We need to move forward from them. One of the areas that we need to make progress in is in transportation. Some road projects conducive to sprawl are allowed and even encouraged by “Smart Growth.” These new roads connect existing communities with each other and with designated growth areas.
What is needed now is an effort to develop legislation and regulations for “Smart Transportation,” an idea put forth by Dru Schmidt-Perkins of 1000 Friends of Maryland and other members of the environmental community.
A look at a map of Maryland shows that we have an abundance of roads. More roads will help spread sprawl, will often traverse an undeveloped, natural area, and will result in more vehicle miles traveled, more energy wasted, and more air pollution. Mass transit is a more environmentally sound alternative.
Within the Maryland Chapter, the fight against the ICC--the Inter County Connector--has been one of our priority campaigns. Good progress has been made in this fight, with the Governor coming over to our side.
Less well known in the Chapter, but well known to members of the Greater Baltimore Group, is the fight over another road project: the proposed extension of White Marsh Boulevard-Maryland Route 43. Like the ICC, this project has been on the books for many years.
The first segment of Route 43 was constructed a little over a decade ago to provide direct access from the Baltimore Beltway, I-695, to the designated growth area of White Marsh with its new mall and town center. Route 43 intersects I-95 and currently ends at Route 40, at the southern limit of the designated growth area. The proposed extension would go through a parcel of land that is 1,000 acres in area, mostly forested, and contains about 450 acres of wetlands.
Baltimore County, with help from the state, has repeatedly tried to bring about development of this privately owned land, which has been zoned for manufacturing for decades. We feel that the zoning is inappropriate. A prime reason for the road in the view of it’s supporters is to open up one of the last parcels of forest and wetlands of this size in eastern Baltimore County.
In the past, two developments have been attempted: a theme park and a NASCAR racetrack. Both failed. The County believes now, “ Build the Road and they will come!” Development and road construction will result in the fragmentation of the forest and damage to the wetlands, if not outright destruction of both.
Another reason given for the road is that it is needed to connect White Marsh with the older communities of Essex and Middle River to benefit the economy there. This is bogus.
Roads exist that connect these communities. Saving 15 minutes or less
is not a good enough reason to spend over $50 million on an environmentally
destructive highway. This year’s State budget contains $50 million to do
most of the project.
The Route 43 extension is supported by the legislators from the 6th district, in which it would be built, and by the members from the 8th district, which contains the first section of Route 43.
Contact Baltimore County Executive C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger III (who is believed to be a candidate for Governor in 2002) and ask him to end his support for this road. Mr. Ruppersberger has persuaded the Baltimore County delegation to the General Assembly to support this project as part of a plan to maximize their county’s take from the state budget.
Contact members of the Baltimore County Council, in particular. Councilman Vincent Gardina is a big supporter of this road for his district. Write to your local newspaper’s editorial pages and speak out on this subject. For more information call Brian Parker at 410-661-7484. q