St. Mary’s County will be getting $3.7 million from the gas tax increase for a widening project on Route 4 just north of the Route 235 intersection. With the monies the merge lane from the right hand turn off Route 235 onto Route 4 will be extended all the way to Patuxent Boulevard.
According to Maryland State Highway Administration District Engineer Lee Starkloff the project will move afternoon rush hour stacking currently occurring on Route 235 to Route 4 to relieve the congestion on Route 235. He said bids would be let later this year and construction will start in the spring.
The project was explained to the St. Mary’s County Commissioners Tuesday during the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) annual “road tour’ visits of all counties. Secretary James Smith, Jr. and Assistant Secretary Wilson Parran gave the initial presentation to the commissioners and they were followed by several other staffers including Starkloff. A similar presentation was made earlier in the day to the Calvert County Commissioners (see separate story).
In addition to the 3.5-cent increase per gallon at the wholesale level that went into effect on July 1, additional increases are planned for January 1 and July 1, 2015. Smith said about the additional infusion of tax dollars: “everyone across the state will benefit.” He said the additional revenue is proportioned just about 50-50 between mass transit and road projects. “I think overall we are in the best shape we have ever been,” Smith concluded.
Smith praised the leadership of Senate President Thomas v. “Mike” Miller (D: 27) and Delegate John Bohanan (D: 29B) in getting the gas tax passed. Bohanan noted that Southern Maryland would benefit not only from the road monies but the mass transit dollars. He said many people use the commuter buses every day and also use the subway once they get to DC for their jobs.
Additional gas tax monies over the next six years also will go to planning and engineering for the Thomas John Bridge replacement ($15 million) and planning and engineering for improvements to the Great Mills Road/Route 5 intersection. There are no right-way or construction monies for either of those projects.
Del. Anthony O’Donnell (R: 29C) who was also at the meeting and opposed the gas tax increase thanked Smith for the additional monies but he added at that rate the new bridge would be built in 100 years. Smith responded he didn’t think it would take that long but “it will take some time.”
Several commissioners complained to Smith about the new light at Old Great Mills Road and Route 5 Commissioner Cynthia Jones (R: 1st) said it should be removed and the road closed to traffic entering Route 5.
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