We must deal with the complex issues which arise because of growth that is occurring in the Sixth District. We need cooperation at the Federal, State and Local levels to ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place to support water, sewer, transportation and education. At the same time, we must preserve our open spaces and rural heritage while providing affordable housing.
Many of these issues are dealt with primarily at the local level. But issues such as transportation and water management require that our local governments have support from the federal government when dealing with our neighbors in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.
Transportation systems are inadequate throughout much of the Sixth District. We must develop and implement a plan that will provide adequate transportation to our residents. Among the projects that are needed immediately:
- A North-South highway near Cumberland
- Improved mass transit for 6th District residents working in Washington and Baltimore, including light rail systems
- A High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-270 all the way to Frederick
We must also ensure that adequate transportation improvements are included into the land use plans for each county, to make certain that required transportation resources are available before additional development occurs.
Limited water supplies are already strained by existing development. We must improve our planning for water use and waste management to ensure that clean drinking water is available for our residents. Many of the wells which supply water to our homes are already becoming contaminated or running dry due to overdevelopment. We must develop solutions to protect our water supply and provide the additional water needed to support the existing population. Increased use of surface water, improved and expanded sewer systems, and other options must be implemented as soon as possible. Local governments alone cannot resolve all of the problems associated with the management of our water resources. We must work together to identify possible solutions and cooperate throughout the region to implement plans that will be effective.
We have too many children being educated in trailers instead of schools. We need to plan for and provide adequate school facilities before development occurs. We cannot afford to shortchange our next generation if we are to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
Cooperation at the federal, state and local levels is required in order to develop and implement plans that effectively provide the infrastructure needed for growth in the 21st Century. We must work together to develop the plans and implement solutions to the challenges we face. As a partner in this process, I will work to make sure that the federal government is assisting, and not hindering, this process.
