Gov. Larry Hogan is expected to make a major announcement about "transportation infrastructure" Thursday in his first public appearance since he revealed Monday that he is being treated for cancer.
The Governor's Office said Wednesday that Hogan would return to the State House from the governor's mansion, where he has worked the past two days, for a 2:30 p.m. news conference. A spokesman would not provide details, but Hogan is facing a self-imposed end-of-the-month deadline to announce his decision on whether to build the $2.4 billion Purple Line in the Washington suburbs.
The fate of that light rail line is regarded by many as intertwined with that of the $2.9 billion Baltimore Red Line project. The governor expressed doubts during last year's campaign whether Maryland can afford either project.
Since taking office, Hogan has asked Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn to scrutinize the two projects to see whether they can be built for less money and to recommend whether to move forward with construction. Both lines have undergone extensive planning and engineering and have been found eligible for federal funding of roughly $900 million each. The state would have to contribute most of the rest.
Hogan spokeswoman Shareese Churchill said the governor worked from home Wednesday for the second straight day since his announcement that he has an advanced form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Churchill would not say whether Hogan had medical appointments Wednesday, adding that his office does not expect to provide that information on a daily basis. Hogan is expected to soon begin chemotherapy.
Hogan said Monday he has an advanced case of the disease, either Stage 3 or Stage 4, but that he has been assured that with treatment he has a good chance of recovery.