A proposed Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that would be comprised of densely populated areas of Southern Calvert and Central St. Mary’s counties got a tepid reception March 26 from the Calvert County Commissioners.

The proposal was presented to the commissioners by federal and state transportation representatives.

Department of Community Planning and Building Director Charles Johnston explained that, based on census data, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration determined the Lexington Park area, combined with the Solomons, Lusby, Chesapeake Ranch Estates (CRE) and Drum Point areas “met the population criteria for a MPO.”

According Harland Miller of USDOT, Southern Maryland has now become an urban transportation area. Charles County is currently aligned with the Washington, DC MPO.

According to MDOT Office of Planning and Capital Programing Manager Michael W. Nixon, the boundaries of the proposed new MPO can be adjusted. As for the very rural communities of CRE and Drum Point being included with the MPO, Nixon said, “We were surprised to see this area designated as an urban area.”

Noting that the parameters for the St. Mary’s segment of the proposed MPO were “barely contiguous,” Commissioner Susan Shaw [R] stated, “it looks like a Gerrymander.”

The MPO designation would make the counties eligible for federal transportation funding. However, the money could only be used for planning, not engineering.

Miller explained the MPO “planning factors” required to be considered are “economic vitality of the region, safety and security of the transportation system, accessibility and mobility options, environmental protection, energy conservation, and quality of life; efficient system management and operation, and system preservation.” 

When Shaw asked if such an organization could be handled by the Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland, Nixon replied, “that’s a real possibility.”

“How did we get this?” Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] asked. Clark opined the U.S. Census Bureau had to do a lot of work to create this particular MPO.

Noting that the two top transportation priorities for Calvert and St. Mary’