Quick Update: Does Gov. Hogan realize he just explained why the toll-road project should not go forward?
“The economic fallout from this pandemic simply makes it impossible to fund any new programs, impose any new tax hikes, nor adopt any legislation having any significant fiscal impact, regardless of the merits of the legislation” (Gov. Larry Hogan, Washington Post, May 7, 2020).
The Governor was talking about his vetoes of recent legislative bills. But he might as well have been talking about the $11 billion P3 toll-road plan, which -- even now, against all reason -- is advancing behind closed doors. The project poses enormous risk to taxpayers -- especially now.
Talking Sense to the Transportation Powers-That-Be
With a pandemic-ravaged economy and great future uncertainty, it’s time for the State to pause the P3 project. DontWiden270.org recently urged MDOT Secretary Greg Slater and the MD Transportation Authority (MDTA) to do exactly that.
The MDTA oversees Maryland’s toll facilities and sets the tolls we pay. Here’s what DontWiden270.org’s Janet Gallant told Sec. Slater and the MDTA board at their April 30 meeting:
“Dontwiden270.org, with over 1,000 members, strongly advocates for fair, effective, multi-modal transportation, supported by evidence that it will actually work. Our organization is calling for a pause to the $11 billion P3 project and then a reassessment after the pandemic subsides.
The State’s decision to forge ahead along the pre-pandemic timeline does not show good stewardship of Maryland’s financial well-being. The MDOT contracting process alone is costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. This, despite projections of massive state budget cuts and enormous economic uncertainty.
To continue the P3 contracting process now ignores the extraordinary risks to taxpayers. All of the current project’s key financials, including the all-important projected tolls, are based on assumptions and projections that no longer apply. The underlying business case and risk assessments are made obsolete.
No one knows how bad the fiscal hits will be. No one knows how many businesses will adopt telework, how many jobs won’t come back, and what post-pandemic traffic patterns will look like.
Most particularly, no one knows how much higher tolls will have to be to offset the heightened risks.
Any contractor for this project would ensure that -- one way or another -- the State and its taxpayers share the risks, including the risk of insufficient toll revenues and WSSC’s recently revealed $2 billion charge for utility relocations.
We are asking for a pause and reevaluation of this project because that is the smart and sensible way to position our state for what’s coming.”
(These comments are also available at DontWiden270.org.)
ACTION ITEM: Tell Greg Slater to Put the P-3 Project on Hold NOW
Tell Secretary Slater to pause the toll-road project ASAP and reassess after the pandemic has passed. Sec. Slater has gone out of his way to invite input: “Every ounce of comment, every ounce of feedback, every minute of collaboration is important to me and it’s important to the project as it develops” (Maryland Matters, May 1, 2020).
So let him know why you think continuing this project is a huge mistake. Encourage your friends and neighbors to write, too.
Toll-Setting May Give Us the Edge
The MDTA will start the process of setting maximum tolls for the P3 toll lanes this summer, and will hold public hearings on toll rates in the fall. According to Ben Ross, chairman of the Maryland Transit Opportunities Coalition, “This can be a turning point in the toll lane debate. If we make this a big enough issue, the high tolls will become politically toxic and force the project's political supporters to back down.”
Look for DontWiden270.org updates on tolls, toll-setting hearings, and all related action items.
Valuable Reads
This article in Maryland Matters highlights the strong points made by critics of the toll-road project at the April 30 MDTA Board meeting.
Our partners at Citizens Against Beltway Expansion offer an eye-opening rebuttal of pro-toll-road arguments in Opinion: Two Responses on One Public-Private Tollroad Project.
See the latest news about transportation issues and the status of the P3 project
The DontWiden270.org website has a tab with relevant news articles dating back to August 2018. You can follow the sequence of events over time and stay up-to-date on current reports. New articles are posted weekly.
Invite 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.