Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Posted on 08/17/2010 8:40:42 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Governor Martin O'Malley says Maryland has to "dial up mass transit." His opponent, Bob Ehrlich, says there needs to be a better mix of road and mass transit projects and has been sharply critical of problems on MARC trains. Mike Hellgren takes a closer look at transportation and why it's creating a politically charged controversy.
Governor O'Malley says Maryland just doesn't have more room for new road projects, although some are underway, including the Intercounty Connector. His push for mass transit includes the red line in Baltimore and purple line in the DC suburbs.
At the center of the debate: how to best spend your tax dollars--billions of them--and whether they'll be spent in the DC suburbs or in Baltimore.
Both incumbent Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley and his Republican challenger Bob Ehrlich have traded barbs over transportation that started with the massive MARC mess when heat-related equipment failures left angry riders stranded for hours.
The two clashed again after O'Malley stated that there's no more room for new roads as he pushed for mass transit including the purple line connecting Bethesda and New Carrollton and the red line through Baltimore.
Ehrlich wants to scrap both the red and purple lines. Combined, they cost $3 billion.
"My chosen route with regard to both is Rapid Bus," Ehrlich said.
He says the cash that saves would go to better use fixing the troubled MARC and DC metro systems.
"I would rather tell people straight up, this is what we can afford. This is what is unaffordable. This is what we can do in the short term," Ehrlich said.
Construction is underway now on the massive Intercounty Connector project, championed by both O'Malley and Ehrlich.
Another very expensive project under discussion is the expansion of Interstate 270.
"I'm more for roads because I don't use public transit. I never have," said Shirley Summers.
"It seems as though the infrastructure is built for the rich and the upper middle class without considering the majority of people who ride buses and trains who deserve to have those run safely and on time," said Edward Schrader.
An open question is whether Maryland would raise the gas tax to pay for these expensive projects. O'Malley has not said whether he would or not; Ehrlich says he has no plans to do so but didn't say no definitively.
Both O'Malley and Ehrlich have raised more than $3 million each for their campaigns, but O'Malley has more cash on hand. Their campaign finance reports are due by midnight.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
As long as they don’t talk about extending I-795 to the Pennsylvania line, I’m happy.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Aren’t there at least 2 sets of escalators at Union Station Metro? Were they both out?
It’s been 15 years but I think the MARC/Metro were great. Actually, MARC was worse because there were more delays - especially in winter when Union Station switches would freeze. But overall, it was great.
Seems every time I drove down to Crystal City, there was an accident on 295 to come home with massive back-up. I never bothered going by 270 corner because that’s a guaranteed truck turn-over every 2-3 pm.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Plus, only 5 lines (6 when Dulles rail is completed.). As I uderstand it, NYC has dozens.
Except for a line linking Silver Spring and Shady Grove (eliminating the long trip downtown to get between the two ... which is what the proposed Purple Line is supposed to handle) and the lack of a Georgetown Station (spilt milk) I think the number of lines and stations (assuming the ability to continue extending the Orange Line out 66 if required) is a good fit for DC ... Which is a very different urban configuration and environment than NYC.
I rode the Camden from Jessup, or Savage. It wasn’t a “problem” for the year or so I rode it, just that things happen such as frozen switches (I rode it the horrid ice winter of ‘93-94). But I don’t recall much about periphery issues such as escalators; they may have put them out but I just don’t remember.
“NYC has dozens.”
They’ve been at it for 100+ years.
That is true. It was originally a private-sector system, too.
I’m sorry about your knees. I have an uncle whose knees are about to give out on him. I don’t know whether your condition was preventable or not, but his probably was: he is grossly overweight and has been so for roughly the past 4 decades. He chose to lose about 100 pounds when he became diabetic, but decided, apparently, that he could live with the remaining extra fat. He’s finding out that such a notion is not true.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Try to cut down on sugar and carbs. I hear those really promote weight gain.
Yes. As were the trolleys. Honestly I do wish for all these things.
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