Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

Independent studies consistently rate our region's traffic among the worst in the country, with local drivers sitting in traffic twice as long as the national average. But traffic is about more than our frustration commuting to work each day. Our County's economic plan relies on Metro (Bus, MetroAccess for the disabled, and rail). With over 50% of our land set aside as protected green space (the Ag Reserve and parks) and another 40% of land set aside for single-family homes, new businesses and residents need to be near Metro stations. Even new development not planned around Metro stations assumes access to rapid transit to and from those stations. The Red Line is truly the double economic spine of Montgomery County.

Thousands of people ride the Metro each day, with approximately 35,000 people boarding at District 16 Red Line stations alone. Metro is not just important for these riders, but also reduces traffic for those driving to work and for our future economic prosperity. But both in reality and perception, Metro is failing.
Marc has a three-part plan for Metro:

Maryland's government contributes approximately $300 million to operate Metro annually (more than DC and Virginia). Maryland needs to provide far more oversight to see how that money is used. By paying more attention to how Metro is operated, Maryland can improve Metro's management, communications, and performance.

The Red Line stations in District 16 are not just transit hubs, they are community "welcome signs." By partnering with state and local government, businesses, residents, and WMATA, metro stations can be improved including better signage and lighting. The Bethesda Metro station has a community task force working to improve that station which can be strengthened and serve as a model for other stations.

Metro is one of the only mass transit systems in the country without a dedicated funding source. No transit system can survive on fares alone and Metro is no different. In the long-term, a regional dedicated funding source must be found.
Marc supports important new transportation projects such as BRAC improvements around the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda and the Purple Line. These projects must be funded and move forward in an environmentally sensitive way. In particular, the Purple Line will mean fewer cars on the road and will intersect three Metro lines, greatly increasing access to mass transit for those not commuting in and out of Washington, DC each day.
Marc supports funding to maintain and improve the existing transportation network. From structural bridge repairs to filling potholes, Maryland has neglected its transportation infrastructure for far too long. The state and local projects backlog is in the tens of billions of dollars. Marc supports restoring Highway User Revenue, the local share of the state gas tax, to pre-recession levels to help pay for basic road maintenance.

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