The Honorable Larry Hogan Governor
80 Calvert Street Annapolis, MD 21401
The Honorable Nancy Kopp Treasurer
80 Calvert Street Annapolis, MD 21401
The Honorable Peter Franchot Comptroller
80 Calvert Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
We, the undersigned hereby indicate our opposition to the proposed expansion of I-495 and I- 270 through Maryland’s Department of Transportation (MDOT) proposed Public-Private Partnership (P3) and urge you to reject the designation of the proposal as a public-private partnership in section 19-GM and the overall proposal to add toll lanes to I-495 and I-270.
This proposal fails to protect the best interests of Maryland’s taxpayers, communities, the environment and ignores sensible alternatives included in County Master Plans. This proposal tramples years of transportation planning and research by placing the political agenda of private construction companies over the wants of Maryland citizens.
Our concerns include but are not limited to:
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The proposal utilizes a public-private partnership (P3) model that has led to very high tolls in other communities, such as Northern Virginia. Yet, MDOT has not analyzed whether a P3 project would be more financially advantageous to Marylanders than conventional financing.
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It is premature to approve this project before an environmental impact statement has been conducted to assess how it would affect our air, water, climate and the public health. Before the Board approves this project, it is critical that we understand how it might degrade the Northwest Branch, Sligo Creek, Rock Creek, the Potomac River and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.
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Public transportation must be considered as an integral element. The proposed project has eliminated all mass transit alternatives from consideration. In fact, the project is proceeding without knowing how much congestion will decline once the Purple Line is completed.
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The project ignores the needs of low income residents who do not own a car and rely on public transit to get to and from work and attend routine appointments.
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Contrary to MDOT’s promise, the project would require the removal of at least 34 homes, require land to be taken from at least 1,500 properties and would adversely impact thousands of acres of trees and parkland.
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According to a December 2016 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation, titled “Revenue Risk Sharing for Highway Public-Private Partnership Concessions,” many U.S. highway P3s experienced financial distress due to lower-than-projected traffic and revenue. The end result was that states often had to absorb some of the liabilities, contrary to their plans or wishes. MDOT provides no credible analysis for the success of this project.
In summary, the P3 proposal has dangerous omissions, makes irresponsible decisions and promotes private profits and public pain. Proceeding with the proposed expansion of I-495 and I-270 would further commit Maryland to a car and highway-focused transportation system vs. one that relies more on smart growth and mass transit.
Sincerely,
Central Maryland Transportation Alliance
Brian O’Malley
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Stewart Schwartz
Executive Director
Friends of Sligo Creek
Board of Directors
Bikemore
Jed Weeks
Policy Director
Greater Farmland Civic Association
Ed Rich
President
Maryland Sierra Club
Josh Tulkin
Director
Neighbors of the Northwest Branch
Laura Turbe
President
Preservation Maryland
Kimberly Golden Brandt
Director of Smart Growth Maryland
HoCo Climate Action
Interfaith Power & Light
Avery Davis Lamb
Director of Faithful Advocacy
Maryland Conservation Council
Paulette Hammond
President
Maryland League of Conservation Voters
Chuck Porcari
Interim Executive Director
Climate Law & Policy Project
Donald Goldberg
Executive Director
Prince George’s County Civic Federation, Inc.
Joe Brice
President
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Brooke Harper
Earth Forum of Howard County
John Barnes
Advocacy Coordinator
Audubon Naturalist Society
Eliza Cava
Director of Conservation
Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition
Samuel Jordan
President
Food and Water Watch
Mitch Jones
Climate & Energy Program Director
Montgomery County Green Democrats
Sheldon Fishman
President
Citizens Against Beltway Expansion
Brad German
Co-Chair
The Mattawoman Watershed Society
Laurie Snow
President
Eyes of Paint Branch
Michael Ellis
President
Maryland PIRG
Emily Scarr
Director
Clean Water Action
Emily Ranson
Maryland Program Coordinator
Maryland Ornithological Society
Kurt Schwarz
Envision Frederick County
Patrice Gallagher
Board Vice Chair
Bike Maryland
Kim Lamphier
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland
W. Phillip Webster
Climate Change Task Force Chair
West Fernwood Citizens Association
George I. Wolfand
President
Montgomery Countryside Alliance
Caroline Taylor
Executive Director
Chapman Forest Foundation
Bonnie Bick
Maryland Native Plant Society
Kirsten Johnson
President
Southern Maryland Audubon Society
Robert Lukinic
Conservation Chair
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Alison Prost
Maryland Executive Director
Corazón Latino
Felipe Benitez
Executive Director
Climate Change Working Group of Frederick County
Karen Russell
Founder and Chair
Conservation Chair
Citizens for the Preservation of Middletown Valley
Elizabeth Bauer
Vice President
Advocacy Director
Howard County Indivisible
Liz Kato
Coordinator
Greater Greater Washington
David Alpert
President and Executive Director
Transit Choices
James W. Rouse, Jr.
Co-founder
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Greg Billing
Executive Director
Potomac Conservancy
Caitlin Wall
Senior Director of Policy