Regional Summit Links Transportation Investments with Economic Development, Challenges Business Community

On the morning of September 22, approximately 120 people gathered on the 21st floor of Baltimore's World Trade Center for a Regional Transportation Summit on Infrastructure Investment, Financing, and Security Challenges and Regional Priorities. The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB), Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) and Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) sponsored the summit in conjunction with the BWI Business Partnership and Baltimore and Howard County Chambers of Commerce.

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley welcomed the attendees on behalf of the BMC Board of Directors, which he chairs. Congressman Ben Cardin reported on the status of federal transportation legislation, and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger discussed homeland security issues related to transportation. George Schoener, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Secretary Robert L. Flanagan, Maryland Department of Transportation gave presentations on federal and state policies on transportation funding. Secretary Flanagan pointed out that, in the past, transportation infrastructure investments in Baltimore City have not yielded hoped for economic development benefits.

Delegate Maggie McIntosh, Deborah Povich of Job Opportunities Task Force, David Gillece of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore and Don Fry of the Greater Baltimore Committee called on the business community to make greater use of government investment in transportation.

A panel consisting of Donald C. Fry, President of the GBC, David Gillece, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, Deborah Povich, Executive Director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, and Delegate Maggie McIntosh, Chair of the House Environmental Matters Committee, Maryland General Assembly, reiterated the need for the private sector to become more involved in transportation issues. Don Fry spoke of the GBC's support of the Baltimore Regional Rail Plan, and its importance in developing new jobs. David Gillece challenged the business community to take advantage of economic development opportunities presented by transportation infrastructure investments. Deborah Povich focused on the difficulties that many entry-level workers have in reaching appropriate jobs using transit. Delegate McIntosh reminded the group that the Baltimore area must compete for funding with the Washington suburbs, and called on the business community to support legislation for transportation investments in the Baltimore area.

Former Congresswoman Helen Bentley attended the Regional Transportation Summit on September 22 to hear USDOT Deputy Assistant Secretary George Schoener speak about the reauthorization of federal transportation legislation (right).

Howard County Executive James N. Robey, chair of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, closed the program by echoing the call to action for the business community to fight for the transportation network that the Baltimore area will need in the years ahead.

Posted: 01/06/2005