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Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele visits, announces transit funds for Crossroads
by Suzanne Ludlow
Community and Government Liaison
City of Takoma Park
Lt. Governor Michael Steele toured the City of Takoma Park on May 19 and coupled the visit with an announcement proposing to use $7.3 million in regional transit funds for the construction of a bus transit center at the intersection of University Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue.
In addition to making this major announcement, the lieutenant governor heard from many Takoma Park citizens on the need to restore state funding to pedestrian and road improvement projects in the community.
 Photos: Eric Bond |
The visit was part of a series of visits Lt. Gov. Steele is making to Maryland municipalities. Approximately a dozen high level state officials from several departments accompanied Steele, including Maryland Secretary of Transportation Robert L. Flanagan. Mayor Kathy Porter, City Councilmembers Joy Austin-Lane, Doug Barry and Heather Mizeur, District 20 Delegates Gareth Murray and Peter Franchot, and delegates from nearby Prince George’s County participated in the tour.
At a stop in Old Town, Steele was met with more than 20 seniors and disabled persons from Victory Tower carrying signs protesting the cutting of state funds to be used to correct the unsafe intersection at Westmoreland and Carroll Avenues. Many Victory Tower residents are physically unable to cross Westmoreland Ave. due to the slope of the crosswalk. |
ON THE MOVE: Lt. Gov. Michael Steele announces funding for a transit center at University Blvd./New Hampshire Ave. intersection. Visible behind the Lt. Gov. are (left to right): Maryland Transit Administrator Lisa Dickerson; Dep. Secretary Betsy Burian, Md. Dept. of Planning; Takoma Park Mayor Kathy Porter; Secretary Victor Hoskins, Md. Dept. of Housing and Comm. Dev.; District 20 Delegates Gareth Murray and Peter Franchot; and Takoma Park City Councilmember Doug Barry.
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Other topics addressed in Old Town were economic development plans and public safety efforts to better coordinate the police departments of Takoma Park, the District of Columbia, and Montgomery County.
The stop at the Takoma-Langley Crossroads area focused on Lt. Gov. Steele’s announcement of funds for a large transit facility to be built on the site of the Taco Bell at the University Blvd./New Hampshire Ave. intersection.
Steele called on Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to each contribute $2.5 million toward the project. All three jurisdictions have been discussing plans for the transit center during the past year as part of studies related to the Bi-County Transitway (or Purple Line).However, Montgomery County officials have worked for years to get a bus transit center established at the intersection.
Several years ago, the county allocated planning money for the effort and evaluated possible locations for a facility, but did not receive sufficient support from the state or from Prince George’s County. Bus facilities at this intersection are getting attention because there are more transit boardings in this area than at 33 Metrorail stations in the Washington region. |
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Senior and disabled citizens confront the Lt. Governor about streetscaping funds that were cut. Many have trouble crossing Westmoreland Avenue. Also on hand were officers from the Old Town Business Association, who also want to see streetscaping funds restored. |
The lieutenant governor ended his tour by visiting the site of the proposed Mother Teresa Center in Langley Park and announcing funding for some of the programs of the Spanish Catholic Center on University Blvd. in Takoma Park.
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