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3. Spark innovation and cost-savings through a competitive transportation solutions program
There are a number of ways to solve transportation problems. While many leaders fall into the old standby of building large pieces of infrastructure, there are underused, more cost-effective alternatives that should be considered and incentivized.
• Pricing – enact corridor pricing, parking cash-out, and pay-as-you-drive insurance.
• Demand management – encourage telecommuting, alternate work schedules, employee commute programs, and car- and bike-sharing.
• Biking and walking – invest in connections that provide simple, low-cost solutions for many of the short trips people take every day.
Among transportation professionals, it is widely acknowledged that these techniques are quite often cheaper and more effective than either a road or transit solution.
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Walking and biking moves Marylanders for less.
Walking and biking is the least costly transportation, for both infrastructure and operations. In 2002, MDOT adopted a bike/ped master plan committed to making Maryland “the best state for bicyclists and pedestrians.” Yet in 2009, Maryland ranked:
• #35 in fewest bike and ped fatalities
• #45 for per capita funding for bike/ped (MD contributes 0.7% of its transportation dollars to bike/ped)
• #40 in percentage of transportation dollars dedicated to bike/ped.
Not pursuing these kinds of programs aggressively generates congestion that doesn’t need to be there and increases MDOT’s costs and need for taxes.
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https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/smart-transportation-maryland.pdf
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Maryland’s road conditions
As of 2008, a full 50% of Maryland’s state-owned major roads had fallen out of good condition, meaning they will now be increasingly expensive to repair and maintain.
https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/repair-priorities/maryland
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[B’ Spokes: As a cyclists you know how important pot hole free roads are and not only is Maryland letting that slide, they are making things even more expensive to fix in later years. Also note that State policy is no Federal money for on-road bicycle accommodation and State roads (were we do get some considerations) urban areas are typically less bike friendly then rural areas, this is not "investing in connections that provide simple, low-cost solutions for many of the short trips people take every day." ]
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Found via 1000 Friends of MarylandoldId.20110603121851450
Biking in Baltimore