Yes, Governor Hogan got the go-ahead to start the contracting process for his disastrous toll-lane scheme, thanks to Peter Franchot’s ‘yes’ vote at the Jan. 8 Board of Public Works meeting.
But grassroots activism has had unbelievable success so far shrinking the scope of the project. A lot more can and will happen between now and the final vote, scheduled for mid-2021.
Here’s the good news:
A strong coalition of environmental, transit, civic, community, and activist organizations, including DontWiden270.org, is ramping up the fight for smarter, better alternatives to Hogan’s plan.
Our allies in the State Legislature are introducing bills that could stop this toll lane project and fix the process that enabled it in the first place.
The Rockville Mayor and Council have strongly opposed Hogan’s plan. The City owns two bridges over I-270, which may give the City leverage in its dealings with the State and County.
DontWiden270.org is expanding its outreach to Upper I-270 communities as part of our efforts for fair, effective multi-modal transportation for all.
You can take action now!
What does the Jan. 8 vote mean?
The Board of Public Works advanced to the bidding stage “Phase 1” of the Governor’s toll lane plan. Phase 1 would add privately built and managed toll lanes on I-495 from south of the George Washington Memorial Parkway to I-270, and along I-270 from I-495 to I-370.
The Board of Public Works vote on a final contract is not scheduled until mid-2021. MDOT says no homes will be taken along I-270, although some “strips” of property may be needed. MDOT’s current materials do not specify when construction might begin or when, if ever, Upper I-270 will be addressed.
An enormous array of elected officials, transit and environmental experts, watchdog organizations inside and outside of federal, state, and local government, and civic and advocacy organizations believe this plan will result in increased congestion, environmental harm, fiscal risk to taxpayers statewide, and the economic injustice that comes with unaffordable tolls.
Effort Turns to the State Legislature
Momentum is clearly building in the State Legislature to protect taxpayers, communities, and the environment from disastrous projects like the one the Governor is proposing.
Senator Susan Lee (16-Montgomery) is sponsoring Senate Bill 229, to “expand to all counties…a prohibition on State agencies constructing…a toll road, toll highway, or toll bridge without the consent of a majority of the affected counties.” Such “county consent” protection already exists for the nine counties on the Eastern Shore.
The House of Delegates version of the county consent bill will be introduced shortly by Delegate Mary Lehman (21-Prince George’s). Like the Senate bill, it has significant support.
Delegate Jared Solomon (D-18) is reintroducing a House-passed Public-Private Partnership (P3) reform bill from last year (it died in the Senate) that would require more transparency, accountability, and collaboration with elected officials.
DontWiden270.org’s Expanded Scope
Our name may be DontWiden270.org (a legacy from our earliest days) but we are decidedly a “Do” not a “Don’t” organization.
We support fair, effective multi-modal transportation backed by evidence that it will actually work.
We support reversible lanes on I-270, not high-priced toll lanes.
We support improved transit, including expanded MARC service and the Corridor Cities Transitway,
We support addressing the Upper I-270 bottleneck first. Upper I-270 will be particularly hard-hit by the plan just greenlighted by Hogan and Franchot.
DontWiden270.org spoke about the impact on Upper 270 and more at the Jan. 8 Board of Public Works meeting. Watch our testimony from the Jan. 8 meeting; go to time-stamp 1:46.
It’s worth watching, if just to see Hogan and Franchot’s expressions on the split screen as they listen. To watch all the BPW meetings this year, check out their video archive.
Actions to Take Now
Speak up to our state legislators, and stay informed.
Tell Delegate Kumar Barve (D-17), chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, to report both the county consent bill and the P3 reform bill out of his committee so they can be voted on.
We can’t let him keep those bills bottled up. Contact Kumar Barve now.Read Delegate Marc Korman’s quick take on the history, current status, and future of transportation in Maryland. Korman is Chair of the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee of the House of Delegates Appropriations Committee.
Get your friends and neighbors to join our e-mail list
This is a great way for them to stay current on what’s happening with the highway project and to learn how they can help fight this boondoggle. Go to https://dontwiden270.org/get-involved to sign up. And check out our website dontwiden270.org for more information. We even have a Spanish language section with translations of key documents.
Have a Question or Comment? Want a speaker for your community?
E-mail us at contactdontwiden270@gmail.com .
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Raise your voice and draw attention to Dontwiden270 with these colorful, two-sided yard signs! Order here.