Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 1 Oct 2020

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From YouTube: Carroll County CTP Tour Thu, Oct 1, 2020

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/commissioners/board-of-carroll-county-commissioners-weekly-agenda/

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Meeting the meeting begins all right so uh good afternoon. Everyone on behalf of carroll county.

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This is uh carroll county, commissioner, president steve wants and it's a it's a pleasure to be with.

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uh Quite a few folks that are on here today and it's always a pleasure to see uh one of carroll.

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County's own mr secretary greg slater. It's always good to see you, sir, so I'm gonna turn this over.

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To you, I just wanted to give you a welcome. We've got a couple, commissioners that are going to be.

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Struggling in here that a little bit late but uh we'll they'll they'll be in as soon as they can so.

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Greg always good to see you absolutely feeling is mutual. I love seeing everybody.

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I look forward to a time when we can get together in person again, uh but we'll do it.

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In due time, but first for the record good afternoon, my name is greg. Slater secretary.

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Of maryland, department of transportation- and I just want to thank you- everybody on this call for.

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Members of the delegation for for having us here today to talk about our annual six-year ctp. uh You.

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Know in an effort of course, to practice social distancing and protect you and the residents of.

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Every county and our team and we're holding these meetings virtually this year for the first time.

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uh If at home, you want to follow along, go to ctp.maryland.gov to view the current ctp.

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First thing I want to do is talk about a little bit about who our team is on here with us today.

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First of all, we have our newly appointed state highway administrator.

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Tim smith and our district engineer, terry seuss, from the maryland transportation authority. We.

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Have planning and program development director, melissa williams, maryland transit administration.

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We have our local transit support director travis johnson, from motor vehicle administration. We have.

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Our administrator chrissy neiser and for maryland aviation we have executive director, ricky smith,.

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And our regional aviation assistants, director ashish solanki from the secretary's office, we.

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Have regional planner dan janicek, our director of government affairs, jeff tosie and our state.

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Legislative officer palaura home, uh let me tell you that, and I've worked with every one of these.

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Individuals over the course of my 20-plus years at mdot, and this team is as good as they come so.

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We are fortunate to have them. I come into this position very familiar with the ctp tour.

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Season after more than 20 years at mdot, you know really talking about highway projects in these.

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Fall meetings. I remember I did my first ctp tour meeting as a new sha planning director in 2008.

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So I have a lot of history on these projects over the years and you know, frankly, we've collaborated.

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On some we've fought together on some uh and we've worked together on a lot of these things.

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And we've gotten a lot done, so I come into this uh with a perspective where many of these local.

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Priorities I worked on from the very beginning collaboratively with you and I believe it gives.

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Me a good perspective, but today I am humbled to be addressing you for the first time as secretary.

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In these really challenging times, focused on keeping our network moving.

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During this health crisis and now the major economic downturn resulting from from covert.

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19., while I certainly never envisioned uh serving as transportation secretary during a financial and.

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Health crisis: the experience has only reinforced for me the critical role that transportation plays.

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In everything that we do in the success of this state, our network has been critical in keeping.

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The supply chain moving and getting essential employees to work during this crisis from day.

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One our goal was to protect our employees and our customers, and we continue to work hard.

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To keep people moving and safe across the whole transportation system, this draft ctp.

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Is key in how we navigate these reduced revenues that we're seeing.

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The draft ctp is a direct result of drastic reductions in travel during this pandemic. I'm.

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Going to take a minute and walk you through the numbers comparing 2020 uh to the same week in 2019.

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You're, looking at the second week of april during the peak of our stay-at-home order, travel was.

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Down at an all-time low, while the fourth week of september is really starting to show some positive.

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Trends some returning trends. You know our highway volumes were down about 52 at the peak in april.

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Now we're only down 15, so it's starting to traffic starting to come back we're starting.

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To see that movement spread out a little bit more, the morning peak is not quite as defined as as the.

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Evening, right now- and I think that has a lot to do with other people's travel patterns and schools.

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And those types of things uh truck volumes were only down 27 in the peak but they're down 13 now.

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uh Our total transactions were down 57 percent uh statewide and now they're only down 19.

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Our passenger traffic at bwi marshall airport was down 95 percent at the peak uh now we're down 66.

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And we are outpacing some of our competitors in the return all transit was down 70, which is.

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Down 60 percent: now you know our shining star was the port of baltimore, with our monthly container.

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Counts down about 17 at the peak august was down point two percent and uh september.

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We're getting ready to announce is actually up, so you know we have a resilient port of baltimore.

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We're starting to see that commerce flowing while the numbers are starting to come back. Our current.

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Six six-year ctp trust fund revenue had declined across the board at all of our funding sources.

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Our motor fuel tax was hit by about 636 million dollars. Our titling tax was about 190 million.

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Reduction: corporate income tax was 183 million in reduction. Our mta operating revenues were down 174.

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Million and our maa operating revenues were down another 146 million and then some combined other.

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Smaller sources were down 100 million in total, so what does this mean? It means that our six-year.

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Forecast is down 1.4 billion dollars on top of a decreased bond sale of about a 1.5 billion.

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For a total 2.9 billion dollar decline in the 16.3 billion dollar ctp that we just introduced nine.

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Months ago, so it's uh there's a pretty startling figures and what we're trying to deal with here.

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But this capital budget reflects about 1.9 billion reduction in in revenue and looking at cash flows.

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And completing really some record-breaking construction over the last five six years.

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But we're presenting a program budget today of 13.4 billion.

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That really reflects a lot of really really tough decisions across our business units.

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Every single one of our business units took a hit in this budget. The secretary's office, uh starting.

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We were reduced by 23 million, which is mostly mainly capital grants and five percent of our.

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Total operating budget sha's budget was hit by 900 million dollars in capital and seven.

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Percent of its operating budget, mta 150 million in capital and five percent of its operating budget.

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Over the maryland aviation administration, they were hit by 522 million uh in capital and eight.

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Percent of its operating budget, we're going to talk a little bit about that later in the.

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In the program we're about 500 million of that we'll come back when the revenues start to rebound.

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With some revenue bonds that we're going to issue, we just have to wait for the market to be there.

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Over at the port administration, a 227 million dollar reduction in capital and six percent of.

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Its operating budget and over at the nba uh 25 million in capital and four percent.

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Of its operating budget- and I can assure you that every single cut we made uh was done uh heavily.

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Focused on keeping the transportation system safe and moving and focusing on the health and.

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Well-Being of our customers and our employees, but the reality is that cutting 1.9 billion.

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Dollars in capital budget and another 100 million in operating costs has an impact that we will feel.

