Regional leaders yielded to public demand for more transit projects in a long-range transportation plan, but officials called the move symbolic because funding is scarce.
“We?re only scratching the surface, because we?re financially constrained,” said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, chairman of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board.
The board developed a plan listing needed road and rail projects by 2035, citing five transit projects and 49 road projects.
The public wanted more transit options, so the board diverted proposed funding from six road projects and put it into MARC train and Baltimore subway improvements.
The diverted funding is about $250 million, but the state projects MARC train improvements to cost more than $3 billion by 2035.
“This is certainly not going to fund the entire plan … but will help in increasing frequency and improving the system,” said Harvey Bloom, transportation director for the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.
Future funding could be at stake this month as the General Assembly wrestles with ever-increasing deficits and transportation improvements.
Though residents wanted more public transit, current MARC service sees only one-way traffic with most commuters heading toward Washington rather than Baltimore City. Officials say substantial improvements are needed to make transit a sensible alternative.
“The most salient fact is that only 8 to 10 percent of the people use transit to get to work,” Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold said. “Until we make it more convenient, giving up automobiles is not going to happen.”
There will be a public meeting from 6 to 8 this evening and 9 a.m. Nov. 27 at the BMC headquarters, 2700 Lighthouse Road, Baltimore City.
For more information, visit baltmetro.org.
