A few months ago, I ran into Prince George's County's Transportation Committee Chair Eric Olson at a meeting.  After chatting a while, I proposed that our two committees meet to discuss regional issues facing both our counties.  

On November 3, the T&E Committee, which I chair, held a joint meeting in Laurel with the Prince George's County Transportation Committee. This marked the first time ever that committees from the two counties collaborated in this way.  

We discussed topics of mutual interest related to the Purple Line, heard what each jurisdiction has planned for their respective rapid transit networks, and received a briefing from members of the Maryland Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding on their recommendation for an increase in the gasoline tax to fund our transportation infrastructure needs.  The meeting was a great success, laying the foundation for future collaboration between our two counties.

There is perhaps nothing that gets under one's skin like sitting in traffic.  That is why it is crucial that we protect and expand our transit services in the County and we did just that in this year's budget.  As Chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee (T & E Committee), I was pleased that the County Executive had not recommended any cuts to the County's Ride-On routes for FY12.  We were able to maintain all routes while at the same time, plan for a future countywide Bus Rapid Transit System that will provide new, attractive transit options for the County.  Sixteen routes throughout the County will be studied in the coming year taking us one giant leap closer to making Rapid Transit a reality in the region.

But not everyone is able to utilize mass transit; many of us rely on the extensive road networks in the County.  Our road infrastructure is in bad shape given the significant storms over the past few winters.  To address the enormous need for repairs and resurfacing, the Council increased funds by 600% compared to FY11 levels.  This will help our Department of Transportation repair potholes and continue their highly sought-out neighborhood road resurfacing program.

Other good news in the transportation budget included funding to restore the Kids Ride Free program, money to continue the County's efforts to make pedestrian crossings safer by extending the walk signal time, and additional funding for tree maintenance and tree removal.  In a difficult budget year, I was grateful to my colleagues on the T&E Committee, Councilmembers Floreen and Riemer) for their assistance in protecting these essential services.

On January 24, the T&E Committee held the first in a series of briefings on the state of -- and future of -- our county's transit system. There is a growing consensus that our county's future -- economically as well as our quality of life -- is inextricably linked to creating a world class transit system in our county.  And despite a most commendable commitment of county resources to Ride-On, our support for both the Purple Line and the CCT, and our regional efforts through WMATA, we are not where we need to be. 

Bus Rapid Transit, or more simply, Rapid Transit, is quickly emerging as the optimal path forward for significantly reducing vehicle miles traveled and congestion.  It is practically indistinguishable from fixed rail in terms of its look and feel; it is far less expensive; far more flexible; and can be implemented so much faster.  Our own thinking on this issue would not be where it is today but for the extraordinary efforts of my colleague, Councilmember Elrich, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude.  He has spent years studying this approach and years advocating for it.  And I believe his time, and BRT's time, has now come.

And timing is important.  We are at a particularly propitious moment when all the stars are aligned in favor of BRT.  The Obama Administration could not be more explicit -- it is looking to support transit projects that are part of a larger commitment to sustainability and smart growth land use development.  The state legislature is seriously considering increasing the gasoline tax to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund this year.  And our county has an ideal "pilot" BRT project within its grasp, starting with the White Flint Sector Plan and connecting north to the CCT and south through the expanded National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, and down to Friendship Heights.  By turning Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue-- our state's most important economic corridor -- into a Sustainable Transportation Corridor, we can be a national model and leader for creating livable communities.

The committee heard from a panel of internationally and nationally recognized experts who provided an overview of what BRT is and where it has been successful and then from a panel led by my colleague Councilmember Elrich on the prospects for BRT here in Montgomery County.   I want to thank all of our guest speakers for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their experience and wisdom with us:  Michael Replogle, Global Policy Director and Founder, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy; Brendan Finn, Senior Transport Consultant, ETTS - European Transport and Telematics Systems, Ltd.; Sam Zimmerman, Urban Transport Advisor, World Bank and former Director of Planning for the Federal Transit Administration; Jack Gonsalves, PB Consult, Eugene, Oregon; Evan Goldman, Federal Realty Investment Trust, Francine Waters, Lerner Enterprises; Al Roshdieh, Deputy Director, Montgomery County Department of Transportation, and Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Councilmember.  The committee session can be viewed in its entirety here.