La Plata, MD – For a regular meeting of the Charles County Commissioners, there were a lot more folks than usual in La Plata Tuesday, May 5, when citizens gathered with signs and placards promoting moving forward with the long-delayed and much aligned Western Parkway.
In the end, they got their wish as the board voted 5-0 and 4-1 to move forward with Phase II and Phase III of the project despite not knowing what the total cost of the project will ultimately be.
Charles County Finance Director David Eicholtz told the commissioners while going over the Capital Improvements Plan budget review staff has been able to free up $18.2 million for other uses.
“Additional funds could be saved if you withdraw the Western Parkway project,” he suggested. “That would free up money for other CIP projects.”
“Are we obligated to build that road?” Charles County Commissioner President Peter Murphy [D] asked. “What is the county required to fund?”
Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management Director Peter Aluotto responded, “The design phase of the project and land acquisition.”
Western Parkway would run parallel to U.S. 301 on the western wide of the federal highway from Prince George’s County into what is envisioned to become the Waldorf Urban Core area. The project is intended to relieve traffic congestion for Charles County commuters.
The new road would be built in phases: Phase I from Route 228 through the Manekin Property and Hamilton Road to Acton Lane; Phase II from Acton Lane to Pierce Road; and Phase III from Pierce Road to U.S. 301.
On Tuesday, May 5 the Charles County Commissioners made it clear they are not willing to let the project go just yet, approving funding for Phase II and Phase III.
Debate became hot and heavy when the commissioners toyed with whether or not they would fund the third phase of the project.
“Without Phase III we’re building a road to nowhere,” Commissioner Debra Davis [D – District 2] said. “If you take it out, the Western Parkway is not going to happen.”
Commissioner Vice President Ken Robinson [D – District 1] noted that if the board funded Phase III, they would do so not knowing what the final cost of the project is going to be.
“It would be premature,” he said. “We don’t have the cost from the developer yet.”
“Nothing stands in the way of us approving it,” Davis countered.
“We all need the road,” Commissioner Amanda Stewart [D – District 3] said, “it’s just how we get there.”
“There’s no reason why we can’t move forward,” Davis persisted. “We can’t keep breaking our promises.”
“The design phase is half a million,” Stewart said, “but we don’t know the cost of the entire project. I fully support approving the design portion now.”
“But what happens if we do begin the funding,” Davis said. “We’re not going to find $2.5 million next year.”
“There will be funding next year if we feel it is a priority,” Stewart stated.
“Regarding priorities, last week the Waldorf Rider Project was a priority,” Davis said. “Transit oriented development was a priority last week.”
She called the road the “single-best solution we can give our citizens for easing traffic congestion if it can happen in three years. We owe it to our citizens to make plans and stick with them. It’s not just a safety issue, it’s a quality of life issue.”
Murphy recommended moving forward.
“Approving that money would be fulfilling our legal obligation,” he said.
When the vote came for funding Phase III, after arguing so vehemently in favor of the project, Davis was oddly the lone no vote of the five commissioners.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com