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And, and so you know some examples of how we're going to feel that we're going to feel that in.

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The road maintenance world we're going to feel that in some of the aesthetics with some of.

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Our grass, cutting and and those types of things we're going to feel that in our facilities, our.

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System preservation program- and it's important to remember that you know this is on top of.

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Really billions of state of good repair work that we really needed to catch up on and really helping.

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Us prepare for some of these future projects so looking at that, but despite the challenges.

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It's important to pause and and note that you know the more than ten thousand mdot employees and our.

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Private sector partners showed up every single day and continued to deliver for us and provide.

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Those essential services and achieve some pretty great things across every business unit and and so.

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I do think it's important that we highlight a few of those. We were able to complete the bay bridge.

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Depth: rehabilitation a year, early, less traffic, good weather, getting that stuff done. You know we.

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We developed temporary shuttles to hospitals when we were cutting transit. You know we supplied.

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Logistical support for health and continued to use our our maintenance, crews and developed in.

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Delivering medical equipment, ppe, testing equipment, we set up our mba beep stations for for testing. We.

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Continued to conduct a huge amount of commercial driver's license testing to keep the economy.

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Moving keep those uh that supply chain moving and we cut the ribbon on some big projects. We had.

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I-270 in watkins mill in montgomery county, we had the two-four widening in calvert county with the.

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180 widening outside of astrazeneca and frederick county, and then we started construction on the.

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Nice middleton bridge, so you know those are just some key things that are really important for us.

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And, and I would argue that our vision for transportation hasn't changed, just the parameters.

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Around us have changed, and- and so when we look at these things earlier this year, when I came in.

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As secretary, we laid out key priorities. First and foremost, we want to set the foundation and deliver.

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Big infrastructure: we have some big ones out there. Now we want to make sure that they're out there.

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And set up for future growth, we want to prioritize state of good repair, a system we can be proud of.

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We want to provide safe and accessible mobility for all of our users. Drivers, truck drivers, transit.

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Users, pedestrians bicyclists and look very closely at the interplay between land land use.

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And transportation, and we want to establish this organization as a sustainable customer-focused.

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Transportation vision that incorporates roadway transit freight airport infrastructure and the.

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Vision that will be the foundation for the ctp of future generations. But, as I walk through.

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This program a little bit, it's important that you know where we are and we're developing this budget.

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In our financial projections we're seeing this as about a two-year recovery, we looked at fy 21.

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We wanted to stop the damage minimize it as best we can. So we really were assessing and adjusting.

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Every step of the way, as I'm sure the county was as well and fy22 the budget that you're seeing.

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Right here is about recovery and planning starting to recover, but also planning for the future.

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And then fy 23 is to continue that recovery, but also stabilize the trust fund, investments.

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Across the board across the system, so this is a a capital budget and an operating budget that we're.

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Focused on preserving what we have planning for the future and building what we can do to play.

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A role in in the recovery of maryland, but what you will see is the service modes getting about.

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At mba and the secretary's office getting about 1.4 percent of the capital budget about 14.

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Of the operating budget, uh the economic engines of the port and the airport are receiving about.

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10 percent of the capital budget, 11 percent of our operating budget transit across the system between.

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Mta and wilmatta getting about 39.2 percent of the capital budget, 61 of our operating budget with mta.

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Alone, accounting for 41 percent of our operating budget, our state highways are taking up about 39.6.

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Of our capital budget, 13 percent of our operating budget and our local jurisdictions are receiving.

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About 10 percent of the capital budget, mainly for highway user avenue grants and those types.

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Of things, at the same time, we've preserved some really key projects in this program.

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You know we're able to keep the light rail vehicle overhaul on the new metro cars at mta. We're able.

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To keep going on mba's customer connect program that are really focused on vehicle services for.

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Our customers and businesses and government fleets we're able to preserve the howard street tunnel.

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And our cox creek dredge placement program down at the port of baltimore all critically.

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Important projects, you know and I'm going to highlight the port baltimore for a second, because.

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Projects like the howard street tunnel and cox creek dredge placement are are important.

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In our recovery and and I want to note that in the wake of a national economic recession.

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We forged this public-private partnership in 2009 with ford's america chesapeake.

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It allowed us to build a 50-foot berth and bring in four panamax cranes when we were cutting our.

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Program to the bone, we made investments when we were cutting everywhere else and that built.

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That growing container business that we see at the port and ultimately spurred another.

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Public private partnership with csx on the howard street tunnel to allow us to get double stack rail.

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Coming out of there and that freight moving not on trucks but on rail across the country.

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So during the pandemic, the strength of the port of baltimore was was very clear. As the port continued.

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To receive cargo and help maryland's supply chain, keep it going, and that's just one example of the.

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Critical part that um transportation plays in this in our society and really in our recovery as well.

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So we're gonna keep doing that. But it's important to note that in in the wake of a recovery where we.

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Were cutting things from the bone, we thought about an innovative way that is helping us recover today.

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So we need to think about that. I won't steal a lot of the good news from our administrators who are.

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Going to update you on some key uh projects, but the bottom line is this: current budget is tough.

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And we're still making those important investments when we can in that infrastructure, as we navigate.

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Through this pandemic, before I turn it over, I want to touch a little bit on our federal.

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Assistance program, you know, while we're doing the best we can with the funding that we have.

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We do need some additional federal help and we're continuing to highlight that we're continuing to.

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Work with our federal delegation who's working hard for us every single day down there.

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uh And really keeping that fight going. um But we continue to need the help and before.

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We leave that topic, the cares act really kind of saved us, and- and so you know, we.

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Want to keep that uh continued going and keep that the important work that mdot is going.

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uh Progressing- and so you know I want to take one final moment and and thank our.

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Our employees, uh whether you're you're work, keeping people moving on our highways or on.

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Our transit system, whether you're working at one of our mba branches along our highways or toll.

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Facilities on the docks of the port of baltimore or throughout the thurgood marshall, bwi airport.

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Working together is how we're going to get things done. That's working together with.

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Us our municipalities, our local governments, our federal delegation, that's what we need to.

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Do to get things done and how we can move. This vision forward grow our economy recover from.

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This together and really set the foundation for our children and our children's children.

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And then I'll make one announcement, uh one that I'll announce before I turn it over to tim smith,.

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Is uh I wanna announce that we've preserved a couple of key projects in our bikeways program.

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uh That are really benefiting directly in carroll county. Our bikeways program last year was.

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Dedicated to a lady by the name of kim lenfier, who was a strong bike, advocate that we lost last year.

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But she, if you had not met her, she had the ability to just light up a room and she was.

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Very passionate and we were able to dedicate the program to her. In september, we announced.

