Transportation advocates call for smarter investments before asking Marylanders to pay more
1000 Friends of Maryland, BRIDGE, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Citizen Planning and Housing Association, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Environment Maryland, Innovative Housing Institute, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club – Maryland Chapter
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 22, 2011
Contact:
Stewart Schwartz, CSG, Tel. 202-244-4408 x121
Dru Schmidt-Perkins, 1000 Friends of Maryland, Tel. 410-385-2910
Transportation advocates call for smarter investments before asking Marylanders to pay more
Today, a group of smart growth, transportation, housing, equity and environmental organizations called on the Maryland General Assembly and Governor to commit to smarter transportation investments as a prerequisite to any revenue increases.
“If Marylanders are asked to pay more, each dollar must be invested wisely. Residents need better and more affordable transportation choices. We cannot afford to continue business as usual, building the same congested, high-cost transportation system,” said Dru Schmidt-Perkins, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Maryland.
In recent polling, voters saw transportation – traffic congestion, the condition of roads and bridges, and the high cost of getting around – as the second biggest issue facing the state, second only to the economy.[1] To solve these problems they support:
- More than 95% of voters in Maryland say that maintenance and repair should be “top” or “high” priority for transportation funding
- 74% feel that expanding and improving bus, rail, van service, biking, walking and other transportation choices should be a “top” or “high” priority.
- 71% of voters say that buses, carpools, light rail, van service and commuter rail are a good or very good value for the cost.
- Sixty-eight percent of those polled believe “now is the time for the state to invest in transportation because, if done right, these investments will create new jobs and attract new businesses.”
“The federal, state and local governments are broke. We cannot simply raise taxes to throw more money at a wish list of projects. It’s time to re-evaluate all our transportation spending priorities. Every dollar must move Maryland towards a sustainable future of greater transportation choices and less dependence on foreign oil,” Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth.
“We are pleased that a group of Senators has recognized the need to establish clear priorities as part of this difficult budget discussion in their release of “Maryland First” budget,” said Schmidt-Perkins.
Transportation decisions impact our economy, environment and the ability for Marylanders to get to work. Maryland’s gridlock and lack of transportation alternatives hurts everyone. The State has taken steps in the right direction with the focus on transit-oriented development, plans for the Red line in Baltimore and Purple Line near DC and a significant commitment to maintenance. The groups called on the State to revisit near-term spending decisions and long-term project lists to fund investments that meet growing demand for more transportation choices and increased energy efficiency.
View Transportation for Maryland’s position statement (PDF).
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[1] Public opinion polling: Smart Growth America Survey in Maryland: Strategic findings from survey among 325 voters statewide conducted November 16 – 22, 2010 by Hart Research Associates.
