ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Maryland General Assembly recently passed House Bill 414 and Senate Bill 81, which grant funding for the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project. The proposed rail line would connect the Branch Avenue Metro station to Waldorf and White Plains in Charles County.
The House version was filed by Delegate Debra Davis [D-Charles] and cross-filed by Senator Arthur Ellis[D-Charles]. The bill’s third reading passed the House by a vote of 97-37 on March 22. A similar bill was introduced in 2019, and it received a hearing in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, but the bill did make it past the committee stage.
The Maryland Transit Administration, along with Prince George’s and Charles County, have made several inquiries into the development of light rail in the region over the years. In 2017, the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Study (SMRT) released its final reports and recommendations.
The bills require that the Maryland Department of Transportation(MDT) begin the step-in to design and engineer the rail line. The Department must also consider the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) when designing the proposed rail line.
Funding for the project will be allocated starting in the 2023 fiscal year, going until 2027. Under the bill, the governor will have to allot $5 million annually for the project, coming out of the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.
The initial proposed funding amount for the project was $12 million in 2023 and an additional $15 million in 2024. However, this was amended by the House to the current funding procedure. The total amount of funding is still subject to change based on the cost of an environmental impact study and potential federal funding for the project.
The bill hearing received favorable witness testimonies from the Smarter Growth Alliance in Charles County and the Charles County Board of Commissioners. The favorable testimonies given for the project say that a light rail will alleviate traffic congestion for commuters and promote economic growth in the area. Some witness testimony mentioned that further investments in public transit would potentially help to cut down carbon emissions by providing people alternatives to driving.
However, the Maryland Department of Transportation provided a testimony opposing the legislation. While MDT did not oppose the end goal, they didn’t support how the bill plans to execute it. One issue brought is that this plan already has determined the light rail alternative before the NEPA process has begun, which they say is crucial to tackling this problem. They also said that removing funds from the Transportation Trust Fund would put a strain on the state and make it less flexible when allocating future funds.
House Bill 414 has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Budget and Taxation for further review. For more on the 2021 General Assembly, stay with TheBayNet.com
Contact Tyler at tylerchesser@thebaynet.com