Route 1 redevelopment and the Purple Line were two victims of state-wide transportation cuts yesterday – losing millions of dollars to be allocated next year – as Transportation Secretary John Porcari deferred more than $1.1 billion in transportation projects because of falling tax and fee revenues.
This announcement comes on the heels of Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) stating Tuesday that $432 million in cuts would need to be made to the state’s budget to accommodate lower-than-predicted tax revenue. The two announcements are unrelated, as the Transportation Department gets its funding from a different pool of money than the state’s general funds, but both stem from a weak economy affecting governments across the country.
“The revenues received from the motor fuel tax, the vehicle titling tax and vehicle registrations are all coming in below projected levels. These revenues are three of the largest funding sources for transportation projects across the state. Without the expected revenue, we have to defer new projects until we can afford them,” Porcari said in the press release.
Route 1 redevelopment, which city officials have championed for years, had its funding completely eliminated. It was scheduled to receive $7.1 million, including $1 million a year for the next three years and $4.1 million in 2012. The now-deferred money was intended to help the State Highway Administration widen Route 1 and add bus pull-off lanes and sidewalks, which would reduce congestion in the area near the intersection of Route 1 and Route 193.
“We’ve been waiting forever to see these improvements,” said Stephanie Stullich, the District 3 Councilwoman. Stullich bemoaned the lack of funds for existing roads such as Route 1 when millions were still being spent to build the Intercounty Connector.
District 2 councilman Jack Perry shared Stullich’s frustration. He said the longer the state delays the project, the higher construction costs will become because of upcoming housing and commercial developments and their impact on Route 1.
“They’ll look at their plan and say, ‘This plan can’t be right. Look at all the new development. We’ll have to study it again,'” Perry said. “We’ve studied this thing to death. … We finally have a plan, and now there’s no money.”
City council members have called Route 1 physically unattractive and dangerous. Its two-lane width often causes congestion during rush hour and large university events, including athletic games and Maryland Day.
“[Route 1] needs basic maintenance in addition to reconstruction,” Stullich said.
The Purple Line – a new Metro line that would connect College Park with Bethesda and New Carrollton – will receive just less than $75 million over six years, though the project was initially budgeted for $100 million. However, according to a press release from the Transportation Department, the project will remain on track.
The funding for both projects was originally allocated in a six-year transportation plan released by the state in January and was scheduled to come from the state’s transportation trust fund. The trust fund will receive $115 million less than projected due to declining revenues from state fees and taxes, as well as an “unprecedented disruption in federal aid payments,” according to the press release.
Reporter Brady Holt contributed to this report. robillarddbk@gmail.com
