Contact Your Representatives- Support SB 56

Dear Broadneck residents,

As a resident on the Broadneck you are well aware of how tricky but vital transportation in our area can be. With the presence of two major bridges and other road constrictions ruling our mobility and safety, planning and funding by our County and State government for our future is very important.

Right now the Legislature is moving on a bill (SB 56) that can provide long-term planning for the Bay Bridge, but it needs your support. There are those that want to ignore the issue or fund other priorities, and let nature take its course.

Please contact your legislators and urge them to support passage of SB56 in the Senate, and in the House. Below is a message from the Broadneck Council of Communities President with Action contact information. 

Please Call, Write and Email your representatives!

____________________________

From BCC President, Pat Lynch:

As many of you know, the BCC has been working with the Md. General Assembly on Senate Bill #56 (SB 56), co-sponsored by Senators Mathias (lead) and Astle. This Bill will require the Md. DOT/Transit Authority (MdTA), to fund an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to determine where a new Bay Bridge span should be constructed after an analysis of several selected locations both here on Rte #50 as well as north and south of the current Bay Bridge.

The BCC sponsored a “Transportation Forum” on February 11th, to review SB 56 and Broadneck transportation issues/concerns with Senator Ed Reilly, former Councilman Dick Ladd and Dave Humphries, Executive Director of the Annapolis-ARTMA organization. When the Bill was heard before the Senate Finance Committee several of us were invited to testify in support of the Bill.  Pat Lynch -BCC, Jack Broderick- Chair of the Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Committee (BBRAG) and Dick Ladd. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) testified against the Bill due to their concerns over financial projections and their inability to address traffic issues faced by Broadneck residents and Bridge commuters.

But progress is being made! We have just been advised that SB 56 has made it out of the Senate Finance Committee and moved over to the full Senate for a vote. If successful, the Bill will then go to the House. If the Bill is approved it will go to the Governor. We are told that the Senate Leadership is supporting SB 56 and asking that action be taken to move the Department of Transportation to take action on the EIS study. We are working on the House leadership and hoping for the same response.

A two year Consultants’ Report on our Bay Bridge was completed for the MdTA and published late in 2015 that pressed for the need to begin the EIS study in 2015. We are now one year late and have much work ahead to secure the proper funding for Bridge relief and EPA approvals.

The time is now. We need your support. We have a chance to get this Bill passed in this Legislative session.

Please write a letter, email or phone your AA County Delegates, Speaker Busch and the Governor to promote passage of SB 56 Bill in this General Assembly.

Here are some links to more information about this issue:
Sample Letter by Phil Ferrara
Background Letter by transportation expert Bill Nevel

KEY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email addresses for all:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. 
100 State Circle, Annapolis, Md 21401
Phone: 410-974-3901.  Email: [email protected]

Speaker of the House/Dist #30A,
Michael E. Busch
State House, H-101, Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3800  Email: [email protected]

President of the Senate
Thomas V. Mike Miller
State House H-107, Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3700; Email: [email protected]

Senators:

-District 33
Ed Reilly
James Senate Office Bldg—Rm 316J
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3568 ; Email: [email protected]

-District 30A
John Astle
James Senate Office Bldg Rm 123J
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, Md 21401
Phone: 410-841-3578; Email: [email protected]

Delegates:

-District 33
Mike Malone
House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3510; Email: [email protected]

Tony McConkey
House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3406; Email: [email protected]

Sid Saab
House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3551; Email: [email protected]

-District 30A
Herb McMillan
House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Md. 21401
Phone: 410-841-3211; Email: [email protected]