Maryland Metro/Transit Funding Act Becomes Law
Governor Larry Hogan today signed into law HB0372, the Maryland Metro/Transit Funding Act, fully supporting Maryland’s share of dedicated funding for Metro, including $167 million in FY 2019.
The Prince George’s County Council celebrates this vital investment in our region’s transportation system, which promises a better quality of life for our residents, and economic prosperity for Prince George’s County, our region and the state of Maryland. We commend the leadership and partnership of the Prince George’s County Delegation in this achievement, and appreciate the opportunity to collaborate in the best interests of our residents.
We congratulate our Council colleagues and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) board members, Immediate Past Chair, Derrick L. Davis (D-District 6), and Council Member Todd Turner (D-District 4), Chair of Rules and General Assembly, both of whom worked tirelessly to articulate Metro’s critical importance to Prince George’s County, build consensus in the region and the state around restoring confidence in the Metro system, and commit to long-term dedicated funding.
In February, the Council approved CR-8-2018 and a Joint Signature Letter from Prince George's and Montgomery counties to Governor Hogan and state lawmakers, expressing support for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s position on Metro operations, long-term funding and state of good repair.
The U.S. Census Bureau projects nearly a million County residents by 2020, and our progress requires rethinking every aspect of transportation as an institution. Beyond moving commuters between their homes and jobs, we are building new communities in Prince George’s County by creating a premier network of transit choices that attract development, especially around the County’s 15 Metro stations.
This success is the result of multi-jurisdictional cooperation – the District of Columbia, state of Maryland, state of Virginia, and the Federal Government, working together to determine a funding formula that ensures the long-term viability of WMATA, and the world-class transportation system our residents want and deserve.
-0-