Maryland Office of the Governor press release, February 16, 2004

STATE OF MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ROBERT L. EHRUCH, JR. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Shareese N. DeLeaver February 16, 2004 Henry P. Fawell (410) 974.2316 Department of Transportation: Jack Cahalan (410) 865.1025 Governor Ehrlich Announces Funding Program for Maryland’s Transportation Needs Ehrlich Plan will Deliver An Additional $ 320 Million Annually for Roads, Transit Administration to Invest $13 Billion in Transportation over Next Six Years HUGHE SVILLE — Demonstrating the importance of transportation to Maryland’s economy and quality of life, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., visited Southern Maryland today to announce he will generate an additional $320 million dollars annually through user fees and other sources to improve Maryland’s highway and transit network. With Governor Ehrlich already budgeting $25 million to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund, new money available for transportation in Fiscal Year 2005 will total $345 million. “Today we are taking a major step toward improving the safety of our highways, reducing congestion and building a transit system that works for people,” said Governor Ehrlich. “Over the next six years, we will invest $13 billion to improve our statewide transportation network.” With the additional revenue, the FY 2005-2010 capital transportation program funded by the Transportation Trust Fund will total nearly $11.5 billion. The Maryland - Transportation Authority will construct another $1.6 billion in improvements during the same period. In 2003, Governor Ehrlich appointed the Transportation Task Force to study how best to fund Maryland’s transportation in the future. Chaired by former Maryland Transportation Secretary William Hellmann, the task force identified more than $ 1 7 billion in state transportation needs that are unfunded. The task force recommended Maryland’s annual capital investment be increased by at least $300 million per year to begin to address that need.