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Smith Outlines Baltimore County Transportation Priorities Towson, Md. (October 19, 2009)—Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith outlined Baltimore County's transportation priorities to Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley and her senior staff members this morning. Following is the text of Smith's remarks. Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith's Remarks Maryland Department of Transportation Annual Tour Meeting Secretary Swaim-Staley, it is an honor to welcome you and your staff from the Maryland Department of Transportation to Baltimore County. One year ago, a financial crisis began on Wall Street, a crisis that soon spread throughout our nation, devastating the American economy in ways unseen since the Great Depression. We are all painfully aware that no worker, family, business, or government is unaffected by the slowdown in our national economy. With the financial crisis affecting government at every level, Governor Martin O'Malley has also had to make some tough decisions in order to secure our State's future. During the past year, the Maryland Department of Transportation had to slash $2.1 billion from its construction programs due to the economic downturn, putting projects throughout our State on hold, including some in Baltimore County. While these cuts are extremely difficult for those of us in local government, I understand their necessity. The financial challenges confronting the entire country have not spared our State. However, especially in these difficult times, infrastructure remains essential both to the quality of life and to the potential for economic growth of our communities. And I know that working together, we will develop a plan that will meet the important transportation needs of Baltimore County in a fiscally responsible manner. This morning I will speak in detail about four of Baltimore County's priorities that I hope you will continue to support. I will also briefly mention a number of other projects that are very important to economic growth in the County. Dolfield Boulevard/I-795 Interchange and the Owing Mills New Town Development The Dolfield Boulevard/I-795 interchange remains Baltimore County's number one local transportation priority. A preliminary feasibility study has been completed. This study documented the need for the interchange and associated improvements. As you know, we recently entered into another partnering agreement with the State Highway Administration to fund up to $625,000 of a project planning study for this vitally needed improvement. As I said last year, I do have some minor concerns that the State's analysis conducted so far underestimates the consequence of the "no build" option on the local and State road system. I also have concerns that the needed intersection improvements on some of the local roads may be excessive. However, the Project Planning Study will provide an appropriate vehicle to review these issues. I am also hopeful that the Project Planning Study will identify opportunities for staged construction that will permit the interchange to be constructed prior to much of the associated mainline widening of I-795. Although that widening is also needed, it would add considerable cost to the overall project, possibly delaying the advancement of the Construction phase. Martin MARC TOD With the renaissance of the Middle River area, the transformation and expansion of the Aberdeen Proving Ground that is already underway, and the ongoing development of MD 43, our Road to Opportunity, I believe that a MARC Station in Middle River has great potential. The relocation of this station to the east side of MD 43 would allow it to complement the redevelopment of the 2 million square foot GSA Depot facility as a mixed-use, transit-oriented development to provide office and residential space related to BRAC. We are pleased that the Maryland Department of Transportation has recognized the promise of this project and has undertaken the Martin State MARC Station Relocation Feasibility and TOD study, under the direction of the Office of Planning and Capital Programming. This consultant study should provide a strong factual basis for future TOD planning in Middle River. We look forward to the report and recommendations later this fall. The County also hopes that the relocation of the Middle River station will be part of the first phase of the MARC investment plan during its initial ten year horizon. However, to fully achieve the utility of all our MARC stations, it will require investment in double-decker coaches and parking structures to provide adequate parking for commuter vehicles. Construct New Rail Transit Lines Baltimore County continues to be a strong supporter of the Baltimore Region Transit Plan and the transit planning process. A first class mass transit system is vital to the continued growth of communities throughout the Baltimore region. A comprehensive and integrated transit system is as important to the region's infrastructure as appropriate highway capacity. It was a momentous occasion this summer when you stood with the Governor to announce 4C as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Red Line. We intend to do all we can to help keep the process on track for the beginning of construction in four years. For example, in support of the process and FTA application submittal, the County recently completed a Red Line Corridor Technical Report. This report recommends broad-spectrum changes to the Proposed Land Use Map, the Growth Management Areas Map, the URDL, the Zoning Map and Water and Sewer Designations Map-changes that would allow more transit-oriented development to occur in the County's Red Line corridor. BRAC Corridor Improvements The expansion of BRAC at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds presents an unprecedented economic development opportunity for all of Central Maryland. Pulaski Highway, the main street of the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor, is a logical location to accommodate BRAC-related jobs and residents. It is already clear, however, that improvements may be needed at major intersections along this corridor and additional through capacity and safety improvements may also be needed. In light of the potential benefits BRAC may have to our region, we feel special consideration should be given to improvements along US 40 between Ebenezer Road and Middle River Road. We continue to encourage the State to address needs for intersection improvements in the southern portion of this corridor where the future Campbell Boulevard will cross US 40 (current Mohrs Lane Bridge) and MD 7. We are currently working with the Maryland Department of Transportation to find a way to forward fund the design and our portion of the construction of this project at County expense. This will allow us to begin intersection improvements prior to the State resolving its current financial issues. With the BRAC realignment drawing closer, it is imperative that we ensure the appropriate infrastructure to accommodate the new residents and jobs that we anticipate adding to this area. The State Highway Administration has already funded a Streetscape Enhancement Project in Harford County that included removal of the concrete barrier, road resurfacing, construction of a planted and tree-lined median, and safe pedestrian crosswalks. We hope that these Streetscape enhancements will be extended to include the US 40 corridor through Baltimore County. Streetscape Enhancement will be an essential element of the branding for the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor and will be coordinated with a revitalization plan for the US 40 Corridor being undertaken by the County as part of its implementation of the BRAC Action Plan. We appreciate the commitment that the State has already made to improve US 40 between White Marsh Boulevard and Middle River Road. We hope that this project will move to construction as soon as possible. Several businesses in the vicinity of the White Marsh Boulevard and Philadelphia Road interchange have indicated that they are having difficulty accessing the regional highway network through the existing partial interchange. Due to the nearby reconstruction that will be occurring as a result of the I-95 project, we feel it would be appropriate for the State to conduct an interchange study of MD 43 and MD 7 to determine what improvements might be feasible and warranted to improve access to the regional highway network. Additionally, the proposed high-density mixed-use development at Nottingham Ridge will more than likely require improved access to White Marsh Boulevard. In order to increase the Corridor's ability to attract high-quality employment and mixed-use development Baltimore County applied for, and was awarded, a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) to study what steps, including transportation-related projects, need to be taken in the Corridor. The first phase of this study is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Other Transportation Needs While these four projects are major priorities for Baltimore County, we have other transportation needs that are also important. In no particular order, I respectfully ask the State to consider funding the following:
Baltimore County understands the difficulties that this State faces in confronting the current recession. But I am confident that together, we can find a way that is fiscally responsible to support the prosperity of our communities and the mobility of our residents. I look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Transportation and the State of Maryland to meet these infrastructure needs. Thank you very much for consideration of our requests, and thank you for being here this morning. |
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