Letters: More to ICC bill than bonds
[Editor's note: The Post passed on this LTE from a smart-growth-advocate friend of mine, yet here it is on the WWW. Witness blogocracy in action. --MW]
Dear Editor:
"House Votes to Increase Bond Funding for Connector," March 29, leaves out a few important points about the bill that was passed. The bill calls for $265 million to be withdrawn from the state's General Fund to pay for the ICC over the next five years. Under the Ehrlich administration many programs have seen steep budget cuts in the last three years. Locking in $265 million for the ICC means more difficulty funding important programs like Thorton, school construction, medicaid, other transportation needs, and much more.
The real question is how the ICC became the state's number one priority. It is incredible that the Post continues to perpetuate the myth that an ICC "would help relieve Capital Beltway tie-ups." It is widely accepted that the ICC would have no impact on Beltway congestion. The Maryland State Highway Administration's own study affirms this. The study also states, "I-270 and I-95 are north-south oriented freeways and therefore demand in the future is not expected to be helped by an ICC," (Page IV-50 of ICC DEIS).
It's time to lay to rest the myth that the ICC will ease regional traffic congestion. Using the $2.4 billion funding package the House passed Tuesday Maryland could fund a comprehensive transportation improvement program that would serve far more people, far more effectively than building the ICC. Let's get our priorities straight. Our region needs good transportation solutions, not ICC political games.
Brian Henry
Audubon Naturalist Society
Chevy Chase, MD
Dear Editor:
"House Votes to Increase Bond Funding for Connector," March 29, leaves out a few important points about the bill that was passed. The bill calls for $265 million to be withdrawn from the state's General Fund to pay for the ICC over the next five years. Under the Ehrlich administration many programs have seen steep budget cuts in the last three years. Locking in $265 million for the ICC means more difficulty funding important programs like Thorton, school construction, medicaid, other transportation needs, and much more.
The real question is how the ICC became the state's number one priority. It is incredible that the Post continues to perpetuate the myth that an ICC "would help relieve Capital Beltway tie-ups." It is widely accepted that the ICC would have no impact on Beltway congestion. The Maryland State Highway Administration's own study affirms this. The study also states, "I-270 and I-95 are north-south oriented freeways and therefore demand in the future is not expected to be helped by an ICC," (Page IV-50 of ICC DEIS).
It's time to lay to rest the myth that the ICC will ease regional traffic congestion. Using the $2.4 billion funding package the House passed Tuesday Maryland could fund a comprehensive transportation improvement program that would serve far more people, far more effectively than building the ICC. Let's get our priorities straight. Our region needs good transportation solutions, not ICC political games.
Brian Henry
Audubon Naturalist Society
Chevy Chase, MD
posted by Waage on Wednesday, April 06, 2005
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home