WASHINGTON , D.C. -- Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S. Sarbanes (both D-MD) today announced final funding levels in the FY02 Transportation Appropriations bill, which passed the House-Senate Conference Committee late last night and the full House of Representatives earlier today. The legislation, which includes over $100 million in federal funding for Maryland projects, will now go to the full Senate for final passage before going to the President for his signature.

"As a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, each year I fight for federal funding to make traveling in Maryland safer, faster, and easier," said Senator Mikulski. "This year's Senate Transportation Appropriations bill lives up to that promise by including provisions for Maryland's roadways and railways. Whether you're delivering meals to seniors in your community or traveling long distances to work, every Marylander will benefit from this transportation funding."

"This bill helps to address some of the critical transportation needs in our State – on both the highway and mass transit side," said Senator Sarbanes. "My hat's off to Senator Mikulski for her diligence in working to obtain these funds. I am particularly pleased with the funding for our mass transit programs, which will help alleviate congestion on our roadways."

More specifically, this bill includes the following money for improvements to Maryland's transportation infrastructure:

Addison Road Extension of the Washington Metrorail System
$55 million
Funding would complete final design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of the three-mile extension of the Metrorail Blue Line from Addison Road to Largo Town Center in Prince George's County. Addison Road would be the first extension built beyond the original 103-mile system, which has been under development since the 1960's. The project is a key element of Maryland's efforts to promote Smart Growth through expansion and improvement of public transportation. The project will support transit-oriented land uses at the two proposed station sites: Summerfield Boulevard and Largo Town Center.

"This is a big win for the Washington metropolitan area," said Mikulski. "This Metrorail extension to Largo will help reduce congestion on roads throughout the metropolitan area and provide an easy, safe, and efficient way for workers and tourists to move throughout the Washington area. This money will also help the Washington Area Transit Authority handle the record number of customers riding Metrorail. As our transportation needs grow, Metro must grow too."

Baltimore Central Light Rail Double Tracking
$13 Million
This money will help fund the double tracking of Baltimore's Central Light Rail Line, which is a major element of Maryland's effort to promote Smart Growth though improving transit services in urban areas. The project involves double tracking 9.4 miles of the 29-mile system. Single tracked sections present various operational constraints. Trains often reach the end of a double tracked section before an oncoming train clears the upcoming single-track section; thus it has to stop and wait for the oncoming train to clear. Resulting delays hinder the development of ridership. Also, maintenance in a single-track section can render that section impassable.

Baltimore's Central Light Rail Line serves approximately 30,000 daily riders and provides intermodal connections, allows reverse commuting to suburban jobs, and commuter access to Baltimore. Full double tracking will allow the MTA to reduce headways to less than 10 minutes, significantly increasing the appeal of the service. In addition, several redevelopment efforts are underway along the line, including an MTA project to bring a major mixed use development to the Cultural Center Station, and efforts by the City of Baltimore to redevelop the West Side of downtown through which the line runs.

MARC Commuter Rail Expansion Program
$12 Million
Funding would be used for the ongoing expansion of the Maryland Rail Commuter Service (MARC) system. These improvements are important parts of Maryland's effort to upgrade and expand commuter rail services serving Baltimore and Washington Metropolitan areas. Specific projects include:

• Penn-Camden Connection: Funding for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of a connection between the Camden and Penn Lines in Baltimore. The Penn-Camden connection will increase MARC operational flexibility and would allow trains from both lines to access a MARC maintenance facility that is proposed to be built along the line.

• Silver Spring Intermodal Transit Center: Funding for construction of a center to accommodate the anticipated 44,000 jobs that will be within walking distance of the Metrorail station by the year 2020. The center will bring together MARC, Metro and bus service in one facility.

I-70 / MD 85 / MD 355 Interchange
$8 Million
The funds would be used to complete a new interchange at I-70 / MD 85 / MD 355 in Frederick County. Originally, this section of I-70 was constructed as US 40 Relocated. The roadway serves as a significant link in the interstate system, but is the only section of I-70 that fails to meet current interstate standards. Funding would be used to upgrade the roadway, as well as address major traffic congestion and safety concerns on the interstate, the ramps and associated roadways.

Statewide Bus Programs
$8.5 Million
Funding would be used to increase the Maryland Transit Authority's (MTA) rate of bus replacement throughout the State, decreasing the average age of busses in the fleet. Replacement of the older buses would provide better service, reduce maintenance costs, and help meet federally mandated requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and National Environmental Policy Act. These funds help make it possible to operate rural transit systems as well as larger, conventional systems in urban areas such as the City of Baltimore and Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

Funding would also be used to purchase additional buses for Baltimore City to provide better service to more residents and to allow public transportation access to more locations in the City.

