Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced Thursday that final House-Senate legislation funding the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development includes $8.3 million to upgrade major Maryland transportation routes and transit projects and $1.4 million to address community development needs in Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District. The funds, which were allocated in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Conference Report, were included at the request of Congressman Hoyer.
Overall, the legislation makes needed investments to keep America’s transportation system safe and strong, to ensure that every American has adequate shelter, and to foster economic and community development. The bill also rejects $17.7 million in Bush Administration proposed cuts to Maryland’s share of Community Development Block Grants, which provide flexible funding to states and communities for economic development, job creation, and affordable housing. Despite the broad bipartisan support for the bill, President Bush has threatened to veto it.
The following transportation funding was included for projects in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District at the request of Congressman Hoyer:
Southern Maryland Commuter Bus Initiative – $1,300,000 to construct Park-and-Ride lots at commuter bus service stations in Southern Maryland. Commuter bus service has grown rapidly in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties over the past sixteen years. This ridership is expected to increase dramatically as the region continues to experience economic expansion and BRAC-related growth. These important funds will be used to help accommodate the growing need for Commuter Bus service between Southern Maryland and our Nation’s Capital. Since 2004 Congressman Hoyer has secured $11.5 million for the Southern Maryland Commuter Bus Initiative.
MD Route 5 Pedestrian Overpass and River Center at St. Mary’s College – $500,000 for two separate but related projects: (1) the final round of funding for the Route 5 pedestrian overpass to improve the safety of students crossing Route 5 – a major thoroughfare – from one side of campus to the other; and (2) the construction of a river boardwalk along the St. Mary’s River and storm water runoff systems as part of the St. Mary’s College River Center.
MD 237 – Pegg Road to MD 235 – $1,000,000 to upgrade and widen MD 237 – Pegg Road to MD 235, to a multi-lane highway near Patuxent River Naval Air Station in St. Mary’s County. The current two-lane roadway is very narrow with periods of congestion. Chancellor’s Run Road must be expanded to accommodate the local residential and commercial growth.
MD 246 – MD 235 to Saratoga Drive – $500,000 for streetscape construction of MD 246 – Great Mills Road from MD 235 to Saratoga Drive. Great Mills Road serves as a main artery through the community of Lexington Park in Saint Mary’s County. The project will resurface the roadway, provide continuous sidewalk, improve drainage problems, consolidate and/or relocate the utilities, add medians from Coral Drive to FDR Boulevard (about 1250 ft), and enhance the landscaping of the town center.
U.S. 301 – $1,000,000 to help address the transportation needs along U.S. 301 in Prince George’s and Charles Counties. This highway is a major commuter thoroughfare from Southern Maryland to Washington, DC. Due to the economic growth in this region, U.S. 301 is often very congested and is in desperate need of upgrades. These critical funds will be used to help ease the