Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Transportation Update
Transportation funding and protecting the integrity of Maryland’s Transportation Trust Fund, remain a Maryland Chamber priorities. Given Maryland’s fiscal situation, we don’t expect much action in the transportation area during the 2010 General Assembly session. Here are details about two bills our Legislative Committee took up this week:
SB 229/HB 710: Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding
This bill would establish a commission to evaluate short- and long-term transportation and transit funding, construction and maintenance needs and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. The Maryland Chamber supports the bill. Maryland’s transportation infrastructure is essential to our economy and quality of life. The commission would include at least three representatives from Maryland’s business community. The Maryland Chamber believes that action must be taken fund important transportation projects and protect existing transportation funding.
HB 383: Transportation Trust Fund Protection Act
This bill would prohibit the transfer or diversion of funds from the Transportation Trust Fund except under specified circumstances. It would require the Governor to declare the transfer necessary due to extraordinary financial conditions and legislation enacted prior to the transfer provides for repayment of the funds within five years of the transfer. Maryland has a significant backlog of transportation projects, yet in recent years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been transferred out of the TTF. Given recent revenue reductions, the Maryland Chamber believes that the preservation of existing transportation dollars is essential to meeting the State’s transportation needs. We support the bill.
For more information contact Allyson Black at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