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About 3.7 million dollars in grants for bike safety and access across the state, uh while.

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Carroll county really didn't kind of come in. We noticed you have a couple of bike programs.

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That are kind of on the on the foundation and you're. Talking about that, and we just want to.

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Note that these are programs that can really benefit the county and we'd be happy to meet.

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With you on those we're going to be highlighting some of those bike and pedestrian activities.

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Through our social media pages in time to come at this point, I'll take a pause I'll turn it over.

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To first start with tim smith over at sha, I will take a minute to note that tim, as well as a our.

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New sha administrator is also a francis scott key graduate, so uh you have another carroll county guy.

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At sha, so let me turn it over to tim.

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Good afternoon, everyone uh quick mic check thumbs up. If you can hear me.

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All right, great, um as secretary slater said, I'm tim smith. It's an honor to be here and a.

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Privilege to lead the state highway team, our team uh continued to work through this pandemic and and.

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Made progress on projects and initiatives and it might be more of my operational experience, but I.

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Feel like mdot and state highway tend to shine when it comes to managing emergencies. Whether.

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That's a weather event or an incident on the roadway I think covet 19 has been no exception.

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To that, as mentioned earlier, our primary goal was keeping our customers and our employees safe, while.

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Delivering on our core functions, we advance a few projects, while practicing physical, distancing.

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Following help proper health practices meeting virtually and using appropriate protective.

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Equipment as traffic did below 50 of typical volumes, our maintenance staff uh we switched to.

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Alternating shifts to reduce the number of workers we ever had at one location at a given time.

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That allowed us to keep them safe, but also continue to keep maintenance activities going at a.

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Lighter workload as traffic reached came back and reached closer to expected volumes. Our staff came.

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Back full time about early july, with additional proper health protocols for our construction.

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Efforts with fewer vehicles in the roadway that allowed our crews to kind of expand our hours on.

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The lane closures and we could make more progress without impacting mobility for our customers.

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That tactic allowed us to speed up a few of a pace of few projects. In other cases, it allowed.

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Us to recover from some of those that needed some help. As the secretary mentioned budget impacts.

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State highway stayed very focused on continuing our maintenance and our construction efforts.

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So for some projects, we've had to delay certain phases and planning and design efforts out to.

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Later years- and we focused our operational resources on safety and mobility for our system, so.

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As he's mentioned, that's resulted in fewer mowing cycles and litter pickup and we've been getting.

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That feedback from our customers now the good part about supporting your active construction program.

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uh Is that we've been able to deliver some great projects, a new roadway infrastructure in maryland.

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A few great examples of that are right here in carroll county uh one is the 3.4 million dollar.

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Intersection improvement along 27 there at gillis falls road uh that will be completed. This fall.

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uh I I know we made some progress there because I did visit the golf course near there recently. So I.

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Know we're making progress and I might have left a few golf balls in carroll county at that time. But.

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Thanks to our county partners for your financial contribution for that effort, we're also wrapping.

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Up a 5.9 million dollar improvement project along maryland, 32 from main street to macbeth.

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Way in eldersburg that includes an interest in the national guard's new freedom, readiness center.

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And also we're pleased to announce that the 35 million hampstead street project that will be.

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Completed by the end of this year, if the weather cooperates with us and we're happy to report that.

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We added a half mile north on that or from the original project limits, so I I mentioned all these.

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Construction projects, but I also want to kind of mention, take a minute uh to talk about safety.

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When we have folks out in the roadway that always puts them in kind of harm's way,.

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And I would be remiss if I didn't talk a little bit about our work zone safety as well as our.

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Maryland move over law efforts, so even while traffic was down earlier this year, we still.

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Had quite a few of our incidents in our work zones and we've had equipment, even members of our team.

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Struck, while um assisting disabled vehicles and performing construction and maintenance activities.

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Probably the worst example of that was a couple weeks into this new role. For me,.

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One of our contractor partners had an employee struck and they lost their lost. Their lives, life.

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So I guess I'm just requesting your support with education and laws to protect our workers, so they.

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Can return home each night and we can continue to deliver great projects for maryland. So in closing.

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As greg mentioned, we're actively working to kind of plan and stabilize our financial future for.

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So for state highway that kind of means building a shelf for projects, that's in three main areas.

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And that's asset management, accessibility and mobility from an asset management perspective that.

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Means using the system, preservation philosophy to think long term about day-to-day decisions, while.

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Seeking to gain the best return on investment to ensure a sound transportation infrastructure.

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For the next generation, accessibility is a is, it has a huge safety component to it.

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um But it's it's also more about consideration for all users of the system, whether that's.

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Pedestrian bike, scooter vehicles all need appropriate access to life's opportunities.

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I really feel like our context guide, will change the way we deliver projects and a vision, zero.

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Philosophy will aid in making our roadways even safer mobility is about taking advantage of the.

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Technology and kind of data-driven systems to improve the efficiency of our existing.

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Roadway footprint and we're looking at ways we can use data, smart devices and technology.

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To more efficiently build projects that we can deliver in the future, so thank you for your time.

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And I'll turn it over to my mdot teammate over at the transportation authority, melissa williams.

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Hey, thank you tim. Everyone hear me: okay, okay! Thank you. I appreciate that mdta has maintained.

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Operations completed bay, bridge projects and advanced other initiatives during covet 19.

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With reduced revenue, we changed some operations and delayed some work. All electronic or cashless.

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Polling has been in place statewide since march 17th to limit the contact for the traveling public.

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As well as for our toll collectors, after closing, in march, we reopened the easy pass.

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Customer service centers on june 15th, with limited capacity and safety precautions in place.

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Some of the key mdta accomplishments during covig 19 include completing work to reopen.

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The bay bridge westbound right lane and install a new, tooling gantry and deliver.

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Full-Time all-electronic tolling in advance of our summer goal advanced major projects include.

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The I-895 bridge project in baltimore and the new nice middleton bridge in southern maryland.

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We work to develop the drive, easy md toll modernization, which includes new payment options.

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Such as pay by plate and early payment notice of total due discount a new website that will go, live.

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Later this year and we reduced civil penalties from not fifty dollars to twenty five dollars.

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For toll violations, additional features such as new vehicle total classifications, with lower toll.

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Rates will roll out in phases once the new tolling system goes live reductions to the mdta budget due.

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To kovic 19 mean that means that projects need to be deferred. The I-95 express toll lanes, project.

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Has been deferred by one year and cash flows for the nice middleton bridge replacement, reduced.

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Have been reduced in the draft fy 2021 to fy 2026 ctp, the project completed more work in fiscal.

