Maryland

Declines in revenue, federal aid drive cuts in proposed transportation projects – Maryland Matters

Published

4 hours ago

September 3, 2024

Declines in revenue, federal aid drive cuts in proposed transportation projects – Maryland Matters

Transportation projects around the state will be put on hold as officials grapple with ongoing budget constraints and a growing list of expensive projects.

A combination of budget pressures has created a $1.3 billion funding gap over a six year period, which Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said forced his department to defer projects across the state.

“We just don’t have enough dollars to do what we have to do within our means. So that’s what we’ve had to do,” he said.

The agency Tuesday released a draft of its latest Consolidated Transportation Program, a six-year budget that contains $19 billion in projects around the state. Wiedefeld said the draft required tough choices to address the budget gap, a “historical issue” that continues.

Wiedefeld said the state’s transportation funding shortfall is driven, in part, by an end to federal COVID-19 aid. Other factors include inflation, increased construction costs, less than expected revenue from the state’s gas tax, and reduced federal funding.

“The biggest one we do is we take a look at our financial forecast and all the ups and downs that may occur in the financial forecast,” Wiedefeld told reporters during a briefing Friday. “And so, in doing that, what we learned was that some of the projections that we had in terms of the growth of some of our sources were not growing at that rate, particularly our largest source of revenue, the motor fuel tax. There were some others that were either not growing or remaining flat again, not growing to the level that we’d hoped for.”

Wiedefeld said that resulted in roughly a $350 million decline in projected revenues over the six-year period of fiscal 2025-2030.

“At the same time, our operating costs continue to grow at a rate a little bit more significant that we have projected,” said Wiedefeld, adding $300 million in projected costs over the six-year period.

Counties scramble for answers, options as state signals deferral of transportation requests

Additionally, lawmakers earlier this year restored proposed cuts in state aid to local governments as part of Highway User Revenues as well as proposed cuts to transit systems run by 23 counties and Baltimore City. Restoration of those proposed cuts added another $400 million over six years, Wiedefeld said.

“So those three things basically are our realities that put pressure on the financial forecast,” he said.

Finally, Wiedefeld said the amount of federal aid is falling short of expectations.

“We were pushing all the modes to really buckle down and see where else we could get federal dollars for delivering projects,” he said. “We were shooting for roughly 80% federal, 20% local match, overall for the program. Basically, we were not able to achieve that, and we’re probably not going to be able to achieve that into the future.”

Instead, Wiedefeld said the state now expects a 75-25 split. “That 5%, although it sounds small, is significant, obviously, when you think of the amount of federal dollars that would bring down,” he said.

The resulting lack of revenue means counties will see priority projects not already underway slowed down or paused

“In effect, projects that are into the future — larger projects that we want to construct — we have to slow those down in terms of the process to get them to construction, until we have available dollars to pick that back up,” Wiedefeld said.

One large project that could suffer is the proposed widening of the American Legion Bridge.

“So, on the American Legion bridge, obviously, we have the record of decision for this, you know, larger improvement there,” said Wiedefeld. “But given the stress that we’re under, we’re going to have the state highway particularly focus on the pure state of good repair issues around the American Legion bridge.”

The state applied for a federal grant to help pay for the costs of repairing “structural issues with the bridge,” he said. “So that’s where we’ll be focusing,” Wiedefeld said.

News of the delays was delivered to county leaders by Wiedefeld and transportation officials during the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference last month.

The transportation secretary said he will also seek to slow down the purchase of zero-emissions buses in the coming years, as some major bus manufacturers are having issues with the performance of electric buses, as well as availability.

Moore warns of difficult fiscal decisions ahead

A new clean diesel bus costs the state $750,000. A hybrid bus costs about $1 million each. A new electric bus costs $1.4 million each.

“So, as you play that over the program period, if you defer that, it actually saves a lot of dollars,” Wiedefeld said. “It allows us not to dig deeper into operating cuts, that we would have to do, or system preservation cuts.”

Wiedefeld said he will not request cuts to his department’s operating budget as he did last year when he cut 8% across the board. He will also not request cuts to county aid or local transit networks.

“What we’ve done is we’ve gone through all those projects, and we’re going to defer those projects at a logical deferred point,” Wiedefeld said. “So basically, some of those projects were in different levels of study. We want to make sure that they stop at a point where we don’t lose any of the effort that we had done, but we don’t have the available funds right now to continue those projects. What you’ll see in the capital program is basically those projects that will be deferred.”

