County Seeks Input on Transportation Study; Council Has First Meeting of 2011

A transportation study that will look at ways to reduce traffic congestion in Anne Arundel County was announced today by County Executive John R. Leopold. Citizens are encouraged to provide feedback for the Transportation Functional Master Plan.

"It is very important that the public provides comments we can use to develop a plan that improves our roads, rails, trails, bike paths, ridesharing and pedestrian pathways," Leopold said in a release. "Our citizens who use these transportation methods are most knowledgeable about how to improve them."

The first of three public sessions, during which citizens may sign up in advance to comment, will be held in the auditorium at  Jan. 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Other sessions will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 20 at Southern Senior High School and Jan. 26 at Meade Middle School.

A consultant team under the direction of the Office of Planning and Zoning and a citizen advisory committee will conduct the study, according to the release that also states that 80 percent of the funding for the study came from a federal transportation planning grant.

The nine corridors to be studied are:

1. US 50: Prince George's County Line to WP Lane Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridge
2. MD 2: Central Avenue (MD 214) to West Street (MD 450)
3. MD 2:  US 50 to I-695
4. I-97:  US 50 to I-695
5. MD 32:  I-97 to Howard County
6. MD 100:  MD 648 to Howard County Line
7. MD 295:  Prince George's County to I-695
8. MD 3:  Prince George's County to MD 32
9. Magothy Bridge Rd to Hog Neck Rd (MD 607)  to Ft. Smallwood Rd (MD 173) to Baltimore City Line

For more information, see the county's Web site.

In other county news, Leopold announced a that took effect Jan. 1. A release dated Dec. 30 stated that the freeze could save $2 million to $2.5 million and that other actions will be taken in an effort to reduce costs.

"These actions include eliminating take-home vehicles, cutting travel expenses, enacting hiring and purchasing freezes and reducing employee compensation," said Leopold in a release on Dec. 30. "Many of our county employees have taken on additional responsibilities while still providing excellent service to the public."

County Council Holds First Meeting of 2011

The 2011 legislative session for the Anne Arundel County Council kicked off on Jan. 3 with all presented resolutions passing unanimously. Bill 57-10, a project of Innovative Learning Inc. to purchase a mobile Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Lab, was withdrawn prior to discussion.

The county council is part of the legislative branch of county government with one elected representative from each of the seven districts and is charged with enacting, amending or repealing county laws. 

County council representatives are limited to two terms and last year's elections brought forth many new faces with the only two returning councilmen being Daryl Jones for District 1 and James Benoit for District 4. Other representatives include John J. Grasso for District 2; Derek Fink, vice chairman, District 3; Dick Ladd, chairman, District 5; and Jerry Walker, District 7. 

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The public is encouraged to attend county council meetings held at the Arundel Center at 44 Calvert St. in downtown Annapolis. For the complete schedule of meetings in 2011, check the council's Web site.