Tough economy puts damper on Smith’s transportation ‘wish list’

By Nick Madigan

Wish list in hand, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. this morning asked state transportation officials for millions of dollars to pay for improvements to roads, bridges and train stations, but a tough economy means he will not get everything he wants.

In a meeting in Towson, Smith told John D. Porcari, Maryland’s secretary of transportation, that with an expected influx of residents under the Base Realignment and Closure process, “it is imperative that we have the appropriate infrastructure to accommodate the new residents and jobs that we anticipate adding to this area.”…MORE…

By Mary Gail Hare

Army Ordnance Museum gives visitors a glimpse into the history of warfare.

With any luck, the engine will fire up and a driver will take a 3-ton World War I tank for a short spin to mark Veterans Day at Aberdeen Proving Ground on Tuesday.

By JOSHUA STEWART Staff Writer

Some state legislators are expressing concern about the lack of funds for BRAC-related transportation projects, adding to skepticism that the state won’t be ready for the massive job surge expected at its military bases.

“This is going very slowly. Too slowly. Particularly with transit,” state Sen. Jim Rosapepe, D-College Park, said last week during a meeting of the state Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure.

Relatively easy and quick solutions, such as adding coaches - cars - to MARC commuter trains, are being overlooked while more expensive and lengthy projects such as road improvements, are getting more attention, he told other legislators and state and military officials at the meeting….MORE….

Officials see a study released Friday by the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs and the state Department of Business and Economic Development’s Division of Small Business as a starting point in simplifying the process for securing contracts with the federal government, particularly at the state’s military installations…More..

Baltimore Sun - United States

By Mary Gail Hare
Craig said the county will meet the demands of BRAC, the military expansion that will bring an additional 10000 jobs in the next few years to Aberdeen …

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="David Craig"][/caption]

Faced with declining revenues and a sluggish economy, county officials have cut nearly $13 million from this year’s operating budget. Every agency and department has trimmed costs by at least 5 percent, while county officials have assured residents they will not experience any reduction in services.

Projects, such as school and road construction that are already in the works, will continue to move forward, officials said.

“The average citizen won’t see any cut in services,” said County Executive David R. Craig after a news conference last week to announce reductions in the fiscal year 2009 budget, which began July 1..more..