A year ago, Wiedefeld proposed cuts to county shares of highway user revenues and to local transportation networks.

Highway user revenues — decimated in cuts more than a decade ago — had yet to be restored to previous levels. Proposed cuts, nixed this spring by the General Assembly, would have eliminated planned increases in future years.

“Even so, the fiscal 2025 funding for HUR (highway user revenues) falls significantly short of Maryland’s appropriate and historic funding levels, even without adjusting for inflation,” the association of county governments said in a post on its website. “This gap becomes even more pronounced when accounting for rising road maintenance and materials costs.”

The association said it would continue to seek restoration of state highway aid.

“MACo and county leaders will continue urging Maryland policymakers to advance a sustainable plan to address critical infrastructure needs across the state,” the group said in its statement. “Proper restoration of the HUR formula should be a priority in advancing solutions that create sensible and reliable support for all locally maintained roadways.”

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University System of Maryland to only allow university-sponsored events on October 7

Published

9 hours ago

September 3, 2024

Press Room

University System of Maryland to only allow university-sponsored events on October 7

University of Maryland President William Pines announced this weekend that only university-sponsored activities “that promote reflection” will be held on October 7th.

The day will mark one year since Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel killed around 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Israel retaliated, declaring war on Hamas, which has resulted in more than 40,000 people dead, according to Gaza health officials.

This came after the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group had reserved the McKeldin Mall and Jewish organizations on campus had reserved Hornbake Plaza on October 7th to mark the day.

The announcement cancels both of these events.

“Jointly, out of an abundance of caution,” wrote Pines in an email to the campus community, “we concluded to host only university-sponsored events that promote reflection on this day. All other expressive events will be held prior to October 7, and then resume on October 8 in accordance with time, place and manner considerations of the First Amendment.”

This policy is in place for all University System of Maryland Schools.

“The intent is not to abridge students’ right to free expression; the intent is, instead, to be sensitive to the needs of our students. Our university communities may use this day to safely come together to reflect and to share, to learn and to listen, and, yes, to challenge one another. That’s the premise—and the promise—of higher education.”
-University System of Maryland Statement

SJP wrote in a statement on its Instagram account: “We as Students for Justice in Palestine are deeply angered, though not surprised, by the University of Maryland administration’s decision to cancel our reservation for a vigil at McKeldin Mall on October 7th.”

It continues, “Rest assured that we will find ways to mark this one year of genocide and one year of resistance.”

University of Maryland students worried about antisemitism on campus

The Jewish Student Union also posted a statement to its Instagram account.

“We are reassured to learn that Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Maryland will no longer be permitted to host their event on McKeldin Mall, or anywhere on campus, on October 7th,” the organization writes.

“Only university-sponsored events will occur on October 7th,” they continued. “While this is not an ideal situation, it ensures that our physical and psychological safety is protected on this day of grief.”

In the email from Pines, he noted that a safety assessment had been done and that there was “no immediate or active threat.”

The Jewish Student Union added that they would be holding an event to memorialize the day at Maryland Hillel, a center for Jewish life and students, which is located just off campus.

The UMD Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace also released a statement standing with SJP “in their anger with the university admin’s decision to cancel our registration to hold a joint vigil on October 7th.”

The email from Pines added that “we encourage our entire community to mark the anniversary of October 7 with remembrance and reflection.”

At the moment, it’s unclear what university-sponsored events will take place on October 7th, at the College Park campus.

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Best Online Colleges In Maryland Of 2024

Published

14 hours ago

September 3, 2024

Press Room

Best Online Colleges In Maryland Of 2024

Pro Tip

Ensure that your prospective college offers globally recognized credentials if you plan to further your education or practice internationally.

Consider Your Future Goals

Considering your goals when choosing an online college helps you select a program that fits your current needs and prepares you for long-term success.

If you intend to work right after graduation, choose a program that aligns with your desired career path. Look for concentrations or specialized tracks that can provide in-depth knowledge in your field.

However, if you plan to pursue further education such as a master’s or doctoral degree, ensure that credits from your online college are transferable to other schools. Also ensure that the college’s credentials are globally recognized, if you intend to work or study abroad.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Online colleges in Maryland (particularly private institutions), can be quite expensive, compared to other online schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average undergraduate tuition and required fees for four-year public schools is $9,750 per year; meanwhile, enrollees in four-year private colleges may pay north of $38,000 per year.

