BRAC funding all jammed up

Editor:

In regards to the recent editorial in The Aegis, titled "Better Late…" that appeared Aug.24, in The Aegis, I would like to add the following comments:

I have served on the BRAC Planning Committees for Harford County and the Governor's Workforce Investment Board (WIB) for Harford and Cecil Counties since 2005 and, although the committees and I have discussed many issues, including transportation, in regards to BRAC, we have found that there is a lack of attention being shown to the work needed to extend Route 715 over to I-95.

This was the plan from the beginning of this process. Now the plans are "dead in the water." If this were to happen, it would, more than likely, solve about 80 percent of our traffic problems in regards to BRAC. In a recent report from the State Highway Administration (SHA) they stated that it now takes 9.1 minutes to travel from I-95 and Route 24 to the main gate at APG, near Route 40 and Route 715, which is 5.6 miles.

And in 2015 the anticipated travel time to drive the same 5.6 miles will take 47.6 minutes and that is just one part of the county. Are we prepared to accept that? It is estimated that it will take more than three years to build the road from Route 715 to I-95 from the time they put a "shovel in the ground." Right now there are no plans to go forward. I have been pushing this project since 2005 but the only answer I get is "there is no money."

In regards to the train station in Edgewood, the money is there and has been for about 10 years but, for some reason, we cannot get the project moving. The county has done everything we need to do including removing the old building on that site and also expanding the parking to three times in size but the state won't move, although the money is there and approved. It is hard to believe that a project that is fully funded cannot be completed. Again, I have been pushing these issues since 2005; however, is the delegation listening?

Dion F. Guthrie

Harford County Councilman

District A, Edgewood and Joppatowne