In Howard County's latest rankings for projects to be included in a list for state transportation dollars, the car remains king.
The May 2 transportation projects "priority letter" from the county executive to the secretary of transportation places the greatest emphasis on highways. Only a handful of bus, rail, bike and pedestrian projects make the cut.
The county's leaders need to come to grips with the need for more, and better, mass-transit options as development and job growth bring thousands of people, and traffic.
This year's top three project recommendations are the widening of portions of routes 29 and 32 near Columbia, followed by improvements to the Route 1 and Kit Kat Road intersection in Elkridge.
A request to buy 40 buses over six years for the Regional Transit Agency, coupled with a 30 percent increase in service on major bus routes serving the three-county region, ranks fourth. The only other mass-transit project to make the Top 10 is for added service on the MARC commuter rail's Camden Line between Baltimore and Washington.
The list was compiled from suggestions by elected leaders, planners and citizens who responded to a late-winter survey that brought 1,427 responses. Half of the 311 written comments in the survey elaborated on three topics: Better access and traffic flow in the Columbia Gateway district; more bike path and sidewalk projects; and mass transit improvements.
Elected leaders can't start soon enough in lining up support, and funding, for other roadwork and transit options. For instance, as Fort Meade expands its cybersecurity mission, congestion will worsen around the National Security Agency compound. Bus rapid transit lanes are advancing in Montgomery County for the Route 29 corridor and Howard should stay in step.
And ultimately, the question of costs must be addressed. Transportation wish lists are always far grander than available funding. Here are two key questions to ponder: Should Howard press for authority to impose a local gasoline tax to help expedite road and bridge work? Are farebox subsidies from taxpayers, used to operate bus and rail lines, adequate to ensure low fares to entice more riders?
Forward-thinking policies that support a better transportation network for one of Maryland's fastest-growing counties are needed.