Looking back on my time as Chair of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, I'm impressed by the sincere efforts of my colleagues to collaborate and address shared challenges facing the region.

As the region begins receiving its first wave of jobs related to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), regional cooperation throughout the greater Baltimore area has blossomed.  Harford County launched a multi-jurisdictional BRAC coalition, the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor (CSSC) consortium.  The CSSC represents a broad group of members from neighboring jurisdictions impacted by BRAC-related growth at Aberdeen Proving Ground as well as other strategic partners, including the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

In January, The CSSC was recognized by the National Association of Counties as a national model for "unprecedented" regional cooperation among neighboring jurisdictions, and has been invaluable in evaluating opportunities and challenges presented by BRAC.  

Another milestone of 2007 was the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board's (BRTB) update to the region's fiscally-constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan -- a two year planning process with spirited public involvement.  The federally-mandated draft plan was released in July.  After dozens of public meetings and other opportunities for public comment and dialogue, it was amended to include increased funding for transit projects. The final plan was adopted in November.

I would like to personally thank Howard County Executive Ken Ulman for his leadership as chair of the BRTB during this time, as his efforts to find greater consensus among the state and local jurisdictions resulted in a better multi-modal plan with more emphasis on mass transit improvements.  I wish Ken well as he takes the helm as the new BMC chair for 2008.