This addition of On Transit is the money issue. The BRTB is asking how to spend $340 million, MTA is giving money away, and the Bush administration outlines their plans for the Federal Transportation Bill. Read more about these and some other articles to be informed with On Transit.

The Maryland General Assembly passed a revenue enhancement package that is expected to produce nearly $340 million more dollars over the next 20 years than the BRTB budgeted in Transportation Outlook 2035, the region's long-range transportation plan. In response to public input and amid concerns about escalating costs, the BRTB has determined that additional funds for capital expansion should be directed toward a combination of short- and long-term transit projects.
 
The BRTB will implement a 3-phase process for amending Transportation Outlook 2035:
 
Phase I - Public input, August 1 to September 2, 2008
Phase II - Project identification and technical evaluation, September and December of 2008
Phase III - Public review and approval of the amended plan, December 2008 to February 2009
 
The Phase I public input will be taken at the following two workshops August 12 and 26, the BRTB Meeting August 26, or by written comment submitted by September 2, 2008.

 

For more details on the public meetings and workshops to be held at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices.

 

If you cannot attend a meeting, you may submit written comments to Monica Haines at 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21224; by fax to 410-732-8248; or by e-mail to comments@baltometro.org. Written comments for Phase I must be received no later than September 2. 
 

 

If you want your share of the Job Access and Reverse Commute, New Freedom, or Senior Ride Grants, then you should be at the offices of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21224, at 1:30 p.m. on September 2.

At the meeting MTA will be going over the 3 grants, their requirements, the applications, and the due dates. If you cannot attend the Baltimore Region's kick-off, there will be other meetings throughout Maryland over the following two weeks. Look for a MTA press release in the next week for more information.

 

Applications for Job Access and Reverse Commute and New Freedom Grants will be due to Baltimore Metropolitan Council's offices by 2 p.m. on November 2, 2008. If you are interested in applying, attending this meeting will help you learn what you need to know about these grants. To be prepared, you can review the Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan for the Baltimore Area. 

 

In response to the Administration's proposal, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair, James Oberstar (D-MN) said "It is obvious that the Administration remains blinded by ideology and a lack of a cohesive vision. It offers nothing to ensure a sustainable, long-term, intermodal, national transportation system."

 

 

The State requires that each county create a 5-year Transportation Development Plan (TDP). TDPs are a 5-year plan for transit development in the counties. It looks at where service goes and where it is needed. The Plan also gives recommendations as to how to fund transit projects.

 

Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, and Howard counties are all in the process of developing their respective TDPs. Harford County just completed its TDP process and it will be published soon. Howard County is in a public comment period.

 

 

Contact your county's planning department to see how you can get involved with your TDP.

 

Just in time for $4 gas, the Baltimore Region's Ride Share Program has developed a new, interactive park and ride lot map using Google-Earth features (including to/from directions and real-time traffic congestion).