Baltimore-area lawmakers expressed dismay Monday after the Maryland Transit Administration canceled a series of briefings for them on plans for a sweeping overhaul of Baltimore's bus routes.
The legislators had been hoping for an advance look at a revised version of Gov. Larry Hogan's $135 million reconfiguration of the region's routes before its expected unveiling last month.
But members of the Baltimore, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County delegations said the MTA notified them that planned briefings this week had been called off.
"It's frustrating and it's disappointing," said Del. Cory McCray, a Baltimore Democrat. "The lack of communication that has happened at this agency is just horrendous."
McCray said he learned Monday that a briefing planned for Thursday had been canceled and no alternative date was set. He said it is important for lawmakers to understand the new version of the plan before its public release because constituents come to them with questions.
Hogan announced what he called a "transformative" plan known as BaltimoreLink last October, just months after he canceled the city's long-planned Red Line light rail project. The governor presented the plan as a less expensive and more practical approach to improving Baltimore's much criticized mass transit system.
When the MTA's original plan was released last fall, Baltimore officials and riders quickly noticed potential problems -- notably the elimination of all service on Greenmount Avenue south of 39th Street. After a series of workshops where the MTA received input from the public, officials went back to the drawing board to produce a plan it will present in formal public hearings.
Sandy Arnette, an MTA spokeswoman, did not provide an explanation for the cancellations but said the agency will conduct detailed briefings for all elected officials who want more information on the plank.
"Our goal is to get those briefings done as soon as possible," she said. Arnette said that MTA Administrator Paul Comfort met with Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, D-Baltimore, Monday as "just one of many" meetings he plans to hold this summer.
Del. Steve Lafferty, chairman of the Baltimore County House delegation, said the MTA sent him an email Friday calling off a briefing set for Monday. He said that while county senators weren't expecting to attend, at least five members of the 24-member House delegation were planning to be there.
"This is not a very good sign of cooperation," said Lafferty, a Towson Democrat.
Del. Pam Beidle, an Anne Arundel County Democrat who chairs a transportation subcommittee, said she was one of only two members she knew to be planning to attend a briefing that had been set for 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Beidle noted that the time was in the middle of the workday -- an obstacle for members of the part-time legislature who hold outside jobs.