Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman will host a roundtable discussion next week about the pedestrian bridge that connects downtown Columbia to the village of Oakland Mills, his office announced Monday.
The aging bridge, which has for years been targeted for an upgrade, is currently set to receive $500,000 from Columbia master developer Howard Hughes and $100,000 from the county for improvements, including better lighting, landscaping and safety features.
Advocates from the independent Bridge Columbia group, meanwhile, envision grander plans for the bridge. They'd like to see it rebuilt to accommodate an electric bus route, as well as bike and pedestrian paths.
Kittleman called renovations to the bridge "a worthwhile project.
"There is no doubt an improved bridge would be beneficial to Oakland Mills, Town Center and the rest of Columbia," he said in a statement.
But, he added, larger-scope improvements – such as building a new bridge entirely – would cost millions of dollars.
"The county simply is not in the position to fund this without significant financial support from both federal and state transportation agencies," Kittleman said.
The discussion, which will focus on different possibilities for the bridge, is scheduled to take place Tuesday, June 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the The Other Barn in Oakland Mills and is limited to invited guests, although the public can observe.
For more information, call 410-313-2022.