By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Oct. 22, 2020) Once again, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s consolidated transportation program leaves out improvements to Route 90 and Route 589.  Maryland Deputy Transportation Secretary Sean Powell met with Worcester County Commissioners on Oct. 14 to discuss the draft FY 2021-26 consolidated transportation program, which details the Maryland Department of Transportation’s six-year capital budget.

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
The Berlin Police Department received a total of $5,000 in grants to address highway safety within the town limits in factors of aggressive driving, impaired driving and distracted/occupant protection.

The Hogan administration will invest $13.4 billion in Maryland’s transportation network over the next six years, but none of that will involve these two local highways.

Officials also discussed the Maryland Transportation Authority’s $2.8 billion in additional investments in Maryland’s toll roads and bridges.

With revenue down because of the covid-19 pandemic, and cash flow changes resulting from the completion of projects, this draft consolidated transportation program required $1.9 billion in cuts to the capital program.

The Maryland Department of Transportation is also reducing its FY 2021 operating budget by $98 million to respond to the continuing revenue decline.

“What you’re going to feel here on the Eastern Shore is less road maintenance, longer grass with less mowing and impacts to our System Preservation Program in all departments,” Powell said.

Administrator Christine Nizer from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration, who serves as Gov. Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative, discussed the Hogan administration’s recent announcement of more than $48,000 for Worcester County agencies to address highway safety. The recipients are the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and Health Department, as well as police departments in Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Berlin.

The Berlin Police Department received three grants for a total of $5,000 to address aggressive driving, impaired driving and distracted/occupant protection.

According to the Berlin Police Department, the highway safety grants can be applied anywhere in the town limits of Berlin. They are not restricted to Route 113 or Route 50.

Furthermore, 50 percent or more of the total hours worked must be between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Worcester County Commissioner Anthony “Chip” W. Bertino Jr. called in to ask if construction along Route 589 could be limited with additional lights.

“I just ask that if we have construction projects that are going forward, that if there is a way to have singular access off [Route] 589 for multiple projects, it would be tremendously helpful for the flow of traffic and hopefully reduce the number of stoplights that are needed along the corridor,” Bertino said.

Tim Smith agreed to review it and suggested working with the county about the planning.

With the delay of capital projects because of covid-19, Bertino assumed the expansion of Route 589 and Route 90 or the Route 50 bridge would be further delayed.

If local officials got their way, the roads would come first.

“The Route 90 project not only facilitates traffic in Ocean City under normal circumstances, but under emergency circumstances it’s a vital roadway and it does need to be dualized,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “In case of emergency evacuation, we are really at risk without the dualization of Route 90.”

Joseph Mitrecic, president of the Worcester County Commissioners, reiterated the mayor’s statements.

“I would like to say that the Worcester County Commissioners [and] the town of Ocean City still remain steadfast that Route 90 dualization must be completed before we talk about putting a new bridge on Route 50,” Mitrecic said. “And [Route] 589, of course, needs to be done at the same time as Route 90.”