Business Affairs / Transportation and Public Works
Solar Electrical Systems Permitting and Inspection Workshop

The Maryland Clean Energy Center is offering two training workshops geared to better manage the unique permitting and inspection issues for installation of Photovoltaic Systems. The same workshop will be offered on two separate days, Monday, June 28 and Tuesday, June 29, 2010 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration is $25 for inspectors and $100 for contractors, installers, and others.  Registration includes coffee break and a box lunch. The  workshop will be held at…

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June 7, 2010
Transportation and Public Works / Uncategorized
Stimulus Funds for Roads Project Awarded

As reported in the Carroll County Times over the weekend, all Federal stimulus funds for highway projects across the State have been awarded. The last stimulus-funded state road improvement project is a $2 million replacement of a bridge deck on Forestville Road in Prince George's County. The state has spent $5.25 million on four state road improvement projects in Carroll County. The state overall received $317 million in stimulus funds for more than 116 road…

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June 7, 2010
Intergovernmental Relations / Transportation and Public Works / Uncategorized
Federal Aid Snow Storm Designations Released

In a statement released by Governor O'Malley and as reported in the Gazette, 21 counties and Baltimore City have been designated for federal aid resulting from the snow storms in February.   This designation does not result in the immediate distribution of funds, but a process of totaling reimbursable expenses with local and state emergency response agencies. In addition, all 24 jurisdictions are eligible to seek grants for mitigating long-term risks to life and property from…

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May 7, 2010
Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
Rough Roads Cause Marylanders to Pay More in Vehicle Operating Costs

As reported in the Baltimore Sun today, Maryland drivers pay an additional $425 in vehicle costs due to rough roads, compared with the national average of $335.  This finding is being released today in a report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.  Although Maryland is praised for devoting money to repairs before new construction, drivers are still feeling the effects of poorly maintained roads. In 2008, the state ranked 37th in its…

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April 28, 2010
Bill Hearing / Transportation and Public Works
Miss Utility Moving in the Senate

SB 911, Underground Facilities - Damage Prevention, was voted favorable in the Senate Finance Committee with numerous amendments.  As introduced, MACo opposed the bill because it removed local marking fee authority, imposed new mandates by requiring the marking of storm drains, and empowered a new unaccountable entity,  the Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority (Authority) with broad powers. The amended bill maintains local marking fee authority, removes all references to the marking of storm drains,…

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March 30, 2010
Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Compromise Reached on House Transportation Planning Bill

MACo has dropped its opposition to HB 1155 after reaching an agreement over bill amendments with the bill's sponsor, Delegate Steve Lafferty, and various proponents.  MACo's primary concerns were the creation of performance measures for local government major transportation projects and the cost and effort required by local public works departments to justify their projects. The amendments remove these concerns.  Local governments are now only required to submit a brief summary for major transportation projects detailing:  (1) the location of the project; (2) the project necessity; and (3)…

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March 28, 2010
Transportation and Public Works
Lighting Bill Defeated in House and Senate Committees

The Marilyn J. Praisner Safe and Earth-Friendly Roadway Act was defeated in both the Senate Finance and House Environmental Matters Committees.  HB 169/SB 464 would have limited the counties' ability to install or replace lighting along county roadways.  As previously reported, MACo opposed the bills due to their mandatory nature and the possibility of increased costs for replacing lights in some situations.  However, after discussing these concerns, MACo worked with the bill sponsors to provide…

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March 21, 2010
Transportation and Public Works
Senate Committee to Require SHA to Develop Road Salt Guidance Document

What started as legislation to require the State Highway Administration (SHA) and every local jurisdiction responsible for highway maintenance to establish and implement a road salt management program, has been amended to require SHA to develop a road salt management best practices guidance document for use by State and local government. As previously reported, MACo opposed SB 775 due to the administrative and fiscal effect the development of these plans would have on local governments.  …

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March 21, 2010
Bill Hearing / Transportation and Public Works
MACo Opposes Legislation Requiring Road Salt Management Plans

MACo Associate Director Leslie Knapp, Jr., testified in opposition before the House Environmental Matters Committee this week on legislation that would require every local jurisdiction responsible for highway maintenance to establish and implement a road salt management program.  HB 903 would require that these plans be put in place by October 31, 2011 and specifies that if a local jurisdiction does not implement a plan, the State Highway Administration would do it for them. Mr.…

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March 13, 2010
Bill Hearing / Transportation and Public Works / Uncategorized
MACo Raises Concerns With Expansion of Miss Utility Law

MACo Associate Director Andrea Mansfield was joined March 9 by Harford County Public Works Deputy Director Joel Caudill and Baltimore City Department of Public Works Legislative Liaison Marcia Collins, to testify in opposition to SB 911/HB 1290 before the Senate Finance and House Economic Matters Committees.   These bills would expand the role of Miss Utility to provide great oversight of the marking of utilities and the enforcement of damage prevention laws.  A proposed new entity,…

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March 13, 2010
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