Planned transportation upgrades may not be required

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

For the time being, the commissioners unanimously voted to send the same draft list of priorities as in 2008 to the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, which advocates for the region's transportation needs.

Topping that list is the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge project, to replace the bridge linking Solomons with St. Mary's County, which is often plagued by traffic. Other requested projects include widening of Route 2-4 between Broomes Island Road and Plum Point Road, the widening of Route 4 in Dunkirk, and the widening of Route 231 between Barstow Road and Prince Frederick. Improvements to the county's Park and Ride commuter bus lots were also prominently listed.

Despite state budget problems, Commissioner Jerry Clark (R) did not give up hope for progress on the bridge and other projects.

"I would love to see the bridge get started but I don't see that happening any time in the near future. … We've got to keep banging and we'll start to see some of these projects coming home," he said.

These priorities may be revamped, however, as Calvert County Planning Commission staff is now preparing to update the Calvert County 2010 Transportation Plan, which was originally adopted in 1997, according to Planning and Zoning Director Greg Bowen.

"… [I]t appears that due to Calvert County's present growth management strategies, certain transportation improvements, once thought to be critical in the future to the function of [Route 2-4], as well as other state roads throughout the county, may no longer be necessary," Bowen wrote in a memorandum to the commissioners. "… At this time we must continue to support our present priorities."

emitrano@somdnews.com