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Year, 2020 than originally forecasted, therefore, the budget is the same. The cash flow has just changed.

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Mdta additional major projects preserved include the bay crossing tier 1 nepa study. We anticipate.

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Publishing the tier 1 draft environmental impact statement and identifying mdta's recommended.

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Preferred corridor alternative in the fall of 2020 and holding public hearings in early 2021.

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The tier one, final, environmental impact statement and record of decision is scheduled for 2021.

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If you would like more information about that project, please visit.

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Www.Baycrossingstudy.Com, thank you very much for your time and I would like to.

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Turn it over to mta to travis johnson the local transit support director. Thank you.

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Travis is muted travis on mute.

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You're, muted travis.

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My apologies guys, sorry about that. Travis johnston, director officer, local transit support.

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Here to talk about mta, so mdot mta is one of the largest multimodal transit systems.

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In the united states, we operate local bus commuter bus network as well as light rail.

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Link metro, subway link, mark train service and a comprehensive mobility paratransit system.

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Additionally, we support our 22 locally operated transit systems. Our agency's goal is to provide.

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Safe efficient and reliable transit across maryland, with world-class customer service.

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Covet 19 has resulted in a major decline in maryland, marylanders use of transportation.

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Services across the state, for example, mdot mta, began seeing dramatic decreases in ridership.

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Starting in mid-march, which resulted in reductions to mdot mta fare revenues. As the secretary.

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Mentioned the second week of april, during the peak of the stay-at-home order, all transit was down.

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At an all-time low, uh while the fourth week of september shows our latest trends uh of a return.

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For our mark, bus, which was down to 97 reduction, is now at 89 percent.

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Our commuter bus, which was down to 95 percent, is now at 87 and our core local bus, which was at 61.

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Is now down to 51, unfortunately, throughout this cove at 19 pandemic, mdot mta.

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Focused on cleaning awareness and overall safety of employees and the public and.

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Is repositioning our services to focus on the core mission and the greatest areas of need.

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Some of mdot mta's key accomplishments during covet 19 uh was really our ability to.

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Receive the cares fund, the federal cares apportionment.

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And as that relates to carroll county, we were able to secure 5.1 million dollars in federal.

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Cares funds to support your operation and or capital needs of transit in the county.

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Reductions to the transportation trust fund due to cobit 19.

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Unfortunately, means that our lot transit operations will need to be cut back or at.

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Least, the funding, and again that's really due to the sharp decline in our transportation revenues.

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State matching funds for local transits are just not available this year in the ctp.

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Mdot mta will be coordinating closely with our locally operated transit systems to discuss the.

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Availability of local matching funds and to apply those very needed cares funds uh to any of their.

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Operations or capital needs, as it relates to their local transit system, um so we are right.

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Now, in the process of identifying fy 21 awards, however, they will not have state match this year.

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But we will be getting those federal awards confirmed here in the next couple weeks.

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Some key mdot initiatives, so mdot mta, is currently undertaking a 50-year statewide transit plan and.

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We really look forward working with carroll county and the stakeholders in the county and across the.

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State to help develop this long-term vision and framework for coordinated transit service.

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In maryland and lastly, I would just like to thank carroll, county's transit staff for their continued.

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Partnership and patience as we work through uh the pandemic, and you know all of the obstacles.

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That we continue to encounter. I really want to thank you guys uh with that. I want to thank.

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Everyone else for their time, and I will now turn it over to my partner at mdot mva chrissy neiser.

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Thanks travis, I appreciate that and glad to be with you all today, even if it's just virtually.

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And not in person at mdot mba, even during the pandemic, we continued to focus on delivering that.

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Premier customer service and making sure we're meeting the needs of our customers, even though.

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Our branch offices were closed for several months. Our mdot mba employees were still busy at work.

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Fulfilling requests that came in through the mail or over the internet, and we also made sure.

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That we are providing critical services to our commercial driver's license holders. Obviously.

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They are critical to keeping the economy going in the supply chain, and so we establish an email.

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Address and a phone number that they could reach out to with their needs, as well as our businesses.

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We're also excited. We now have the ability for our commercial drivers to do many services online, like.

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Renew their driver's license get a duplicate or corrected license. We implemented all that during.

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The covet emergency period, it's exciting, to say that during the coven 19 closures, we actually.

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Still process 740 000 transactions- it just shows how much our e-services have grown over time.

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We did reopen 17 branch offices on june 8th and that was by appointment only at reduced capacity.

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Obviously, to keep everybody safe, the remaining branch offices open on july 20th. It will look.

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A little bit different if you come to a branch office, um obviously we're requesting everybody.

F

Where the face covering and we'll ask a few health screening questions before you enter the facility.

F

uh We also will take your temperature to make sure you don't have a fever and are safe to enter.

F

You will notice plexiglas that's installed in all of our customer facing areas, that's obviously to.

F

Keep our agents safe as well as the customers. We have social, distancing, stickers and we've.

F

Also made some modifications to our core services so for the driver skills test. Traditionally, our.

F

Examiner was in the car with the applicant we've modified the test, so it's completely on the course.

F

At mba and the examiner is actually outside of the car observing and scoring that test. We.

F

Also, for the first time have allocated for driver education, the classroom portion to be done online.

F

And that allows our individuals who are trying to get that license. They'll.

F

Still complete the requirement and do it safely, as secretary slater mentioned, we were excited to.

F

Deploy customer connect on july 6.. That's the first phase of our it modernization project.

F

It's really about delivering more services and being more efficient for our customers.

F

Phase one included vehicle services, business licensing and motor carrier and one of the things.

F

That we're excited about is that increase in online services. I just want to mention a few that.

F

Are now available to your constituents, they can now update their insurance information or provide.

F

Documents or information related to insurance and obviously pay any fees that they owe they also can.

F

Request a disability product online, so placard or plate and their doctor can actually sign off.

F

On that right online they never have to come to a branch office, and that gets me out off to them.

F

And the third thing makes it a little bit easier to do a titling and registration transaction.

F

That's a very confusing transaction could be a little bit long, so we walk you through the process.

F

Of what documents you need tell you approximately: what fees you'll owe and because you pre-populate.

F

All that information before you come to the branch office. It really saves a lot of time when you do.

F

Get to the branch and also just make sure you have the documents you need and and one thing.

F

That we just deployed this week is a new feature, is called first stop. You'll, see it right in the.

F

Front of our website, all you have to do is enter your driver's license or vehicle information and.

F

We'll tell you exactly what online services are available for you. So again, all of this is just.

F

About making it more convenient make it easier for the customers. We want them to think about.

F

Online services first before they think about making that appointment for the branch office.

