Transportation
Transportation is one of the top issues affecting all of us in Montgomery County. These days, getting around is exceedingly frustrating. We're stuck in traffic for too long and our Metro system is too unreliable, hurting our quality of life. Our traffic congestion contributes to pollution and global warming, a reality we must address as the effects of climate change are felt every day. Low-income residents of our region struggle to reliably access jobs because of gaps in our transportation system, exacerbating income inequality.
We must work on a multi-modal, comprehensive solution that addresses both roads and transit. The Montgomery County Delegation has been working hard to push the Hogan Administration to work with the County on a better solution than simply building more roads.
During the 2023 Session We:
Passed:
* HB 9 - Transportation Equity, requires the Maryland Transportation Plan to prioritize ways to achieve equity in transportation when developing overall transportation goals. Passed
* HB 12 - Equitable and Inclusive Transit-Oriented Development Enhancement Act, establishes a $5million Transit-Oriented Grant Program for local jurisdiction so aid in transit-oriented development. This will further our efforts to cut the cost of carbon emissions as well as address housing affordability.
HB 230/SB 224 - Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Clean Trucks Act of 2023). I was the lead sponsor of this bill in the House. This law reduces Maryland's greenhouse gas emissions by requiring the Maryland Department of the Environment to establish requirements for the sale of new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and to submit to the General Assembly a certain needs assessment and deployment plan.
HB 550 - Clean Transportation and Energy Act. This Administration bill moves the State forward to electrifying transportation and creating climate friendly transportation infrastructure by extending the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Program and increasing the Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program.