Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Friday blasted federal transportation officers for delaying a call that might have cleared the way in which for him to maneuver ahead with a plan to construct toll lanes on Interstate 270 and a part of the Capital Beltway, in keeping with a letter he despatched to the Biden administration.
Maryland
Gov. Hogan blasts delay of Maryland toll lane project
![Gov. Hogan blasts delay of Maryland toll lane project Gov. Hogan blasts delay of Maryland toll lane project](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/E2OUNTSIPUI6ZFO4L4VJNYAPUM.jpg&w=1440)
Hogan mentioned he was “fully blindsided” and chided the performing administrator for the Federal Freeway Administration for failing to approve the state’s environmental plan for the venture by a Friday goal date. Within the letter, addressed to President Biden and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Hogan urged that they overturn the choice to take extra time to check the difficulty. Whereas Hogan didn’t identify the official, he seems to be referring to Stephanie Pollack, who’s the present performing administrator for the Federal Freeway Administration.
“If motion shouldn’t be taken to instantly rectify this improper determination, we’re ready to make use of each instrument at our disposal — as much as and together with authorized motion,” Hogan mentioned within the letter. “Whereas we don’t want it to come back to that, these reckless and apparently politically-motivated actions could depart us with no different alternative.”
Officers from the Hogan’s workplace and the Maryland Division of Transportation, which is overseeing the toll lane venture, didn’t reply to questions relating to the specifics of the performing administrator’s determination or how lengthy it might delay the venture. In addition they didn’t touch upon what Hogan meant by “politically-motivated actions.”
In June, Maryland officers launched the ultimate environmental impression assertion (FEIS) for the venture. Officers from the FHWA should log off on the FEIS and problem a “file of determination” to ensure that the venture to obtain federal funding. MDOT officers even have mentioned they won’t transfer ahead till they obtain that approval.
Pollack declined to touch upon Hogan’s remarks, however in a press release, the company indicated it wanted extra time to evaluation feedback on the potential environmental impacts of the venture, which might widen and add toll lanes to I-270 and a part of the Capital Beltway. The federal company mentioned it’s persevering with to work with officers from the Maryland Division of Transportation however gave no timeline for when that evaluation could be accomplished.
“There have been robust emotions about this venture and it’s FHWA’s accountability to not decide a aspect, however to make sure that the [National Environmental Policy Act] course of is adopted with integrity,” the company mentioned in an emailed assertion. “This consists of finishing a radical evaluation of feedback obtained to make sure public suggestions is satisfactorily addressed as we work towards finalizing a Report of Resolution for this venture.”
A federal dashboard created to observe the standing of infrastructure tasks gave Aug. 5 as a goal date for approval of the environmental examine, however company officers cautioned what’s listed shouldn’t be a deadline, however relatively an estimate.
The plan to widen a part of the Capital Beltway and I-270, two of the area’s most congested highways, has been years within the making and is Hogan’s signature traffic-relief initiative. However with just a few months left in workplace, Hogan’s window for shifting the venture ahead is narrowing.
Hogan needs to hunt approval from the state’s Board of Public Works this fall for the contract, a public-private partnership value billions of {dollars} to finance, construct and function the lanes. Profitable approval for the plan would lock Maryland right into a 50-year settlement with a personal concessionaire.
Nonetheless, Hogan is term-limited, and if he’s unable to safe the contract earlier than leaving workplace in January, there are issues {that a} new governor might make modifications and even cancel the venture.
Below the plan outlined by the Maryland Division of Transportation, the state would add two toll lanes in every course to the Beltway between the Virginia aspect of a brand new and expanded American Legion Bridge and the exit for Previous Georgetown Street in Bethesda. From there, the lanes would prolong up I-270 to Frederick, with the decrease half to I-370 being constructed first.
The common lanes could be rebuilt and stay free. One of many toll lanes on decrease I-270 would come from a transformed carpool lane.
However the plan has drawn opposition from some officers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, in addition to environmental teams and transit advocates. This week, Casey Anderson, chair of the Maryland-Nationwide Capital Park and Planning Fee, despatched a letter to officers at MDOT and the FHWA requesting further time to evaluation the potential environmental impacts of the venture.
“Thanks to the Federal Freeway Administration for responding to the issues of the communities impacted by this venture and delaying motion to permit further time for constituents to know the environmental, transportation and monetary implications of this venture,” mentioned Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker (District 5).
Approval of the FEIS additionally is critical as a result of it might begin a five-month clock for opponents to file any lawsuits on environmental grounds.
Hogan additionally blamed federal officers for 2 years of delays which have elevated the price of the venture by greater than 20 %. In consequence, he mentioned he would search further federal {dollars} to cowl the will increase.
“The elemental flaws constructed into this dangerous venture are lastly catching as much as it,” mentioned Josh Tulkin, Sierra Membership Maryland Chapter Director. “Regardless of repeatedly promising that this huge enlargement of the Beltway and 270 would come at no internet value to Marylanders, Gov. Hogan’s letter now admits that this venture might have a subsidy ‘doubtlessly costing Maryland taxpayers a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.’”
Nonetheless, teams that assist the venture mentioned it should transfer ahead.
“Along with stranding the a whole lot of hundreds of people who find themselves caught in soul-crushing visitors on the American Legion Bridge every single day, failing to maneuver ahead will value Maryland taxpayers billions in non-public financing, and a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} for native transit, bike, and pedestrian enhancements in Montgomery County which might be a part of this multimodal venture,” mentioned Jason Stanford, president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
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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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Maryland
Michigan State Has Several Things to Fix Before Heading to Maryland
![Michigan State Has Several Things to Fix Before Heading to Maryland Michigan State Has Several Things to Fix Before Heading to Maryland](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4622,h_2599,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/spartan_nation/01j6q3dyp4hhn9f949m6.jpg)
Michigan State’s football team emerged with a 16-10 win against Florida Atlantic, but it was far from a convincing victory. The Spartans struggled throughout the game, exhibiting a range of issues that need immediate attention if they hope to find more consistent success moving forward.
With less than a week to prepare for its next opponent, Michigan State has a critical opportunity to address these shortcomings and refine its game plan.
The win over FAU exposed several areas of concern for Michigan State, particularly on offense. The Spartans were plagued by poor execution and missed opportunities, with several drives stalling due to penalties and miscues. The offensive line, in particular, struggled to establish a rhythm, which led to limited success in both the running and passing games.
Quarterback play from Aidan Chiles was inconsistent, with errant throws and a lack of cohesion with the receiving corps contributing to the team’s inability to sustain drives and put the game away early.
Defensively, Michigan State managed to hold FAU to just 10 points, but there were still some worrying signs. Despite the Spartans having multiple interceptions and a safety, they gave up several big plays, revealing potential vulnerabilities in the secondary and raising concerns about the unit’s ability to maintain discipline and focus throughout the game. Missed tackles and lapses in coverage could prove costly against more formidable opponents, making it imperative for the coaching staff to address these issues in the coming week.
Special teams were another area where Michigan State faltered. On multiple occasions, the Spartans gave up more punt return yards than they should have because of missed tackles.
With less than a week before its next game, Michigan State has a valuable window to regroup and make the necessary adjustments. The coaching staff will need to focus on tightening up execution across all phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams. This includes refining the game plan, improving communication and instilling a greater sense of urgency and discipline among the players.
The Spartans cannot afford to let the issues that plagued them against FAU carry over into their matchup against Maryland. If they hope to be competitive as the season progresses, the team must use this time to correct course and demonstrate growth in all facets of its game.
Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
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