F

Obviously, with the decrease in revenue, like the other business units, we had to adjust.

F

Our operations and defer some key projects that included modifications to our mba facilities as.

F

Well, as some smaller it projects, but despite those challenges, we're really excited that phase. Two of.

F

Customer connect will still move forward that is scheduled to be deployed in december of 2021.

F

And that'll be our driver system and so that'll give us the complete 360 view of the customer.

F

And really the even better ability to deliver more convenient services, whether it's online or.

F

Or self-service, and so we're really excited about that. Another big initiative we've been working.

F

On is real id, um so the deadline would have been today actually, but the federal government. Luckily.

F

Decided to push that back a year, so now we have to october 1 of 2021.

F

Despite the fact that the deadline got pushed back, I will say maryland's doing really well.

F

We're currently over 70 percent compliant dhs has released the national rate um as of last month at.

F

38 percent so certainly considerably better than that, but we're glad it gives people a little bit.

F

Of relief and more time to be able to add those documents to their to their record, we're also.

F

Squarely focused on highway safety and what we can do to reach that goal is zero fatalities.

F

We're excited that governor hogan recently announced more than 300 000 for carroll.

F

County agencies to address highway safety that includes the sheriff's association chiefs of.

F

Police association, carroll, county sheriff's office and health department and police departments in.

F

Sykesville mount airy, hampstead, westminster and tawny town we're also launching this month. Our.

F

Be the driver campaign and that's all about personal responsibility. Each of us have when.

F

We're behind the wheel we're currently updating our highway safety plan. That's a statewide plan.

F

And that'll be for 2021 through 2025. that will incorporate that vision, zero, zero deaths by 2030.

F

Goal that we have as a statewide goal, I really want to commend carroll county for taking out.

F

That mantra of developing your own local strategic highway safety plan. I know we've talked about that.

F

In prior years- and you guys are doing a great job, I love to see how you're bringing all the.

F

Partners together and making sure it's really a comprehensive plan, so I applaud your efforts. There.

F

And I truly believe it will make a difference in reducing fatalities in the coming year. So.

F

We're committed to continuing to work together to find the best solutions, whether it's from customer.

F

Service or highway safety- it really is all about our employees and our customers, and I just want.

F

To end by really commending our employees, they really have been on the front line. This entire.

F

Time continuing to serve the maryland residents really dedicated to do so. You know they're so.

F

Committed to that mission that we have and I'm so proud of each and every one of them so.

F

Just want to say thank you and with that I will turn it over to ricky smith to talk about.

F

The great things that are happening over at maa. Thank you very much chrissy. Can everyone hear me.

G

Great uh good afternoon, uh commissioners, uh other representatives of the county on this call, I look.

G

Forward to talking with you- and I appreciate the opportunity to provide an update on what's going.

G

On with the maryland aviation administration, you know like airports across the nation, bwi thurgood.

G

Marshall airport has seen reduced passenger and airline activity since the early spring.

G

While passenger traffic remained well below typical summer, bwi marshall has experienced some.

G

Improving numbers over the recent weeks april, for example, was the low point for passenger traffic.

G

With passenger traffic dropping 96, we've never experienced that before no one has experienced.

G

That before, but we did see some airline and passenger traffic return over the summer.

G

For july bwi marshall passenger traffic was 51 of the entire washington area.

G

For the second straight month, the total passenger level at bwi marshall, was more.

G

Than reagan, national and dulles airport, combined with normally around 36 37 of the market, um so to.

G

To be more traffic than them combined over 51 is pretty significant. It speaks to how well bwi.

G

Is recovering and how resilient we are during this pandemic um for the labor day weekend, tsa.

G

Performed 15 125 screenings in just one day at bwi marshall uh checkpoints. This was the highest count.

G

In nearly six months, the aviation industry expects to expect at least a two to three.

G

Year period before we regain pre-covet traffic levels, wwi marshall remains well positioned.

G

Or when the industry begins to return, we're still very cautious of these challenges that.

G

We're facing at the same time, bwi marshals, continue to see increasing cargo activity.

G

Which has been a bright spot in the midst of this very nasty pandemic? Amazon is leading that way.

G

um As they operate out of their new 200 000 square foot, processing aviation processing facility.

G

As with um with secretary slater and others have mentioned, you know I have to take the.

G

Opportunity to acknowledge the maa team and our airport partners for working so hard.

G

Throughout the pandemic to maintain critical operations on behalf of our customers.

G

I've never been prouder of a team, an aviation team than I am with this group of professionals. I mean.

G

They they showed resilience and dedication and commitment and courage throughout this.

G

Pandemic to make sure that not just airport customers but their co-workers were all safe.

G

And could enjoy the benefits of our airport system. We continue to utilize enhanced cleaning.

G

And sanitation procedures to help ensure a safe, healthy airport for customers and employees. The.

G

Airport, the tsa and our airline partners install protective shields and document checking stations.

G

Ticket counters and information desks we provide hand sanitizer stations throughout the terminal.

G

Our rental car facility, including martin state airport, this has been a rather popular feature.

G

At those facilities, passengers and employees are required to wear, face coverings or masks.

G

Throughout our airport facilities, we acted swiftly in the spring to provide rent relief to airlines.

G

And concessions in order to maintain customer amenities and jobs, we see them as partners to the.

G

Airport ecosystem, and so we approached our release plans with them accordingly, currently about 52.

G

Percent of our food and retail concessions are open to serve travelers back in april about 80.

G

Percent of them were closed and so we're seeing steady progress with the return of those airport.

G

Partners, the federal cares act allocated 87 million dollars to help fund bwi marshall.

G

And martin state airport operations helping to offset revenue loss moving on to reductions that.

G

We experience due to the impacts on the trust fund. The draft ctp reflects a temporary pause.

G

On some major work for bwi, marshall, primarily related to the expansive concourse, a b and baggage.

G

Handling system project that construction work originally planned to start over the summer was.

G

Slowed while the industry continues to recover, um the large-scale project will support further.

G

Domestic and international growth with southwest airlines, tahoe carrier, the largest carrier bwi.

G

Marshall, this project will be largely funded by airport revenue bonds as great of secretary slater.

G

Mentioned earlier, the work is paused, however, until the market for these bonds has stabilized.

G

If I can talk a little bit about projects that were preserved, a number of key projects.

G

Were preserved in the ctp, these projects include important work on near-term.

G

Needs particularly related to safety, mdot maa will continue to support and foster aviation.

G

Across maryland, by working with our 35 public use, airports in the state for fiscal year, 2021.

G

M.M.A tends to provide 2.3 million dollars in state support for regional airports across.

