B'More Involved

Information You Can Use.  Action You Can Take.

Serving Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties and the Cities of Annapolis and Baltimore. 

In This Issue:

 December 31, 2007

ONE MORE MAY BE ONE TOO MANY - CHOOSE A SOBER DRIVER

 

UNION BRIDGE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OPEN FOR REVIEW

TAKE TRANSIT TO SEE THE FIREWORKS THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE

COMMENTS WELCOME ON PROPOSAL FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

 

US 1 / SULPHUR SPRING ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT MEETING

 

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY 1-2-3 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS

ENHANCING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SENIORS

 

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ONE MORE MAY BE ONE TOO MANY - CHOOSE A SOBER DRIVER

The holiday season can be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year due to an increase in impaired drivers.

In December of 2006, 1,076 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Following these easy steps, a driver can enjoy a safe and festive holiday without jeopardizing their life and the lives of the others who may be on the road:

  • Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;

  • Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;

  • If you’re impaired, use a taxi (In Baltimore City call 877-963-TAXI for a free ride), call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;

 

  • If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact the police;

  • And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk. Don’t ever get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you are impaired.

>>> Visit www.stopimpaireddriving.org for more information

TAKE TRANSIT TO SEE THE FIREWORKS THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE

Instead of worrying about parking or traffic this New Year's Eve, why not use transit to get to the fireworks at the Baltimore Inner Harbor or to other holiday events.  

MTA light rail and subway will operate 1-2 hours after the fireworks display.

 

Check out the MTA's New Year's schedule for December 31 - January 2 online or call 410-539-5000.  You can also contact your local transit provider to get up-to-date holiday transit schedules.

>>> Visit www.baltometro.org for a list of transit providers

US 1 / SULPHUR SPRING ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT MEETING

The U.S. 1 bridge over Sulphur Spring Road in Arbutus, MD is scheduled to be rehabilitated in 2008.  The main objective of this project is to replace the deteriorated concrete bridge deck and make some repairs to the bridge abutments.  Additional maintenance work will include cleaning and painting the steel beams.

 

US 1/ Sulphur Spring Road Bridge Informational Meeting

Date:

 

January 9, 2008 (Backup/Snow Date:  January 16, 2008)

Time:

 

5:30 to 7 p.m.

Location:

 

Halethorpe Elementary School
4300 Maple Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21227

This informational meeting will acquaint the public with the project and give you an opportunity to inform the MD State Highway Administration (SHA) of any special concerns you may have.  Display areas will be set up depicting the anticipated operational and safety improvements, and SHA representatives will be available to discuss project issues and answer questions concerning the proposed construction.

>>> Visit www.sha.state.md.us for more details

ENHANCING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SENIORS

The Maryland Research Consortium will hold a symposium on Enhancing Transportation Options for Seniors in Maryland on Thursday, January 17, 2008.

A free buffet lunch will be provided at Noon. Those interested in attending should RSVP to Veretta Taylor at 410-768-7371 or vtaylor3@mdot.state.md.us.

Enhancing Transportation Options for Seniors in Maryland

Date:

 

January 17, 2008

Time:

 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location:

 

Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (Room 8 North)
692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum, Maryland 21090

Transit:

 

MITAGS provides a free shuttle service for students to - from the BWI Airport, the BWI Light Rail, and the BWI Amtrak Station. Upon arrival at these locations, please contact the hotel front desk at 410-859-5700, extension "0" to arrange pick-up.

Topics and presenters include:

  • MTA Statewide Planning - Latrina Trotman, Chief, Statewide Programs, Maryland Transit Administration

  • Innovative Volunteer Program Provides Transportation and Builds Community -  Anne Myers, Partners In Care

  • NeighborRide: Howard County’s Volunteer Driver Program - Brad Close, Executive Director, NeighborRide

  • Finding and Enhancing Transportation in Rural Areas - Jon Burkhardt, Westat;

  • ITNAmerica and the Independent Transportation Network - Katherine Freund, Executive Director, ITNAmerica

  • European Transportation Options - Christopher (Kit) Mitchell, Institution of Highways and Transportation United Kingdom

  • CTAA Role In Enhancing Local Area Transportation - Rex Knolton, Community Transportation Association of America

UNION BRIDGE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OPEN FOR REVIEW

After a series of public meetings and review by the Union Bridge Planning Commission, a draft Union Bridge Community Comprehensive Plan has been released for a 60-day public review period.  Comments will be accepted through February 18, 2008.

The Union Bridge Planning Commission will hold a public information meeting on February 21, 2008 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Union Bridge Town Hall (104 W. Locust Street, Union Bridge, Maryland 21791) to answer questions about the plan. This meeting immediately will be followed by a public hearing the same evening.

 

In the event of inclement weather which causes the cancellation of the evening activities at Carroll County Public Schools, the information session and hearing will be held on February 28, 2008 at the same time and location.

The public review draft issued by the Planning Commission can be viewed in .pdf format by visiting ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/compplan/unbridge/default.asp. Hard copies also are available for review in the Carroll County Planning Department (Room 204 of the County Office Building), the Union Bridge Town Hall (104 W. Locust Street, Union Bridge) and both the Westminster Branch of the Carroll County Public Library (50 E. Main Street, Westminster) and the Taneytown Branch of the Carroll County Public Library (10 Grand Drive, Taneytown).

>>> Download the plan or Submit comments at ccgovernment.carr.org

COMMENTS WELCOME ON PROPOSAL FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The Workforce Transportation & Referral Center, a program of Sojourner-Douglass College, Inc. (a private non-profit organization located in Baltimore City, Maryland) is applying to the Maryland Transit Administration for funding to meet the transportation needs of unemployed and underemployed individuals of Baltimore City who need access to jobs when private and public transportation is not available.

Capital funds in the amount of $55,000 are being requested to purchase a vehicle to transport persons with disabilities to job sites, as well as funds for operational assistance are being requested through State Rural and Community Based Services (RCB). The estimated operational cost of this program is $684,500, of which $477,500 is being requested in State funds. The remainder will be funded by local matching funds.

A public hearing to discuss this proposal will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., at 500 N. Caroline Street.

Any private citizen, public or private transit or paratransit operator may attend this hearing and/or submit comments by contacting Sandy Conner in writing at Sojourner-Douglass College -- Workforce Transportation & Referral Center (SDC-WTRC) at 500 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 or via email at sconner@host.sdc.edu

Comments must be received by SDC-WTRC no later than thirty days from the date of this notice.

>>> Visit www.sdc.edu/departments/outreach/wtrc.asp for more info

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY 1-2-3 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS

The Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD), in partnership with local community and faith-based organizations across the state of Maryland, will distribute 7000 Protect Your Family 1-2-3 emergency preparedness go-kits to individuals and families across the State. 

The go-kits, which include light sticks, first aid and personal care items, water bottles and preparedness information, will be distributed with the help of local organizations across the state. 

 

MDOD’s Protect Your Family 1-2-3 campaign has a simple emergency preparedness message targeting 3000 individuals and families with persons who are elderly or medically frail, 1500 individuals and families who are economically disadvantaged, and 2500 Spanish-speaking individuals and families who may not have ready access to preparedness messages and information in English. 

The message communicates three main ideas quickly and in non-verbal form: 

  1. Pick a place to reunite with your family;

  2. Be ready with water, food and medicine; and

  3. Know where to seek help before, during and after a disaster or emergency strikes. 

>>> For more information, visit www.mdod.state.md.us

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

All of us at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council wish you a very happy new year!

 

Engaging the Baltimore Metropolitan Region in
transportation planning, equity, and environmental justice.
Baltimore Metropolitan Council

 

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