Members of the District 1 legislative delegation are contesting a bill in Annapolis that would alter the state’s transportation funding process, hurting Western Maryland’s ability to receive funding for road projects, according to Del. Jason Buckel.
Buckel, along with delegates Wendell Beitzel and Mike McKay, are opposing House Bill 1013 that would implement a new scoring system for the funding of transportation projects.
A press release on the bill was issued through Buckel’s office.
“Under the new democratic transportation plan, Gov. (Larry) Hogan and the department of transportation would be required to base project funding decisions upon an incredibly flawed mathematical formula where bridge safety, repair, and maintenance rank at the bottom of the scale,” said Buckel. “Improving highways and transportation networks to stimulate economic development is barely even considered.”
Beitzel said the bill is politically motivated.
“The legislation is a thinly-veiled effort by Democratic legislators to strip transportation funding power from Gov. Hogan and his department of transportation in retaliation for the decision to not fund the Red Line (rail project) in Baltimore,” said Beitzel.
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