On Monday at the College Park Metro station Gov. Ehrlich explained the improvements that have already begun to metro stations, sidewalks, and lighting.

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich joined university, city and Metro officials yesterday at the College Park Metro station in a ceremony to acknowledge safety improvements at one of the most dangerous areas in College Park.

In a speech no longer than four minutes, Ehrlich praised the $78,800 project, which included new light installations and shrub removal, as an example of government working at its very best. The project provided much-needed lighting to an area notorious among students and residents for robberies.

“There’s an interesting dynamic in politics, and in this case it’s about as good as it gets,” Ehrlich told a small group of reporters and officials congregated near the kiss and ride lot. “Elected officials got together with the university, got together with neighborhood groups and put a task force together. The task force came back with a series of recommendations that led to a proposal. It’s precisely how it’s supposed to work.”

On six roads between Route 1 and the Metro station, a total of 64 street lights were modernized to provide better lighting for some of the more popular paths pedestrians use when they walk home at night. The improvements also included new sidewalks along several roads around the station and the removal of shrubs near the train tracks that run adjacent to the Metro tracks. Rita Davis, the Yellow and Green Line Metro manager, said taking out the shrubs near the tunnel under the tracks eliminated potential hiding spots for criminals.

Though the dedication ceremony fell on a day many associate with failures in security, Metro officials said it was just a coincidence Ehrlich’s speech was given on Sept. 11. The improvements, they said, were just a part of the natural progress of renovating their stations, but they also said it would not have been done without the concerns voiced by the university.

Sen. John Giannetti, who was not present at the ceremony, played a significant role in the changes to the station, chairing the College Park Pedestrian Lighting Task Force that developed the plan for the improvements. Students, representatives from civic associations and officials from College Park were also part of the task force.

It was not clear why Giannetti did not attend, however, he has been chastised in the past for being too close with Ehrlich.

Ehrlich said there will be similar improvements on Greenbelt Road to the tune of $90,000 and another $150,000 project on Powder Mill Road near Route 193.

Contact reporter Owen Praskievicz at praskieviczdbk@gmail.com.