BALTIMORE, MD. (WBFF)- The Transit Safety and Investment Act was aimed at pumping $123 million a year into maintaining Maryland’s buses and trains to avoid future breakdowns.
The bill was one of several that Gov. Hogan vetoed this past weekend. If it received approval from the governor, it was expected to provide additional funds for maintenance, improve train track conditions and create environmentally friendly technologies.
The bill sponsored by Democrats’ Sen. Cory McCray and Del. Brooke Lierman were confident that commuters could’ve had a smoother experience riding public transit.
“There was a more than $2 billion backlog of maintenance infrastructure for our light rail, our MTA subway and MARC train and we have to get in front of this or we will be in the same situation we’re in when we see some of our bridges are in unfair condition and the crumbling of our infrastructure,” said McCray.
But Republicans like Delegate Kathy Szeliga say the money associated with the bill just isn’t worth it, “Governor Hogan made the right decision here in making sure our money is directed towards roads and highways where we really need it.”
McCray tells Fox 45’s Elijah Westbrook that the fight to see changes within the state’s transit system isn’t over. McCray said he and other supporters of the Bill plan on taking on a more robust approach whether it’s in a special session or session next January to make sure the state is moving in the right direction when it comes to public transit.
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READ| MDOT MTA improvement plans
MDOT MTA improvement plans