Rethink College Park

MD State Budget Cuts Affect Purple Line, Rt.1 Improvements

September 11th, 2008  |  by Chris Ellepola  |  Published in Purple Line, Route 1, Transportation  |  3 Comments

Articles in today’s Diamondback and Washington Post report on yesterday’s announced state transportation budget cuts.  The cuts occur after the state received less transportation revenue than expected, attributed to the current economic recession.  Local projects affected by the cuts:

• Route 1 Corridor Improvements [bus slips, sidewalks, bike lanes]   $7.1 million over next four years, now deferred

• Purple Line [engineering work for federal proposal]                                 $100 million, now reduced to $75 million

Both projects’ original funding were allocated from the state’s transportation trust fund in a 6-year plan released in January.  The $2.4 billion Inter-County Connector apparently remained unscathed.

Transportation Secretary Porcari reported that the Purple Line will still apply for federal funding (necessary for the project’s ultimate realization) next year.  Apparently the early stages of the project received more budgeting than absolutely necessary, according to other Transportation officials.

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Responses

1. Ben Ross says:
   

   September 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm (#)

   The Purple Line was reduced BY $25 million, it still is at $75 million. Not good news, but not a catastrophe.

2. Clay says:
   

   September 12th, 2008 at 9:59 am (#)

   Looks like the ICC did take a hit after all.

   “Part of the intercounty connector project will be delayed indefinitely to save money, and a bond sale to finance some of its construction was postponed this week as officials deal with cost overruns and uncertain federal funding, Maryland officials said yesterday.”

   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103365_pf.html

3. Chris Ellepola says:
   

   September 12th, 2008 at 11:42 am (#)

   Ben, right you are for that correction, thanks.

   As far as the ICC financing Clay mentioned, it looks like those new developments are resultant of its bond financing issues. They are unrelated to the state budget cuts, but instead related to expected Federal Transportation funding that is now uncertain.

   From above WP link:
   “On Wednesday, Porcari announced that the state must cut $1.1 billion… The intercounty connector was not affected by those cuts.
   Porcari said [Wednesday] the connector’s construction remains on schedule and within its $2.4 billion budget.”

   Nevertheless, thanks for the informative WP link, Clay.

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