Whereas inquiring about making a path crossing over the decrease reaches of the Potomac River, Maryland’s U.S. senators and Home Majority Chief Steny H. Hoyer (D) requested state transportation officers this summer time to delay demolishing an 80-year-old bridge.
Maryland
Bike advocates, lawmakers want to save Potomac bridge as demolition begins
![Bike advocates, lawmakers want to save Potomac bridge as demolition begins Bike advocates, lawmakers want to save Potomac bridge as demolition begins](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/PCYELVTXJRF57FJRQ2NLY2752A.jpg&w=1440)
The phrase “not” was underlined. In an addendum, Ports wrote in blue pen, “Hope you all are having an awesome summer time.”
Ports’s letter and the disclosure at a latest Maryland Transportation Authority board assembly that demolition was underway seem like the ultimate blow to a long-running quest by pedestrian and bike advocates. They’d spent months working to protect the outdated Good-Middleton Bridge as a part of a connection in a future community of trails. A demolition that has pitted federal lawmakers towards state transportation leaders now has advocates exploring one final gambit, whereas citing environmental issues: Difficult a state plan that might contain blowing up the bridge with underwater explosives.
As he prepares to go away workplace, a lot of term-limited Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) signature transportation initiatives are removed from full. The Federal Freeway Administration this month missed a goal date for offering last environmental approval for widening elements of the Capital Beltway and Interstate 270. The Purple Line light-rail challenge within the Washington suburbs is mired in delays. And it’s going to fall to the subsequent governor to find out whether or not to construct a brand new Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
By comparability, the $463 million Good-Middleton Bridge alternative is a smaller challenge, however one which’s more likely to be practically full within the coming months, making a smoother connection for drivers between fast-growing Charles County and King George County in Virginia.
On the July 28 transportation authority board assembly, Eric Brenner, a former chair of a state bike and pedestrian advisory committee and an advocate for preserving the outdated bridge, forged the refusal to rethink the demolition as a push by state officers to make sure their most popular plan is carried out earlier than the governor’s successor arrives in January. Brenner testified as a member of the general public.
Each candidates to exchange Hogan stated they assist exploring choices to maintain the present bridge.
Democratic nominee Wes Moore stated he had “critical issues” in regards to the demolition plan. He urged the state to pause the dismantling of the bridge till a examine could be performed.
“With probably hundreds of thousands of federal {dollars} on the desk to assist its transformation right into a group asset, it’s within the taxpayers’ greatest curiosity to significantly think about the proposal earlier than continuing with a expensive, multimillion-dollar demolition,” he stated in an announcement.
Del. Dan Cox, the Republican nominee for governor, stated in a textual content message that for the reason that new bridge gained’t possible accommodate walled-off bike lanes, he’s fascinated about preserving the outdated bridge as a motorcycle path “and can work in the direction of that function as governor.”
Leaders of the transportation authority, which manages the state’s toll roads, say demolition is just a query of practicality: Nobody stepped as much as bear the price of sustaining the outdated bridge, and leaving it standing might create engineering issues for the brand new span. Particles from the demolition shall be used to create a fish reef within the Chesapeake Bay, which they are saying can have vital environmental advantages.
In an announcement, Hoyer, whose district contains the bridge, stated he was dissatisfied by the authority’s refusal to rethink its plans and examine a pedestrian-friendly crossing.
“As we proceed our struggle towards local weather change, it’s crucial that we think about all types of transportation alternate options that transfer us away from carbon emissions whereas nonetheless supporting mobility round our native communities,” he stated. “Whereas I consider it is a missed alternative, I’ll proceed to advocate for infrastructure options that profit our surroundings and group.”
When Hogan superior a plan to exchange the bridge in 2016, his workplace stated in an announcement the brand new crossing would come with a separated path for bikes and pedestrians. However the transportation authority jettisoned that concept as a cost-savings transfer in 2019, liberating up cash to spend money on a stretch of Interstate 95.
Dismayed by that call, a bunch of advocates started to discover the potential for preserving the present bridge as a substitute. It was outdated, however they reasoned it may be sturdy sufficient to be used by folks strolling or biking, even when now not appropriate for heavy vehicles.
