Political Squabbling Over Suburban Beltway Transit Line In D.C.

Recently fired Metro Advisory Board Chairman Robert J. Smith alleges that Governor Robert Ehrlich is "leading a prolonged attempt to obfuscate, alter, study and delay" the approval process for the Bi-County Transitway, a proposed 14-mile transit line connecting the inner Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. According to Smith, "Maryland's transportation needs are overwhelming and grossly underfunded," causing the controversial transitway to lose priority to the InterCounty Connector, a three-billion-dollar toll road that was recently approved by Ehrlich after an expedited review process.

Maryland's Secretary of Transportation, Robert L. Flanagan asserts that "...the facts demonstrate Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s strong commitment not only to building this project but also to solving many associated community impact issues...Two key projects -- transit centers at Silver Spring and Takoma/Langley Park -- are fully funded and scheduled to start construction within months, representing an initial investment of $87 million."