news

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maryland’s full Congressional delegation is calling on the incoming Maryland Secretary of Transportation to provide the public with more details on widening I-270, widening the Beltway, and replacing the American Legion Bridge, “all of which are of great significance to our region with long-lasting effects.” In a letter to Gregory Slater, current head of the Maryland Highway Administration, Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone addressed issues of concern following a meeting earlier this month with Slater and current Maryland Secretary of Transportation Pete K. Rahn. The delegation letter also stressed the need for multimodal transportation options for the state rather than a reliance on a vehicles-only approach.

“The public deserves more information and greater transparency in the process of planning, constructing, and implementing any projects for widening I-270, widening the Beltway, and replacing the American Legion Bridge … more details on how and when specific properties will be affected, where tolling may impact on-ramps and exit ramps, how parkland may be impacted, and the details of the environmental impact assessments,” the lawmakers wrote. “In our meeting with you and Secretary Rahn, we were clear about the need to plan for public transit in conjunction with any expansion of our highways for vehicle traffic … We are eager to hear in greater detail how multi-modal plans will be integrated in these projects, including the guidelines you would establish for incorporating transit into any public-private partnership to construct and manage new toll lanes.”

The full letter is below and at this link.