Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Garagiola to Introduce Transportation Funding Bill
With the Senate bill filing deadline approaching, Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola (D-Dist 15) said he would introduce his transportation funding package this week.
The legislation is expected to include a gas tax increase and an increase in motor vehicle registration fees. Other funding options are also being considered. Garagiola said his proposal is a starting point, and that he is seeking to build momentum to ensure the General Assembly acts this year. “We need to move forward this session with a transportation funding package. We cannot wait another year,” he said.
One key element of his proposal will be a constitutional amendment to establish that transportation funds may not be transferred from the Transportation Trust Fund to the state’s general fund to be used for other purposes.
The Maryland Chamber joined together with Greater Baltimore Committee, AAA Mid-Atlantic, local chambers and many other organizations last week to launch a new statewide coalition, the State Transportation Alliance to Restore Trust (START). The coalition’s goal is to protect and enhance transportation funding.
“We have to restore trust to the Transportation Trust Fund and increase transportation funding,” Maryland Chamber President and CEO Kathy Snyder, CCE said. “It will create jobs, but it’s also an economic development issue, a workforce issue and a quality of life issue.”
In a report released earlier this week, TRIP, a national transportation research group, found that congestion and deficient roads cost the average motorist in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area more than $2,200 per year - a $7 billion impact statewide. The Maryland Chamber believes the report underscores the need to act now. Contact your lawmakers and encourage them to support legislation to protect and enhance transportation funding.
For more information, contact Allyson Black at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