G

Maryland I want to thank secretary slater for that that actually comes out of his budget. The.

G

Secretary office's budget, thank you very much. Carroll county regional airport has received 100.

G

Fiscal year, 2021 federal grant assistance of 232 000 for runway extension, design, work, which.

G

Is important for that airport's future? There are several airfield projects at bwi marshall,.

G

That will move forward, including a major reconstruction of tax uat.

G

Which is the primary aircraft circulation route around the terminal? This project will be fully.

G

Funded by the federal government, with more than 11 million dollars in cares act funds the five gate.

G

Extension of concourse a is nearing completion. Our work is basically done, however. The concessionaires.

G

Continue to work to build out their respective spaces and we're hoping that that will be.

G

Completed in time for an open and earnest about a month from now, we continue to work with the.

G

Faa on the extensive environmental assessment process for the next phase of improvements at.

G

Bwi marshall and martin state airport, you know the the ea, the environmental assessment for bwi.

G

In particular, is one that we're proud of the faa allowed us to be a pilot for a virtual.

G

Public input session, which is required with the environmental assessment.

G

We were the first airport in the country to do this and I'm happy to say that we we got.

G

Very good feedback very active participation from the public during this virtual process.

G

We thought it worked very well. The faa thought it worked very well and they're holding it out.

G

As a model that they will begin to allow other airports to do across the country,.

G

We are finalizing the design process for a major terminal, restroom innovation program.

G

And we expect to begin construction in early 2021. replacement, store removal, equipment and airfield.

G

Vehicles will continue to be procured as well, so we know that the national and the global airline.

G

And passenger traffic will rebound, we know it will it always does and across mdot maa we're working.

G

To be prepared, when the industry recovers, with that, I will turn it back over to secretary slater.

B

Thank you ricky, and thank you to the whole mdot team for those presentations.

B

uh But let me uh take a minute and thank you, commissioner. Lance members of the commission.

B

For for having us here today to talk about the six year budget, you know at this point.

B

I'll turn it back over to you and and we're happy to answer any questions you may have.

A

Thank you, mr secretary, and it uh all those reports I gotta tell you uh they. They give us.

A

Some uplifting uh thoughts there, because it sounds as if everything seems to be.

A

uh Coming back, not all being at that at the rate that we'd like it, maybe, but uh it's good.

A

It's good to see the uptick everywhere, including the airport. That's that's very good news, so thank.

A

You I'm surrounded by a a ton of staff here today, so I'll open it up to see if anybody.

A

Including my colleagues or any of my staff, that's on here have any questions for you or your team.

H

Well, I'd like to thank the gillis falls project for moving forward and getting ready to wrap up.

H

Also like to think, I believe it was tim smith and mentioned the road crew.

H

Safety, that's vitally important as tragic here about someone passing away.

H

Our media representative, here chris swam, just recently posted up a road safety photo of her.

H

Crew and emphasizing road safety as well, so we're very much aware of that issue. Going around.

H

So I'm glad that at the state level they're pushing as well. So thank you very much.

B

Critically important message: thank you for raising it as well. I know tim is very passionate about it.

B

I can tell you that you know my my couple of years as state highway administrator. That's not a phone.

B

Call that you want- and you know so many people are just not aware of the expansions in the move.

B

Over law that require people to get over if you can- and we have our folks working on the side of.

B

The road but a critically important message for us, because we want everybody to get home safe.

C

Thank you, sir one thing. uh Last week, a meeting with uh harry susan herchey um focused on.

I

Liberty, road highway 26- it was a very, I believe, very good discussion, very healthy discussion.

I

I shared with her and others the importance of looking at the community that um you know resides.

I

On these roads and some of that community, especially on 26, has to do with the elderly.

I

So they may not have the same throughput in numbers that we look at if it's consistent with.

I

Having a certain you know, uh highway modification or road modification like a lighter zone, but but.

I

The importance of looking at these communities and young young drivers around the high schools and.

I

Seniors do not have either the experience or the reflexes as others that may um so. We have a good.

I

Conversation about that very healthy conversation, because I am looking at modifications on.

I

26 that may not warrant because of the numbers, but because of the safety. uh It's an important.

I

Aspect and then the other is understanding that 26 liberty, road, is a real cross between a community.

I

Road, an activity happening in eldersburg and also a regional line of communication between.

I

Baltimore city and frederick, um so you know we we've got to balance that because we want to keep.

I

Our culture and our community intact here in carroll county, uh while we want to maintain.

I

The importance of liberty, road going from baltimore all the way out to frederick.

I

And that that is a tough balance uh to play with. um So those are things that I'm kind of thinking.

I

Through is how can we modify the road while keeping it uh it clean and accessible and not.

I

Look overcrowded uh in the community sense, but then also modify importantly for the safety part.

I

Of it, um especially if the numbers don't warrant it, so just want you to putting that bug in your.

I

Ear to think through that, because I'm sure there's other communities like that uh that we have to.

I

Deal with so I'll leave it at that. Sir, absolutely, commissioner, I could agree with you more and.

I

You know liberty, road is a great example of a roadway that you know is so many different kind.

B

Of looks and feels throughout the whole carter. You know you have some parts of it that are developed.

B

Where, over the years, we've had some pretty significant pedestrian safety issues and then.

B

We've had look at, you know more rural part of the corridor, which is kind of somewhat wide open and.

B

Windy where we've had other uh challenges, but you know I I personally my personal philosophy- is that.

B

Our roadway or our bridge or our transit line, that cannot be the centerpiece of what we're.

B

Doing our community has to be the centerpiece of what we're doing and we have to develop the.

B

Transportation element to facilitate that community, so so I couldn't agree with you.

B

More and you know, of course, we'd be happy to work with you on that. Looking at the context there and.

B

What best fits that that area yeah I appreciate it. There are a couple senior areas uh in eldersburg.

I

That I'm very concerned about, especially with their safety, coming right on to liberty,.

I

Road, so thanks we have a. We have a growing aging population right now that we have to accommodate.

J

I I think that one is at the end of his driveway, but.

J

I'm one major concern, but um I want to thank just a moment. I was informed. The uh sidewalks.

J

And handstand are finished at the present time and this saturday they are doing.

J

A main street walk inviting people to come in and meet in the middle of town at the war memorial.

J

And walk the new streets of hampstead stop at stores. uh I hope we buy something. uh Thank them.

J

For uh putting up with everything we have for the last several years, and I want to say thank you.

J

Gentlemen, ladies that have helped in this project few years ago. I think I got crucified at the.

J

Hamster fire department and now that's over and done and now we're moving ahead and we have a.