Their hopes had been briefly buoyed when the U.S. Division of Transportation delayed approval on a key mortgage for the challenge whereas questioning pedestrian and bike owner security. The mortgage was in the end authorised with out adjustments to the design of the bridge.
It was then that Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D), Ben Cardin (D), and Hoyer wrote to Ports.
“An unbiased examine, performed by an entity with expertise in comparable bridge repurposing tasks, is within the taxpayer’s curiosity to make sure that we’re not losing a possibility to supply bicycling and pedestrian transportation choices at a aggressive value or probably decrease value than demolition,” they wrote within the July 14 letter.
Ports responded the subsequent week to dismiss the concept. On the authority board assembly on July 28, William Pines, the authority’s government director, went by a protracted record of points that would want to thought of if the outdated bridge had been left standing. They ranged from “vagrancy administration” to how the circulation of water would be affected.
“A pair issues which can be notably absent from the congressional delegation letter had been any appropriations of funds to really conduct this extra examine, any entity who’s dedicated to taking possession of the bridge, and nor was there any dedication to applicable the monetary help or funds wanted to assist retaining the prevailing bridge,” Pines stated on the assembly.
Pines stated contractors had begun the demolition work to maintain the challenge on schedule, though the brand new bridge is months from opening to visitors. John Gross sales, a spokesman for the authority, stated the prevailing bridge stays protected. The contractor on the bridge challenge referred inquiries to the transportation authority.
The brand new bridge, about 40 miles south of downtown Washington, will embody some provisions for cyclists, together with particular joints appropriate for bike tires and a warning system that can alert drivers when a bike owner is crossing. State officers additionally say there are few connecting trails within the space across the bridge.
Activists pushing for a car-free crossing say they envision a 50-mile community of trails in Maryland and Virginia that might hyperlink the Potomac Heritage Path and probably the conversion of a rail line that might develop into deserted as energy vegetation transition from coal. One proposed 200-mile loop would use the bridge and ferries to cross the area’s waterways.
The advocates’ final choice, they stated, might be to problem the state’s plans to make use of explosives to finish the demolition, a process they argue was not contemplated by the preliminary environmental evaluation. Brenner stated advocates are wanting into last-ditch efforts that might halt plans already set into movement.
“The requirement for a brand new environmental evaluation appears actually clear,” Brenner stated on the board assembly, “and also you type of hate to threaten that.”
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Maryland
Michigan State football opens as sizable underdog vs Maryland
![Michigan State football opens as sizable underdog vs Maryland Michigan State football opens as sizable underdog vs Maryland](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4256,h_2394,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/137/01j6q8yb7r3y04b36mbn.jpg)
Who’s ready for Big Ten play to begin? In all honesty, I am not. I really wish Michigan State football had more tune-up games after seeing them struggle against Florida Atlantic and only win 16-10. But unfortunately, that is not how the schedule unfolds for Michigan State this season.
The Spartans will hit the road for an early Big Ten game as they face Maryland on Saturday at 3:30 pm. Going into the season I thought Michigan State and the Terps were on a pretty level playing field, but after seeing both teams play week one that doesn’t appear to be the case.
And Vegas agrees.
Michigan State opens as a 7.5-point underdog next week at Maryland. My guess is that grows to 8, 8.5.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) September 1, 2024
As you all know, Michigan State only beat Florida Atlantic by six and did not look very impressive, especially on the offensive side of the ball. So it’s no surprise that MSU will be the underdog next week. But 7.5 points feels like a lot, and according to the Lansing State Journal’s Graham Couch, it likely will only go up from there.
So does Vegas have it right or are they underrating Michigan State?
Looking at Maryland’s week one game against UConn it appears Vegas has this line right. The Terps were up 23-0 at halftime and never looked back and went on to win in dominant fashion 50-7. UConn and FAU are very similar in terms of what level they’re at in college football, so that drastic of a difference in the final score is very scary.
So Vegas probably could’ve gotten away with Maryland being even bigger favorites in this one.
