Council Resolution on Transit

The following is the Action section of the resolution on transit passed by the Montgomery County Council on December 12th:

The County Council for Montgomery County, Maryland approves the following resolution:

1. The Council expresses its strong support for the Bi-County Transitway (Purple Line) and Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT), and it urges the Maryland Department of Transportation to proceed expeditiously to the design and construction of these projects. For both the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway, the Council supports:

· a generally at-grade light rail line that is primarily on its own right of way;

· excellent service linking the places identified in the Background section of this resolution;

· completion of a hiker-biker trail alongside the Purple Line from Bethesda to Silver Spring and the Corridor Cities Transitway for its entire length; and

· a community- and environmentally-friendly design that mitigates negative impacts in a cost-effective manner without impeding the speedy implementation of these projects.

2. The Council strongly urges Congress to pass H.R. 3496 or substantially similar legislation to provide WMATA with a desperately needed infusion of revenue to keep up with the maintenance of its existing infrastructure and to acquire enough rail cars and buses to relieve overcrowding.

3. The Council strongly urges the State of Maryland to provide resources for transit that will meet the funding requirements in support of the federal legislation.

4. The Council also recognizes that in order for the State of Maryland to fund the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, and other critical transportation infrastructure, significant supplemental revenue sources will be required. The Council intends to work cooperatively with the General Assembly to develop a mix of resources that will provide this necessary funding. From an environmental, energy, and transportation policy perspective, the Council believes that an increase in the state gasoline tax is one appropriate means to provide supplemental transit funding and urges the General Assembly to approve such an increased, as well as other substantial revenue enhancement.