Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Transportation Funding Study Bills Moving
Both houses of the Maryland General Assembly have passed bills that would appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding to study the state’s short- and long-term transportation funding needs. The Maryland Chamber supported the bills. The two versions are slightly different and will be reviewed by key committees in the opposite house during the next week.
The Commission would review and make recommendations on a number of items, including:
- Current Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) funding sources and the structure of the TTF
- Transit and highway construction and maintenance funding needs.
- Options for public-private partnerships to meet transportation funding needs.
- The impact of economic development and smart growth on transportation funding.
- Options for sustainable, long-term revenue sources for transportation.
The Commission would submit an interim report by January 2011 and a final report by November 2011.
Maryland’s transportation infrastructure is critical to the State’s economy and business community. The Maryland Chamber continues to encourage lawmakers to protect the funds currently in the fund or designated for the fund and to identify new funding sources to ensure a healthy, sustainable TTF. Both bills appoint representatives from the business community to the Commission.
For more information, contact Allyson Black at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
