The Maryland infrastructure is constantly deteriorating, and the need for rehabilitative work is definitely required to improve and enhance the existing system. Similarly, the Maryland transportation infrastructure requires a severe overhaul, as linking routes and highway systems is crucial to the state's economy and efficient mobility.
However, the interstate highways and transportation routes, such as older streets and road structures, are also rapidly deteriorating. It is about time that the state of Maryland takes active measures for reconstruction, expansion, and modernization of the existing transportation infrastructure.
Fortunately, the Republican governor of Maryland, Lawrence Hogan, is actively pursuing the mission to restore the state's transportation network to its full efficiency. However, there is a constant pushback against infrastructure improvement plans from some stakeholders in favor of spending more on Maryland's mass transit system. In 2019 the fiscal transportation budget for the next six years was announced, and there was an outcry against the decision to reduce 10% of MTA's (Maryland transport administration) capital funding.
The announcement of the consolidated transportation plan (CTP) aims to spend 15.3 billion dollars on improving Maryland's Transportation network, including highways and roads with public-private partnerships. While it is true that transit systems in the state of Maryland leave much to be desired, on practical analysis, it is also true that a significant chunk of funding has been poured into the public transit systems. Yet, the revenue generation only stands at 3%.
Against the objection of reducing the funding for transit networks, Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn and Governor Hogan maintain that the transportation budget is extremely inclusive and balanced, reiterating that transportation projects and the transit system are receiving the highest funding in Maryland's history.
It is also quite surprising that the advocates of increased funding for the transit system completely deny the ground reality that for the public transit system to flourish successfully, the infrastructure must be restored and improved in conjunction. An example of declining infrastructure in the state of Maryland is the gaping sinkhole incident in the Pratt street of Baltimore area that compromised the light rail system, further substantiating the fact that infrastructure improvement is the need of the hour.
The transit system already takes up a 42% share of the budget. Highway system consumers are 82%, and 8.5% of commuters account for transit sources. The finance and statistics of the transit system, highway, and road infrastructures show that the budget allocation for expanding and improving the transportation system is crucial.
With constant traffic congestion on the transportation routes, it is no surprise that commuters face delays in reaching their destinations, affecting the efficiency of metro and bus transits. Therefore, to improve Maryland's mobility and economic connectivity, the plans for improving the transportation networks is the right move.
