Priority Bills Announced
On January 22, The Maryland Transit Caucus will hold a press conference to discuss priorities for the 2020 legislative session. The press conference will take place at 10:45 AM in Room 150 of the Lowe House Office Building. The Maryland Transit Caucus is a group of legislators dedicated to advancing reliable and sustainable transportation options for Marylanders.
“The Transit Caucus does valuable work to prioritize mobility of people, not just cars as a solution to congestion,” said Delegate Marc Korman. “We believe that a solution to Maryland’s transportation and congestion issues is to invest in efficient public transportation such as commuter rail, bus rapid transit and Metro.”
“Maryland is the fourth most densely populated state in the nation with the second longest average commute time,” said Senator Malcolm Augustine. “To maintain growth, a multifaceted approach to mobility is required and the significantly greater passenger capacity of Public Transit versus individual cars is a significant part of the solution.”
“Reliable, safe, and frequent transit options have a leading role to play in nearly every indicator of our success as a state,” said Delegate Brooke Lierman. “From ensuring Marylanders can access jobs to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to allowing all those who cannot drive to stay engaged in our communities, stabilizing and expanding our public transit system is key.”
At the press conference, the Transit Caucus will discuss the following six priority bills:
Transit Safety and Investment Act: Provides an average annual increase of $175 million for Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)’s capital needs for the next six years.
P3 Oversight and Reform: Strengthens Maryland’s P3 laws to ensure oversight and predictability to protect the financial and environmental health of the state.
Pedestrian Safety Act: Increases minimum fines for traffic offenses related to pedestrians, allots the entire revenue from each fine to the Pedestrian Safety.
Fund Electric Bus Transition Act: Requires the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to transition its approximately 800 bus fleet to all electric over time, as the agency procures replacement buses.
Southern Maryland Transit Project: Requires the state to pay over the course of several years for the final environmental planning phase of the Southern MD Rapid Transit Project.
Western Maryland Transit Study: Requires the Maryland Dept. of Transportation
to study the feasibility of expanding commuter rail service to Western Maryland via the MARC Train line and/or currently inactive rail lines.
“I am thrilled to help lead our state’s first ever Transit Caucus and proud to release our priority legislation for 2020,” said Delegate Lierman. “These bills demonstrate that improving and expanding transit is a bipartisan issue that effects all parts of the state. I look forward to working with my fellow members in the House and Senate to pass these important bills and create a more vibrant and better connected state.”
