BCC March 2021 Newsletter

The HS nets are used primarily at night in winter months to catch ‘Gizzard Shad’ that is shipped south to states like Louisiana where it is used for crawfish bait. Large catches of a variety of fish-(some can be illegally caught) are ensnared in these nets with concerns for the survival of many fragile and failing species. Studies of the effects of such fishing techniques have not been done and the strengthening of our Bay seafood industry must be paramount.

There are some existing statutes in our Code re: fishing parameters but the laws, as detailed in this Bill, are few and loosely stated. We have concerns about this Bill and will work to complete our study and provide our input to the AA County Delegation and the bill sponsor on the H/E&TC- Delegate Seth Howard. the H/E&TC- Delegate Seth Howard.

Update: Thanks to the many people contacting their representatives, this Bill will not make it out of committee this year. It is dead for this year.

SUBJECT: MDOT/MDTA release of the NEPA 1 Draft Environmental Impact Study-(DEIS)
The BCC is initiating a campaign to communicate directly to Governor Hogan, –our concerns and stated rejection of the Rte #50/301 corridor for the location of the 3rd Span of the Bay Bridge. This decision by the MDOT/MDTA to locate a 3rd Span within two miles of the current Bridges is unacceptable to residents of the Broadneck as there were 14 alternative sites named in the NEPA 1 study but the 3 final selections were ALL in AA County with the final selection at the current heavily utilized John Hansen Highway corridor on our Peninsula. The current summer traffic volume is in excess of 100K vehicles/weekend day, and growing at (current est.) 0.7-1.0+/ year.

There are named alternate northern and southern sites on the Chesapeake Bay that were published in the MDOT/MDTA NEPA 1 Study which is where we feel the 3rd Span must be located. This will provide a crossing that will draw traffic away from the Annapolis/Broadneck Peninsula and support a more expanded set of routes to the Eastern Shore. It is critical that the Broadneck not be inundated by an increase of vehicular traffic to cause E/B congestion on summer weekends extending from the Severn River Bridge to the Bay Bridge.

To note: The ‘tiered’ approach to a ‘Tier 1’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) does not provide the level of detail required to make a final determination on the site of a new Bay Bridge span as there are many elements of the required comprehensive study that are not included in this Tier 1 report. A major omission,- that must be included as part of the decision making process,- is a study of all the approach roads on either side of the selected crossing site. These important roadways/highways that feed traffic to the Bridge must be studied and evaluated in any site selection. This was not done in this NEPA/Tier 1 DEIS Report.

Public input on the selected site for the 3rd Bay Bridge span, will be received until May 10, 2021 by emailing your comments/concerns to [email protected]. In person hearings will be held from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on April 21th at the Annapolis Doubletree Hotel and on Kent Island at the American Legion Hall on April 22nd. You must register for the 4/21 and 4/22 meetings by calling 1-877-249-8370.

All concerned Broadneck residents must be heard! We are asking you to email/write/call in your comments to Governor Hogan (and/or your elected officials) at your earliest convenience as the Governor is supporting the Rte #50/301 site as the only location he will support for this third Bridge span construction. The locations on both sides of the Bay that were selected as Alternatives #6 and #8 have presented highly successful campaigns against using their geographies as a launch/landing site for the 3rd span so the existing site on the Broadneck will require arguably,-less destruction of environments assets and properties for the location of the approach roads and will be less costly as the Bay Bridges’ highway already exists and the Bay is narrower at this location.
Here is Governor Hogan’s contact form address: http://www.governor.maryand.gov/contact-the-governor/

“Citizens—-A call to action”
SUBJECT: Reporting Road Repair Needs – (GOOD UPDATE FOR OUR CITIZENS!)

If you have just noticed that the STOP sign on the street is obscured by overhanging tree branches–or that the highway guardrail is smashed near your neighborhood or perhaps the street’s sewer is clogged by debris or a pothole has grown terribly large on the main road or the YIELD sign is knocked down.

YOU can take action. You can help spread the word and get early repair work initiated.

If it is a STATE of Maryland maintained road, it is assigned a route number. An example is Route 2, also known as Ritchie Highway. For any problems on a “numbered” roadway, contact the Maryland SHA (State Highway Administration) by calling 1-800-543-2515 or 410-582-5650. Provide the location and a description of the repairs needed and a location and description of the problems.

You can also do this for the County. If it is a COUNTY maintained road, the road will have a name ONLY. An example is College Parkway. For problems on County roadways, contact the Anne Arundel County service representative by dialing 3 1 1. Provide maintained roads with a mobile APP or online as described in this Anne Arundel County link. https://www.aacounty.org/services-and-programs/report-a-concern

YOU can make a difference by simply placing a phone call.
Thank you!!

There are two members of the Broadneck Council who were also selected as members of the CBBRAG. Barbara Hitchings, Vice Chair of the CBBRAG and Pat Lynch, member, are representing the Broadneck Peninsula in matters related to the Bay Bridge.

The concern over the selection by MDTA, of the Rte #50/301 corridor for the site of the 3rd lane of the Bay bridge… are at the top of the charts of all Broadneck concerns and issues that need to be resolved. Bill Nevel, Phil Ferrara, Beau Breeden, Britt Griswold, John Joynes, of the Broadneck Council Board, are working as the NEPA/DEIS team to provide whatever influence we can to have this selection reversed to save our properties and way of life in this Peninsula. We shall keep you informed as there are many action plans in place to hopefully move this site to another one north or south of the Broadneck.he State of the summer season begins with Memorial Day weekend. The traffic cameras will be monitored by members of the BCC on the Fridays and Saturdays of summer weekends for reports going to the MDTA on their service/or their poor contra-flow service granted to E/B travelers on beach weekends. Our elected officials are working with us to force the MDTA to grant prime time access to AA County E/B travelers. We shall bring you an update on our progress in this never ending war for use of the 3rd lane on the North Bay Bridge.
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Pat Lynch, BCC President