If private university tuition is out of your budget, consider enrolling in a state-owned online school such as the University of Maryland Global Campus, which only requires about $8,000 in annual tuition and fees.

Aside from seeking affordable online programs, here are other ways to fund your college education:

Complete the FAFSA®
Apply for institutional scholarships
Take a private student loan
Enroll in a work-study program
Ask your employer about a tuition reimbursement program

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Maryland voters weigh in on presidential election, governor’s approval in new Gonzales Poll

Published

21 hours ago

September 3, 2024

Press Room

Maryland voters weigh in on presidential election, governor’s approval in new Gonzales Poll

BALTIMORE – With a little more than two months until election day, the majority of Marylanders surveyed in the new Gonzales Poll would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump for president.

A total of 820 registered voters in Maryland who indicated they are likely to vote in the 2024 general election were queried for the poll by live telephone interviews, utilizing both landline and cellphone numbers between August 24 and August 30.

A cross-section of interviews was conducted throughout the state, reflecting Maryland’s general election voting patterns, the pollster said.

The Gonzales Poll stated that “the margin of error, per accepted statistical standards, is a range of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points and if the entire population was surveyed, there is a 95% probability that the true numbers would fall within this range.”

Presidential survey

According to the latest Gonzales Poll, 56% of Marylanders surveyed said they would vote for Harris over Trump for president.

According to the latest Gonzales Poll, 56% of Marylanders say they would vote for Kamala Harris over Trump for president.

Gonzales Poll

The poll says 84% of Democrats support the Harris/Tim Walz ticket and 80% of Republicans support the Trump/JD Vance ticket. Also, 83% of Black voters polled would vote for Harris/Walz.

Among the independents, 38% favor Harris/Walz and 36% prefer Trump/Vance, according to the poll.

Gov. Moore’s approval gets a bump

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who led the state’s response to the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March, has the approval of 64% of Marylanders surveyed. Moore has a 35% “mostly soft approval” among Republicans who were surveyed (7% strongly approve, 28% somewhat approve),” the poll shows.

His approval rating increased by 33% since the last Gonzales Poll in the winter.

His approval rating increased by 33% since the last Gonzalez poll in the winter.

Gonzales Poll

Last month, the governor spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of Harris, who was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.

He framed Harris’ candidacy as “the story of a prosecutor who defended our freedoms and had Maryland’s back when we needed it most. And now MVP: We’ve got yours.”

President Biden’s approval

The Gonzales Poll shows that 53% of Maryland voters surveyed approve of the job President Joe Biden is doing, while 45% disapprove. Seventy-six percent of the Democrats believe Biden is doing a good job in office, and 84% of Republicans disagree.

State transportation and juvenile reform

According to the poll, 95% of Marylanders think it is “important for the State to invest in improving its transportation infrastructure.”

And, when it comes to juvenile crime, voters were asked, “What type of laws, in your opinion, ultimately better help our children under 18 who commit crimes – Laws that are strict, which include things such as juvenile detention and boot camps. This hold individuals responsible and accountable for their behavior; or Laws that are lenient, which include social programs and counseling. This recognizes that society is responsible for much of this behavior?”

The poll showed that 58% of Marylanders are in favor of strict laws, which hold juveniles responsible and accountable for their behavior, and only 34% desire laws that are lenient.

Gonzales Poll

The poll shows that 58% of Marylanders are in favor of strict laws, which holds juveniles responsible and accountable for their behavior, and only 34% desire laws that are lenient.

“A majority of nearly every demographic group backs strict laws to inspire a sense of personal responsibility and to best assist our juvenile offenders ultimately realize at least a chance at a successful, happy life,” the poll said.

Is the country going in the right direction?

Fifty percent of Marylanders polled say the country is headed in the right direction, while 45% say the country is headed in the wrong direction.

According to the poll, 93% of Maryland voters who think the country is moving in the right direction are voting for Harris/Walz, and 70% of Maryland voters who think the country is moving in the wrong direction are voting for Trump/Vance.

In the previous poll, 41% of voters said the country was headed in the right direction.

“The mood of voters in Maryland vis-à-vis how they perceive things overall going in the country is a tad less grumpy than it was in winter,” the Gonzales Poll said.

Adam Thompson

Adam Thompson is a digital content producer for CBS Baltimore.

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