ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch today signed into law Senate Bill 204 and House Bill 373 that will make it easier to develop communities around the state’s established transit centers.
The legislation puts Transit Communities on equal footing with other transportation funding priorities and removes roadblocks to the use of state resources and land for transit-oriented development. It will allow the Department of Transportation to designate Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects and use its property and resources to support mixed use and pedestrian friendly development around existing and future transit stations.
“The creation of vibrant, mixed-use communities next to our transit stations is a way to accommodate future growth in a sustainable way,” said Governor O’Malley. “This legislation helps promote our goal of using transit development as a smart growth tool that will help us revitalize communities and curb sprawl.”
Currently, there are thousands of acres of undeveloped and underdeveloped land within a half-mile of Maryland’s 112 transit stations. Last month, Governor O’Malley outlined his vision for the creation of transit communities throughout the state, particularly in Prince George’s County. There is development on only one of 15 Metro station properties in Prince George’s County, even though a total of 2,531 acres surrounding the remaining stations remains undeveloped.
Earlier this month, Governor O’Malley toured the State Center site where a $1.6 billion redevelopment is planned for the 28-acre state-owned site in the heart of Baltimore City. State Center sits above the Baltimore Metro line and adjacent to the Central Light Rail line and several major bus lines. Other active TOD projects include Owings Mills Town Center in Baltimore County and the Savage MARC station in Howard County.
Also important to the development of transit communities is increasing the effectiveness of transit in Maryland. To accomplish this goal, Governor O’Malley has increased transit investment. In the FY 2008-2013 Consolidated Transportation Program, state commitments to transit include: $411 million to develop new transit lines including the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway in the Washington Region, and the Red Line in the Baltimore Region; $289 million for the MARC Growth and Investment Plan to eventually transform a rush hour commuter rail line into an all day, seven-day-a-week transit system; Maryland’s commitment to maintaining the Washington Metro system with a $50 million a year match for Metro dedicated funding. $60 million to perform mid life overhaul of the Baltimore Light Rail vehicles $180 million to purchase new Hybrid powered buses that will replace standard Maryland Transit Administration diesel buses in the Baltimore region.
Contacts:
Rick Abbruzzese
Christine Hansen
Governor’s Press Office
410-974-2316
Jack Cahalan
MDOT
410-865-1025 |
