Trigen Baltimore Energy Corp., the company that owns the steam pipes under city streets, is planning to spend $6.6 million to fix leaky and poorly insulated pipes.
That is great news.
In the summer, excess heat escaping from the pipes melts pavement. It makes the city repave more frequently and turns some roads under which pipes run, like Baltimore Street, into a pock-marked minefield for city drivers.
Some city residents have had hot water coming out of both taps.
On William Street, a few blocks away from Federal Hill Park, the warm pavement draws homeless people for the night.
Repairing the leaks will make the city easier to navigate and safer.
But the company did not exactly jump to fix the problems with its network of pipes, which are almost 100 years old and service about 240 buildings downtown.
State senators George Della Jr., D-46th, Joan Carter Conway, D-43rd, Lisa Gladden, D-41st, Ralph Hughes, D-40th, Verna Jones, D-44th, and Nathaniel McFadden, D-45th, sponsored legislation in February to regulate the utility. Della said he resorted to that action because the company, which has a 25-year franchise with the city, was not taking responsibility for fixing problems with its pipes.
Mayor Martin O?Malley?s administration rightly supported the legislation.
In a March statement to the state Senate Finance Committee, Leif Dormsjo, chief of staff of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, and Jay Sakai, bureau head of the Department of Public Works, called for stronger oversight.
“The city of Baltimore has spent significant resources in performing street repairs directly caused by the continued deterioration of the steam system, money that could have been used for other street projects within the city,” they said.
Amen.
In April, the chief executive officer of the company, Lance Ahearn, confirmed a plan with the city to fix and insulate pipes over the next two years. Part of the proposal includes reporting to the City Board of Estimates every six months to account for previous work and outline upcoming work.
The state House did not take up the legislation for a vote prior to adjourning.
Legislation is no longer necessary given the company?s actions. But Trigen should not take its city contract, which expires in September 2009, for granted in the future. The city should be paid for repairs it made that directly relate to faulty pipes. Plenty of city streets need repair.
