What happened to the North Harford tunnel?
That's what Del. Donald C. Fry wanted to know when he and other members of the Harford General Assembly delegation met Wednesday with school board members and administrators to discuss the school system's proposed capital projects.
A plan for North Harford schools calls for a Route 165 underpass to connect the elementary and middle schools with the high school across the street.
Because the three schools are so close, children often cross the busy road to take classes, attend performances and use athletic fields.
"We think there needs to be an assurance to provide safety to the children there," said Mr. Fry, a District 35A Democrat. "We want to prevent something from happening. There is an opportunity to do something now."
The project, which carries a $500,000 price tag, includes additional parking lots, easier access to the properties and better lighting.
These improvements are detailed in the school system's position papers to the legislators. But the position papers contain no mention of a tunnel.
"I wondered why I didn't see the walkway under [Route] 165 in the items," Mr. Fry said.
The tunnel itself would cost an estimated $200,000, to be split between the county and state. So far, the county has earmarked $100,000 for the entire plan.
"We looked at the projected cost," schools Superintendent Ray R. Keech said. "The $100,000 will be used to begin the project."
Dr. Keech said the money would pay for a new entrance on Old Pylesville Road, a parking lot at the elementary school and better illumination at the schools.
"That would consume the $100,000," he told the legislators, explaining why the money wasn't going to the tunnel.
Dr. Keech said engineering studies are being conducted, "so when the funds become available, we can move forward."
"We need to spend significant time on this," Mr. Fry told the board. "If we don't use that money, if we miss the opportunity, the state would absorb that money in a heartbeat."
Mr. Fry was referring to matching money from the state.
"The state's commitment is there now," he said.
Sen. William H. Amoss, who was unable to attend Wednesday's meeting, supports the North Harford project, including the tunnel.
"There is so much traffic between schools with students. We're scared to death someone will run in front of a car," the District 35 Democrat said.
The District 35 legislators met with North Harford residents, representatives from the schools' PTAs and state highway personnel last spring to come up with the plan.
"We looked at the concept of constructing a tunnel, open at both ends, always open-aired, to provide passage under [Route] 165. . . . or [we wondered] would the tunnel present safety concerns? We came to the conclusion it was the best alternative," Mr. Fry said.
"We looked at the downsides," Mr. Amoss said. "This would be a workable, long-term solution."
The senator described the tunnel as a large pipe in the ground with electricity for lighting.
"It would come out at grade level," he said, dismissing thoughts of a dark, dank passage.
"You could stand on the side of the road and look straight through."
As for additional money from the county for the tunnel, County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann said Friday that the tunnel is a state issue.
"The most we can give is $50,000 for the tunnel, but that's it, because of all the other outstanding projects," she said.
"It's a shared situation," Mr. Fry said. "It's a state highway dealing with county grounds. I need to talk to the county and Board of Education again."
Other projects discussed at the meeting included:
* Forest Lakes area elementary school at Routes 24 and 23. "That is our No. 1 priority," Dr. Keech told the delegation. It would require $3.3 million from the state and $3.2 million from the county for construction. The school is targeted to open in the fall of 1996.
* An auditorium for Harford Technical High School. "It is the only high school without an auditorium. We are looking at a partnership with [Harford Community College]. It would meet both our needs," Dr. Keech said.
Such a facility is included in HCC's proposed master plan, which calls for a 1,000-seat theater on the Harford Technical campus and event parking at the college.
The high school is across the street from the college on Thomas Run Road.
Harford school officials are asking for planning approval from the state for the project.
Dr. Keech also recommended delegation support of efforts to obtain increased state funding for student transportation programs. Harford received $4.4 million for student transportation in 1993-1994.
And, he responded to a recent county auditor's report that said it would be cheaper for the school system to operate buses than contractors.
"We take it under advisement," Dr. Keech said. "This is an accountant's perspective."
He added that school officials would conduct an independent study of the auditor's report.
School board member George D. Lisby also made a request to the legislators.
"I think it's time the Harford County delegation supported the quest for an administration building," he said. "This should be a demo site for the Bel Air Fire Department."
He was referring to the 1880 building on Gordon Street in which last week's meeting was held. It is one of several buildings in the county that house school administrators.
"One of the real problems, besides the substandard condition of the building, is that we're so spread out," said schools spokesman Donald R. Morrison.
The school system rents three properties on North Main Street in Bel Air at a cost of $168,000 a year.
"We won't get everything," Dr. Keech acknowledged to the legislators. "But we all need to sing out of the same hymnal. Our success [at the 1995 General Assembly] will be the collective unity of us working together."