But maybe Vegas saw what I did and thinks a lot of Michigan State’s mistakes on Friday are easy to fix. Maybe they think Aidan Chiles will be much better next week. The Spartan’s defense was also fairly dominant so there isn’t much of a chance Maryland scores 50 points next week either.
I tend to not bet on Michigan State games, but even if I did this would be a line that I would avoid because who knows how much Jonathan Smith’s squad will improve by next week, and who knows how much Maryland might struggle against a Power Four opponent.
Maryland
University of Maryland reverses decision to allow anti-Israel protest on October 7
The University of Maryland on Sunday reversed its decision to allow an anti-Israel protest on the first anniversary of the October 7 Massacre, following backlash from local Jewish groups.
UMD Students for Justice in Palestine and UMD Jewish Voice for Peace had been set to hold their October 7 vigil for Gazans killed in the Israel-Hamas War at the campus’s Mckeldin Mall, but the University System of Maryland (USM) said in a statement that on the day of the Hamas-led pogrom it would limit campus events requiring permits or approval to those supporting “a university-sponsored Day of Dialogue.”
“From the beginning of the war, we have come together as a University System to urge that we use this moment to encourage conversation, compassion, and civility; to engage with one another across our differences and draw on our shared humanity and our shared values to bridge what divides us,” said USM. “These dialogues aren’t new. Many of our universities have been hosting this kind of programming for several months. Reserving Oct. 7 gives us a chance to continue these urgent conversations and to mark this solemn anniversary in a way that gives students—all students—the time and space to share and to be heard.”
USM said that its intent was not to infringe of the free expression and speech of students, but to be sensitive to the needs of students as October 7 was a “day of enormous suffering and grief for many in our campus communities.”
UMD Jewish Student Union, Maryland Hillel, Terps for Israel, and Israeli American Council Mishelanu at Maryland welcomed the USM decision and thanked UMD leadership in a joint social media statement on Sunday.
“October 7, the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, is a day of mourning for the Jewish and Israeli community,” said the UMD JSU. “We are relieved that SJP will no longer to be able to appropriate the suffering of our family and friends to fit their false and dangerous narrative.”
The Jewish groups said that it was distraught that the decision to only hold university-sponsored event had to be made at all, and wished to used the campus space to “grieve together as a community” to promote unity at the university. The unideal situation was necessary, according to the Jewish groups, to ensure the physical and psychological safety of students on the day of mourning.
UMD JVP and SJP attacked the decision to cancel the event, claiming that the vigil for Palestinians killed since the October 7 Massacre was attacked without familiarity of the content. The anti-Israel groups said that the discourse was “the continuation inherently racist, Islamophobic, and dehumanizing rhetoric surrounding Palestinians.” JVP and SJP said that the actions against their event were an attempt to paint “Muslim, Arab, and anti-Zionist Jewish students as barbaric.”
The anti-Israel groups asserted that their vigil for Palestinians who died in the war was no threat to the campus’s Jewish community, but conflation of Zionism and Judaism did threaten UMD and the Jewish community.
“To claim that Palestinians cannot hold a day of remembrance in mourning one year of genocide, or lay claim to that date is an insult to every life lost in the Zionist entity’s genocidal campaign,” UMD SJP and JVP said on Instagram on Sunday. “The disproportionate scale of suffering experienced by the Palestinians over the past year necessitates their remembrance and our solidarity on this day. The suffering of all innocents killed must not be monopolized and necessitates a fair and just representation.”
SJP and JVP demanded the right to organize and exercise their right to free speech, accusing Zionists of attempting to stifle Palestinian voices.
The organizations indicated on their Sunday Instagram post that they still planned to hold their all-day event at Mckeldin Mall, and on Monday a link to register still active and listing the campus building as the rally location.
UMD Jewish groups said that they would be holding their own event to memorialize the victims of the October 7 pogrom at the Maryland Hillel.
Maryland
Sunshine for your Labor Day in Maryland
![Sunshine for your Labor Day in Maryland Sunshine for your Labor Day in Maryland](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/09/02/44f70b16-36c5-418b-a083-913b44ccccef/thumbnail/1200x630/35894c49deb7bc01bace1597e72e5c6f/354a4da6cd4b544ff5da5921dfff7e33.jpg?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
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