Gail Ewing: Where is the courage on transportation?

"What's up?" was my question to Montgomery County Delegation Chairman Brian Feldman. He responded, "Well you know, Gail, with this being an election year, most politicians are very guarded about discussing the most difficult topics. But, the one topic they will delve into is transportation." He's right, it is a difficult topic and at the moment transportation is "hot" with politicians and the business community around the state.

With the stark increases in gas prices last year and still high prices at the pump Marylanders are buying less. The Maryland Transportation Trust Fund relies on the gas tax as its biggest source of funding. Less gas sold means less in taxes; less money means fewer transportation projects. There is a backlog right now worth $40 billion for improvements to highways, transit and ports and airports. The 2008 General Assembly took back $250 million from the fund to balance the budget. The budget is still not looking well. Will a further reduction be forthcoming? It is not out of the realm of possibility, as such raids on the fund have occurred 10 times over the last 30 years. The fund is in major trouble....

Business leaders in the greater Baltimore and Montgomery and Prince George's areas are poised to come up with some answers to, as Donald C. Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee says, "If not the gas tax, then what?"