James Rumsey Bridge Project
$11 Million
Funding would be used to replace the James Rumsey Bridge on MD 34, which connects Sharpsburg, Maryland in Washington County and Shepherdstown, West Virginia over the Potomac River. The bridge, constructed in 1931, is posted for a 30 ton weight limit and has a Federal Bridge Sufficiency rating of 2 out of a possible rating of 100. A comprehensive inspection/testing program completed in 1998 revealed that the bridge needs to be replaced. If the bridge had to be closed to all traffic, an average detour length of 14 miles would be required.

*NOTE - This bridge is under jurisdiction of West Virginia but the costs of maintenance and major construction are shared equally between the two states. Senators from Maryland and West Virginia made a joint request for this funding.

Upgrade of MD 404
$3 Million
Money will be used to begin dualization of MD 404 on the east side of the Denton Bypass, from south of Legion Road to Double Hills Road in Caroline County, Maryland. Funding will widen the roadway from two lanes to four. Route 404 had 72 accidents a year between 1995 and 1999.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology
$3 Million
Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology benefits travelers, commuters, tourists and businesses in Maryland. The implementation of advanced technology helps maximize capacity of Maryland's transportation facilities at a fraction of the cost of constructing new highway miles. The increased efficiency is essential in many areas where it is not possible to further expand highway miles due to the density of development. Funding would be used for the following projects:

• Washington Region ($2 million): Funds would be used for: a Transportation Management/Emergency Communications Center in Montgomery County; Wireless Location Technology project to provide traffic flow and vehicle location data throughout the region; Compatible mobile communications system to develop a region-wide integrated transportation and public safety wireless information network; and Communications infrastructure connectivity project to connect existing WMATA, VDOT, MD SHA and other fiber optic cable and communications infrastructure in the region. These projects would help expedite emergency response time and reduce congestion in the Washington Metropolican region.

• Maryland Statewide ($1 million): Funding would be used to expand and improve Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology throughout the State of Maryland. Projects include: Systems Integration and Communications Network Projects such as emergency operations reporting systems upgrade; Incident Management Operations such as Computer Aid Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) for emergency response vehicles; and ITS Field Devices Deployment Projects including purchasing/upgrading Traveler Information Systems (TIS) and Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS) devices.

The implementation of advanced technology will help increase safety and more effectively use the capacity of transportation facilities at a fraction of the cost of constructing new highways. Funds will help continue efforts to improve customer service at the Motor Vehicle Administration and make government services more convenient through the use of technology.

Baltimore Rail Transit Planning Studies
$1.5 Million
As part of its Smart Growth related commitment to double transit ridership, the State of Maryland is examining development of future rail lines serving the Baltimore area. Traffic congestion in the area continues to grow, and rail ridership, although increasing, is hampered by the lack of an interconnected system. In downtown Baltimore the lack of parking has been identified as a critical issue for business relocation, and rail transit can help to provide a solution to that problem.

Funds would be used for planning and feasibility studies of future additions to the Baltimore rail system and to undertake preliminary engineering for any recommended improvements. The study would examine the possibility of creating a rail "loop" extending from the terminus of Light Rail at Penn Station southward to the Pratt Street corridor, and then westward to connect with Light Rail at Howard Street. Alternatives will include a direct connection to the Shot Tower Metro Station, serving development at Inner Harbor East and determining the potential for a future extension eastward to Fells Point and Canton. In addition to examining a downtown light rail loop, possible rail improvements would be examined in the West Corridor, running from downtown Baltimore toward the Social Security complex in Woodlawn, and the Northeast Corridor, possibly extending from the present terminus of the Metro at Johns Hopkins Hospital toward Baltimore County's White Marsh Town Center. The study would begin in mid 2001 and would take 1-1/2 years to complete.

Magnetic Levitation Pre-Construction Planning Studies
$1.1 Million
In May 1999, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) selected Maryland as one of seven nationwide parties to perform pre-construction feasibility studies of the possible deployment of Maglev technology. In December 2000, the Washington-Baltimore proposal was selected as one of two projects to proceed to the environmental analysis stage. This phase of the Maglev study would involve a full environmental impact statement and preliminary engineering. Funding would allow Maryland to analyze the environmental impacts of the possible system linking Baltimore, Washington and BWI Airport.

Senator Mikulski is a member of the Committee on Appropriations and its Subcommittee on Transportation. Senator Sarbanes is a member of the Budget Committee.