Only 1 Option For New Bay Bridge Crossing Gov. Hogan Will OK

ANNAPOLIS, MD — While Maryland transportation officials have narrowed a list of 14 possible locations suitable for a second Chesapeake Bay crossing to be built down to three, Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday that he will only accept one option: Adding a third span to the existing Bay Bridge. The sites have kicked off more debate over how to alleviate traffic backlogs when traveling from Maryland and the Washington, D.C., metro to the Eastern Shore. All three building sites are in Anne Arundel County, which county Executive Steuart Pittman has denounced.

The corridor where the existing Bay Bridge sits — between Annapolis and Queenstown — would relieve the most traffic congestion year-round, the Maryland Transportation Authority said Tuesday. That route would best reduce backups at the existing Bay Bridge, provide the greatest reduction in the duration of unacceptable congestion levels, and is more compatible with existing land-use patterns, according to the study data.

"There is only one option I will ever accept: adding a third span to our existing Bay Bridge," Hogan said on Twitter. "While the federal process requires multiple proposals, the data is indisputable — this option would maximize congestion relief and minimize environmental impact.

"Inaction is simply not an option. Research tells us that if we fail to act, motorists could experience up to 14-mile delays by 2040," the governor added. "Marylanders all across the state depend on being able to cross the Chesapeake Bay, and this is the only serious way forward."

The original 14 sites ranged from a northernmost bridge running from Aberdeen to Cecilton, three Baltimore County jumping-off points that reach to Church Hill or Centreville, or a southernmost span from the Patuxent Naval Air Station to the Somerset area. The site maps prepared by the Maryland Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration can be found online.

The three possible locations for building a bridge are:

• Corridor 6: MD 100 to US 301 between Pasadena (Anne Arundel County), Rock Hall (Kent County) and Centreville (Queen Anne’s County);
• Corridor 7: existing Bay Bridge corridor, US 50/301 to US 50 between Crofton (Anne Arundel County) and Queenstown (Queen Anne’s County); and
• Corridor 8: US 50/301 between Crofton (Anne Arundel County) and Easton (Talbot County).

"The study’s 2040 projections for Bay Bridge traffic are based on an assumption that the Eastern Shore will develop in ways that its communities oppose," Pittman said. "I suspect that residents will protect their Eastern Shore land from development interests, and that bridge traffic can be better addressed with the forward-looking public transit options that this study dismisses. If we haven’t figured out how to get cars off the road by the time this bridge gets built, we’ll have much bigger problems to confront than traffic. Let’s not build yesterday’s bridge tomorrow."

All three of the Anne Arundel bridge options will be severely disruptive to existing communities and sensitive environmental areas, Pittman said. All three options could destroy parks along the Chesapeake Bay, at a time when the county is trying to expand public water access, he added. His description of the sites is:

• The northern crossing (Corridor 6) appears to go through Downs Park
• The middle crossing (Corridor 7) appears to go through Sandy Point State Park
• The southern crossing (Corridor 8) appears to go through Beverly Triton Nature Park

The Maryland Transportation Authority will hold six open houses in September and October to present a no-build alternative, the preliminary corridor alternatives, and the original full range of alternatives for public review and comment.

“While the no-build alternative and three preliminary corridor alternatives are being included in the federal environmental process for further study, traffic models indicate that one of the three, building a third crossing within the same corridor as the existing Bay Bridge (Corridor 7), would have the most positive impact on reducing traffic,” said MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports in a news release.

Which route do you think makes the most sense for another Chesapeake Bay bridge? Tell us in comments.

"Corridor 7 might have the most impact to the current bridge because everyone knows how to get to it now. But it would only increase traffic backups on land, make travel less safe, and prevent first responders from helping people," wrote Nathan Bradfield on the MDTA Facebook page. "Please consider spreading out the congestion by putting a 3rd span south of the current bridge."

Several Anne Arundel residents urged state highway officials to consider a train to take people to the shore rather than more cars.

"Fewer cars, more transit! How great would it be to relax on a train to the Eastern Shore instead of losing your mind in traffic?" said District 6 Councilwoman Lisa Rodvien on Facebook.

In August 2016, Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the Maryland Transportation Authority to explore options for a second Chesapeake Bay crossing as way to improve life for farmers, vacationers, business owners and residents. On a typical summer Sunday, 96,000 vehicles cross the bridge; by 2040 the traffic count could increase by 30 percent, he said.

State analysis determined the existing Bay Bridge spans would last through 2065. By 2040, daily backups in the eastbound direction could extend 13 miles in the summer, with 14-mile backups in the westbound lanes, the governor said. The state analysis of the Bay Bridge shows that the vital structure is good for another 50 years of use with regular maintenance and repairs.

The two spans of the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge were built in 1952 and 1973, and link Sandy Point near Annapolis to Kent Island.

Residents from across Maryland had previously commented on Baltimore County Delegate Robin Grammer's Facebook page, with those in his southeastern Baltimore County district mostly opposed to building the bridge in the area because of increased traffic worries. On Tuesday he thanked those who spoke up about the bridge sites. "Any of the proposed corridors in our area would have upended the local communities," Grammer wrote.

But Baltimore resident James Clidence disagreed, posting: "We really need another one more north, I thought the whole point was for the whole city and county not to have to commute south. We desperately need one in southeast Baltimore. Especially with the new warehouses that have opened. Amazon, Fed Ex and Under Armor here in Dundalk would benefit from one in Baltimore or even southern Harford County."

Many residents said option 6, starting in the Pasadena area, would bring too much traffic onto already gridlocked roads.

Commenter Cyndi Burton said, "Frankly there needs to be a route closer to DC across the bay and right to Wicomico County for all the VA and DC travelers and to get them off the 50/301 route that folks north of MD use."

Some Kent County residents said they don't want the bridge and additional visitors in their area.

"No Bay Bridge to Kent County! (options 2-6) If we wanted to live in the suburban culture of Baltimore or Washington, we would move to the western shore," posted Trudy Anderson. "We like our slower way of life here, just the way it is. Why do you think people travel to Chestertown, Rock Hall, and the rest of Kent County to escape the hustle and bustle of the Baltimore-Washington megalopolis?"

Open House Dates For Public Comment

Tuesday, Sept. 24 (6-8 p.m.)
Kent County High School
25301 Lambs Meadow Rd.
Worton, MD 21678

Wednesday, Sept. 25 (6-8 p.m.)
Queen Anne’s County High School
125 Ruthsburg Rd.
Centreville, MD 21617

Thursday, Sept. 26 (6-8 p.m.)
Calvert High School
600 Dares Beach Rd.
Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Tuesday, Oct. 1 (6-8 p.m.)
Middle River Middle School
800 Middle River Rd.
Middle River, MD 21220

Wednesday, Oct. 2 (6-8 p.m.)
Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Pkwy.
Arnold, MD 21012

Thursday, Oct. 3 (6-8 p.m.)
Talbot County Community Center
10028 Ocean Gateway
Easton, MD 21601

Funded by toll dollars, the Bay Crossing Study Tier 1 began in 2016 and is expected to be complete in 2021. The next steps are to publish a draft environmental impact statement and hold public hearings in fall 2020. The final steps are to pick a preferred and publish the final environmental impact statement/record of decision in summer 2021.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Transportation Authority; map created by the MDTA and Federal Highway Administration, released by Baltimore County Delegate Robin Grammer