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Local leaders and nonprofits urge lawmakers to preserve grants for bridges, parks, housing and hospital projects
Summary
Mayors, nonprofit leaders and county officials testified before the Capital Budget Subcommittee asking lawmakers to keep governor‑proposed capital grants for Cambridge bridge repairs, the Patapsco Gateway Project, the Security Square Mall redevelopment, a Sinai Hospital surgical renovation, and Catholic Charities' intergenerational center.
A broad panel of local officials and nonprofit leaders testified to the Capital Budget Subcommittee about individual grant requests and the local impacts of proposed funding decisions.
Cambridge leaders asked the committee to maintain the governor’s $3,000,000 recommendation for three bridge improvements that provide public access to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay development and nearby neighborhoods. Mayor Lejane (city introduction) and Spudy Cephas, president of the Cambridge city council, said engineers have confirmed the structures need redecking and rehabilitation and that local partners have committed roughly 40% of project costs. Resident Robert Johnson told the committee the historic bridges are daily-used landmarks that generate tourism revenue. Chair Malcolm Ruff pressed witnesses on an important legal point: DLS’s analysis identifies the bridges as private roads and normally private-road maintenance is not eligible for state capital funds, so the committee must justify an exception if it maintains the funding.
Dave Ferraro of the Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park urged support for the Patapsco Gateway Project — roughly 200 acres between Catonsville and Ellicott City — to open new access, relieve park crowding and renovate facilities including an adaptive horse-riding barn. Ferraro said partners including Kennedy Krieger and the VA support the project and that the gateway could open quickly once funds are appropriated.
Neil Duran, director of Hagerstown Regional Airport, asked the committee to retain about $1.5 million to replace an undersized air traffic-control tower that he said has insufficient line of sight (current tower roughly 30 feet versus a needed ~120 feet) and poses a life-safety issue. Duran said the airport is advancing design to 30% and argued state funds are necessary because FAA replacement has not occurred for decades.
Baltimore County officials Tucker Kavanaugh and Pam Casemeyer urged restoring $2.5 million removed from DLS recommendations to advance the Reimagine Security Square redevelopment, describing prior state and county investments and community planning work; they said the funding is needed to align the site for redevelopment and incentivize private development.
Madeline Martinez of Catholic Charities sought the full $2,000,000 capital appropriation for the Fugut Intergenerational Center in Baltimore, saying the facility — part of a $36.6 million initiative — is scheduled to open in two months and remains short of funds needed to finish youth areas.
Witnesses emphasized local economic and access impacts, partner commitments, and near-term readiness; the committee concluded by taking testimony under advisement.
