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Bill to Create Regional Transportation Authorities Wins Broad Support, Draws Business and Industry Backing
Summary
Sponsors and business groups told the House Environment and Transportation Committee the bill would create regional authorities with dedicated local revenue and bonding power to plan and build major projects; critics urged amendments on taxes and local impact.
Delegate Spiegel, sponsor of House Bill 1370, opened the Environment and Transportation Committee hearing by describing the proposal as “a reintroduction of a bill you heard last year that would establish a new model to help select, fund, and construct regional transportation projects.” The bill would create regional transportation authorities for the DC metro, the Baltimore region, and Southern Maryland and give them bonding capacity and a dedicated revenue stream.
The nut graf: Proponents said the model — modeled explicitly on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority — would generate stable regional revenue, allow authorities to bond for large projects, and direct a prescribed split of funding between regional priorities and local jurisdictions. Opponents focused on the proposed revenue sources and the potential tax impact on the hospitality, real estate and commercial sectors.
Business groups and construction industry…
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