This session proved a pivotal year for highway user revenue restoration.
Both the House and Senate agreed early on to provide local governments their first multi-year commitment in nearly a decade to bring back some of the local transportation funding that was decimated by about 90 percent in 2010. By passing SB 516/HB 807, the General Assembly has assured that most counties will see an increase in their total transportation funding by more than 40 percent, all the way through fiscal 2024 – assuming Governor Hogan allows the bill to become law.
To that end, MACo sent Governor Hogan a letter thanking him for his efforts to provide additional transportation funding to local governments, and requesting that he sign the bill into law. From that letter:
This bill – a top initiative of MACo’s – codifies an important step toward restoration of highway user revenues to Maryland’s counties, municipalities, and Baltimore City, for five years beginning in fiscal 2020. SB 516/HB 807 begins to address counties’ long-standing top fiscal priority. It provides reliable formula funding for multiple years, allowing counties to program their capital projects accordingly. ….
The cumulative loss of local roadway investment since fiscal 2010 is well over $3 billion.
Again, Maryland’s counties are deeply grateful for your efforts in providing additional transportation funding for local governments. Please take this one last step before the conclusion of your first term, and sign into law Senate Bill 516/House Bill 807, Transportation – Highway User Revenues – Distribution.
Investing in local roads was a key initiative of MACo’s this session.
Helpful Links
MACo’s Letter to Governor Hogan
County Highway User Revenue Breakdown (FY19)
2018 End of Session Wrap-Up: Road Funding
Highway User Revenues – What’s On The Table?
Counties Call For A Local Infrastructure Fast Track
We love the Department of Legislative Services’ 
Solomon’s Island this year! This year’s conference is at the Holiday Inn Solomon’s – Conference Center and Marina from Wednesday, May 2 to Friday, May 4.
Join WSSC on May 1, 2018 for the WSSC Water Symposium: A Century of Innovation. This event focuses on the future of innovation in the water industry and recognizes WSSC’s 100 years of service. You will hear from WSSC GM/CEO Carla Reid and other industry leaders, as well as experts in energy, resource recovery and technology.
House Bill 1406 and Senate Bill 872 would have authorized counties to designate certain areas as “special event zones” on their roads, set lower speed limits within those zones, and enforce those lower speed limits in an effort to protect pedestrians in the vicinity of an event taking place. MACo supported this legislation as it is a tool in counties’ toolboxes to keep their residents and visitors safe during special events. Unfortunately, while House Bill 1406 did pass the House, it failed to receive a hearing in the Senate. Senate Bill 872, which was amended to be Worcester County-specific, did pass and awaits the Governor’s signature. 
MACo originally opposed legislation which required a traffic control signal at an intersection to display a yellow light for at least four seconds if the signal is monitored by a red light camera. However, the bill was amended in the House to require conformance with federal and state law and engineering standards, allowing MACo to drop its opposition. The bill passed both the House and the Senate, and awaits the Governor’s signature. 
Senate Bill 901/House Bill 1569 “Local Infrastructure Fast Track for Maryland Act,” a MACo initiative for the legislative session, did not pass out of committee in either chamber. This bill would have fully restored highway user revenues, enhanced auditing provisions, required the State to share any windfall of infrastructure funding from the federal government with local governments, and called for an assessment of the state of local infrastructure.