Kudos to Gov.Martin O'Malleyfor his bold proposal to increase transportation revenues to improve Maryland's roads and rail in order to allow the state to remain competitive in the global economy. Critics fail to distinguish between normal operating programs, some of which may well have to be cut, and capital investments, which must be maintained and increased to assure Maryland's future.
Authoritative engineering studies have documented that, on average, one dollar invested in road repair and improvements will yield an annual return of 12 percent in terms of reduced travel time, less congestion, fewer vehicle accidents, greater on-time freight deliveries, less pollution and fewer auto repairs. It's been a long time since our personal investments yielded a comparable return.
Jack Kinstlinger, Baltimore