agency last week.
Thanks to all who wrote in to call me names and question my family tree.
For the record: MTA is the Maryland Transit Administration.
Questions, comments? Write to [email protected].