J

Much better looking uh streetscape in hampstead, so uh thank you for all your help and I hope to.

J

See most of you uh saturday, if you uh show up in middletown a lot at noon, I'll buy you lunch.

J

Perfect hi, just before we leave that hampstead project, I think that's a.

B

Great example that we can all cite one on one: how to work together to solve issues.

B

And two: how to be nimble enough to to redirect things once things get started, because that's a.

B

Great example of a project that we worked on for many years got out there and then really.

B

Found some challenges once we started implement stuff and we needed to be nimble enough to ship.

B

Them some things, and we did that very thing and I think it turned out to be a real, successful.

K

Mr secretary, just like to chime in here, first I'd like to thank you and uh ricky smith for.

K

The money coming to our airport for the design and pro process- this is for safety enhancement at the.

K

Airport to lengthen the runway so that planes can take off and land when they're, fully loaded.

K

When weather's not ideal and it's everything's moving forward fantastic- and I appreciate that.

K

Because we would like to see this move as quickly as possible, so we can have more planes coming in.

K

And out of our uh and out of our own airport, so I do appreciate that. I also want to thank travis for.

K

The 5.1 million dollars of cares money that they came in for our um uh transit system. Without that.

K

I don't know what we would have done because our transit, I mean you guys- had like a 97 percent drop.

K

I think ours was almost like 100 percent drop in ridership. We have people, routes are back up.

K

And running now, and that's really great but again nowhere near what they were before so that money.

K

Really really did help us out, but I also want to put the bug in here about additional buses.

K

Because, just when this whole thing was starting, our you know, system was picking up, we were getting.

K

More ridership and more ridership, but with dan kobe came, and it just knocked all that down, but.

K

We just like to have you know looking for more buses, so we have our our wait times at our stops.

K

To be a little bit less than what they are so survivorship can continue to to expand. That's.

K

What I'm looking for- and I do appreciate all the help is that, like that, without that 5.1 million.

K

Dollars of the care's money- I don't know what we would have done here. I mean that really really.

K

Helps with us yeah absolutely and just to let you know that the cares funds may be used for capital.

E

uh And we do have existing bus contracts, specifically the buses that you guys use.

E

uh Available and ready, so we're actually getting ready to do our next call for cares projects um so.

E

We'll have another opportunity to ask for buses using that cares. Funds.

E

In addition to that, we did um offer, or at least recommend a couple of more buses for you, guys.

E

Using your traditional federal awards, and now you have to come up with the extra match, though the 20.

E

Instead of 10., so I'm glad you do have some options available to you and we certainly.

E

Will continue to work with the county um to try and meet your needs as quickly as we can.

K

I appreciate everything you've done for us travis. I really do it really. It does really.

K

Help us a lot. Thank you very much. We could help. Thank you. I also want to mention one other thing.

K

If I, if I can about sidewalks, we've mentioned this before, because we're talking about safety.

K

Around streets and so forth, we're putting funds into sidewalks we're looking at safe schools and.

K

So forth to put sidewalks around schools and that, but any additional help we can get with sidewalks.

K

uh Would really really be helpful because a lot of the communities out here.

K

In carroll county were when developers built them, they didn't put sidewalks in.

K

I don't know how that was that, but it was anyway, so we have to go back and we have to try to.

K

Retrofit that and what that's, what we're doing- and it's all it's all, it's all about safety, so I.

K

Appreciate any help you can do for that and with that I'll end and say thank you for everything.

K

You've done for us in the past again especially lost 97 when you had those build-out products.

K

Projects the year, because I have to say this again- I'm amazing how much better the traffic is on 97.

K

Now, and because when you, when you we're talking about the projects, I'm thinking, okay, it's a good.

K

Start, but how much is it really going to help it has really really helped? Thank you very much.

B

Mr thank you. I couldn't agree more on the sidewalks. I think you know it's a.

B

It's a program that we'd like to to do a little bit more of in the state, just a matter of finding.

B

Resources I'd welcome the opportunity to kind of collaborate a little bit when the county's out.

B

There doing one of your roads, uh you know we have an opportunity to kind of close the gap. There are.

B

A number of programs there, you know, frankly the the people that we all serve, they don't know and.

B

They don't care whether they're on a state, road or a county, road or a state road or a sidewalk or.

B

Accounting sidewalk, but uh that 97 project was a great example of county state collaboration.

B

uh We worked together uh very closely kind of even put up some some money for that. One.

B

And and worked together and be able to get that done, I'm really glad it's turning out.

B

To be a success, I know, commissioner lance and I worked on that one for for a little bit together.

A

Yeah, just just a little bit mr secretary yeah, so it's good stuff out there.

A

uh We've got a ton of our staff on here. I think I saw our director of planning pop up. Linda did.

A

Linda eisenberg, linda did you have something when you came up there earlier.

L

No thank you. Thank you to um greg slater's team. We've been working very closely with tara penders.

L

Lisa sirota and terry seuss on that maryland 26 project, which was really wonderful and so valuable.

L

To the county- and we look forward to working with them on some access management plans that we're.

L

Hoping to put forward based on the recommendations for 26 and 32, so I just wanted to echo what.

L

Commissioner, osteen said, and thank you so much for all the work that you all have done with us.

B

Absolutely thank you linda they're, a great team over there. I know I feel like you and I have.

B

Been working together on these things for about 20 years now so good to see you there. Thank you.

A

Yeah, I don't know if there's anybody else greg, I did have a.

A

uh A couple constituents reach out to me in reference to- and this might go to.

A

This is gonna, go to uh maybe melissa, I don't know, but uh on the the backlog when it comes to uh tags.

A

On vehicles uh is there indeed a backlog there and and if it is what's the eta of trying to get.

A

Back on track there do we or chrissy, I'm sorry, not melissa christie, where we are with that.

A

Where we are with that, apparently a couple of constituents that reached out to me chris, he said.

A

That, like 30 to 40 days behind or something like that, is that that indeed correct or where are we.

A

With that sure, so we are a little bit further behind on mail-in work. If that's specifically.

F

What they're, referring to um we did it, as I said, implement that new system in july, more people are.

F

Mailing in work than have ever done so before we do have appointments vehicle appointments.

F

Available within a week, so if they want to come in and process, dealer work or title work in person,.

F

They can do that pretty pretty regularly, but you're right, titling work is about 30 days out.

F

Certainly, if you have particular constituents feel free to send them to me and I'm happy to research.

F

Exactly where that is and see, if we can expedite it for them? Okay, thanks. It was a couple folks that.

A

Reach out to me, and they both were very kind by saying, look, we do understand the the challenges.

