Democrats Propose Transportation Measures

Maryland lawmakers on Tuesday proposed measures that they say will increase transparency in how state transportation money is spent, but a spokesman for Republican Gov. Larry Hogan questioned where their calls for accountability were when the preceding administration shifted hundreds of millions of dollars away from transportation for years to balance the budget.

Leaders of the Democratic-led legislature discussed several measures they contend will better steer money to places where smothering traffic congestion has become an economic development concern. Democrats contend they passed the state's first gas tax hike in two decades in 2013 - over the objections of Republicans - to pay for badly needed infrastructure upgrades, only to have the Republican governor pull the plug on a light rail plan called the Red Line in Baltimore. Hogan also shifted greater costs for another rail plan in the Washington suburbs known as the Purple Line to local governments.

In June, two months after lawmakers adjourned from their 90-day session, Hogan announced his decisions on the two light rail proposals - and that he would spend nearly $2 billion on roads and bridges throughout the state.

"After session we found out, and really what has taken place as far as I'm concerned is: Where the job creation needs to take place, where people need to get back and forth to the workplace, where the growth of the state is, he did not invest that money," House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, said at a news conference Tuesday.

Hogan campaigned against the transportation funding transfers his predecessor, then-Gov. Martin O'Malley, used to fill budget holes during the recession. Hogan also campaigned against toll hikes, and he announced toll reductions in May. That decision further angered Democrats, who say the money is needed for infrastructure.

Senate President Mike Miller told reporters today that the intention of these bills was not, "to clip[ the wings" of Governor Hogan, when it comes to transportation spending, but it is a question of making sure the money goes where it is needed.

Matt Clark, Hogan's spokesman, said the governor has worked with local officials throughout Maryland to address critical infrastructure needs.

"Today's thinly veiled power grab is a reckless attempt by legislators to weaken the role of county executives and other local authorities in order to drown the state's crucial investments in roads, bridges and transit projects into the bilge of Annapolis politics and lobbying," Clark said.

Clark also rejected Democrats' claims that the governor is favoring rural, Republican controlled areas when it comes to transportation spending.

The Hogan Administration noted that in its current 6-year transportation budget, Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, which are all controlled by Democrats get the most money.

“If the leadership in the General Assembly were sincerely interested in oversight of Maryland’s transportation network, they would have intervened to stop the previous administration from stealing $1 billion from the Transportation Trust Fund at a time when the state’s roads and bridges were crumbling. Instead, the legislature took no action, Clark added. “The Hogan administration has worked closely with authorities in every county to create an unprecedented, $2 billion plan that addresses critical transportation projects in every jurisdiction while also boosting funding for local roads by more than $230 million. “Governor Hogan’s six year transportation plan will deliver real improvements to Maryland’s transportation infrastructure and was developed based on actual need and feedback from local communities – not political pressure.”

Here's a look at what lawmakers are proposing:

PRIORITY PLANNING

A new process would be put in place to screen and rank the priority transportation projects based on their anticipated benefits, such as reducing congestion and increasing economic development.

OVERSIGHT BOARD

A planning board of transit riders and citizens would be formed to provide a forum for the public to be represented and heard by state transit officials.

NICE BRIDGE

Legislation would require the Maryland Transportation Authority to take the needed steps to begin construction soon on a replacement for the 75-year-old Harry W. Nice Bridge in southern Maryland.

TAX CREDIT

A measure would double the commuter benefits tax credit from $50 a month to $100 and reduce carpool eligibility from eight riders to six riders to encourage more carpooling.

The tax credit is sponsored by Baltimore City Delegate Cory McCray, and the MTA oversight board bill is sponsored by Baltimore City Delegate Brooke Lierman. Both spoke to WBAL NewsRadio 1090.