A

As it results to the to the covet situation that we're in so, I think it was more of a question of.

A

If you know anything, let us know so. I appreciate that info and I'll reach back out to them. Thanks.

F

Thank you from personal experience. uh In the last couple weeks, we were told uh three to four weeks.

J

Two weeks tops, and they really went out of the way- did a great job of getting tags to you.

J

I don't think the weight's near as bad as maybe we're being told, but I'm sure you have to uh look.

J

For the worst anticipate the worst and hope for the best and the best is coming through so.

F

Yeah everybody's been very patient. um You know it was very it's very challenging during any time to.

F

Implement a new I.t system, but certainly during a pandemic that that was a even more challenging.

F

Situation but I'll just say that the general public has been very understanding. Our agents.

F

Are doing the very best they can. We obviously we're not set up as a male intake center. We're.

F

Quickly, evolving and adjusting in this new world that we're all in and trying to make sure we get.

F

Back to people as quickly as possible, but again, if anybody has a constituent, I know there's some.

F

Cases where you need that title turned around more quickly, because they're selling the vehicle.

F

Or something comes up, please feel free to reach out to me, I'm happy to help with any of those.

F

Situations so my daughter had an appointment at the westminster mba chrissy and they took her 20.

A

Minutes early and she was out in five that's great- to hear we've gotten a lot of positive.

F

Feedback about the mandatory appointment system, it's been a really smooth process for everybody.

F

So the customers seem to really enjoy it. Yeah excellent commissioner. I'll take this opportunity.

B

To plug a little bit that I personally love the mba in an all appointment environment like that.

B

Even outside of a pandemic, I think it changes the tone of an mba. It changes everything when.

B

You're really trying to you know you're managing the appointments. It's just the challenge that we.

B

Had with you know how to how to manage those kind of last-minute thinkers, the people that wait till.

B

The last minute to get something done, um you know, I think, that's a problem, we're actively thinking.

B

About uh but chrissy's got a great team over there and I just think the mba in an all appointment.

B

Type of an environment when you can guarantee someone you'll see them within 15 minutes of an.

B

Appointment, people can plan their days around that uh and you can build processes in place to protect.

B

Those last minute kind of issues, so you don't have them. I I just think it's the future of the mba.

A

Yeah, that's a sure, that's a great point greg go ahead, ed personally, I I agree with that. As.

I

I mean it took me 10 minutes for a real id uh had a lot of paperwork. They told me what to do.

I

Walked in westminster, I was done one project um I want to highlight. I don't believe you highlighted.

I

And significant is the work that you're doing on 32, johnsville and bennett um the light there.

I

And that is a very significant and it's a response to uh the community outreach.

I

uh And and that that's important that we're we're looking at projects um but we're really focused.

I

On the community and the concerns of the community and that that um blind intersection there coming.

I

Off of johnsville is pretty dangerous and also the right turn uh on to bennett off of 32, and you all.

I

Are working it, so I appreciate that I appreciate the uh you know the effort being done there.

I

um You know I live, you know a mile from there, so I'm seeing it all the time and uh that's going.

I

To make a big difference, you know the commute of folks coming on and off of 32. So just another good.

I

Project you guys are working. You know, I knew our new district engineer out there. Terry seuss has.

B

Been around that district for a while and she does a great job, so you know she'll keep those big ones.

B

Moving for us yeah, I agree. She I mean she's, very responsive rockstar with her and her team. uh You.

I

Know the meme we had last week, I thought was very valuable. So thanks, I see terry popped on for a.

B

Second, terry, we also the one at the readiness center is really moving along too. Isn't it.

L

Correct greg, we are in final paving that should be done within the next couple weeks. That's great.

A

Yeah! That's that that that area is that you guys are doing yeoman's job down.

A

There thank you so much terry. That's that's good stuff! Going down there.

A

Very impressive, uh I don't know if there's any other electives on, I don't know if any of our.

A

Mayors of any of our eight municipalities were able to join us this afternoon.

A

I'll I'll give a shout out to them to see if anybody has anything in any of our eight towns.

M

I'm here mayor shaw's here, so I definitely would like to comment a couple. If you get a minute.

A

Mayor shaw from sykesville all always a always a pleasure and entertaining to talk to mayor shaw.

M

There you go well. Thank you. Thank you guys, thanks for having the ctp and uh uh thank you.

M

uh Secretary slater, for you know, you do have a great staff. I will say that, and we've worked.

M

With terry, uh obviously, uh a lot and she's fantastic to work with, and so, as you know, I'm.

M

I'm on here, because I've been I've, been talking to you about the stuff going down on 8.51, so.

M

That's my my concern today I mean we and listening to your vision and some of the stuff. I think.

M

Really this project- and I know it's going to be tough, but you know hopefully you'll give some.

M

Thought to you know we gave up on our streetscape money right. We knew that times were tough and.

M

Before even the pandemic, so we kind of gave up on securing those funds millions of dollars. You know.

M

Because it was, it was difficult and then, of course, here comes the pandemic, but the project with the.

M

Storm water and stuff- I really think, falls into some of your. You know your criteria of system.

M

Preservation and then um you know, maintenance of of what we've already got. You know because.

M

We're always worried about this thing, opening up and just causing secondary issues. We got a new.

M

Piece of property: that's getting ready to transfer right on the corner there now of of uh springfield.

M

And um spout hill, you know right where part of our main issue is that property's getting ready.

M

To turn over and looks like it's going to be developed into something more intense and so.

M

For us locally, it's just so important to keep this please I mean I don't know if we can get some more.

M

uh You know because it seems like we talk about it, but then we're not getting any traction on moving.

M

Forward, you know we're again willing to help out. I know this was kind of already in planning, so I.

M

Hope this isn't going to be one of the things that gets shut down. um So I'm just asking for.

M

Your your um help and trying to find whatever you can and system dollars to um to get that.

M

Project moving for us and keep it moving, because now it's like there's no better time really.

M

I mean and putting it off is just going to make things worse and we're working with the county.

M

There's a big pipe going right through there. You know that big pike that is unidentified so they're.

M

Coming in to to do their stuff and we're trying to coordinate this stuff, so I I don't want to hold up.

M

Everybody's time, but it's just so important to us and then one other quick thing I'll throw up that.

M

And I, and I know this falls into- maybe it doesn't fit the guidelines, but do we get flexibility and.

M

This was the stop sign, and I talked to uh terry about this as well is perhaps like a four-way.

M

Stop there at oklahoma, avenue and and um uh 851 just because I know it doesn't always like they do.

M

All these criteria tests, but it's main street- you know what I mean and do we have to always follow.

M

The criteria test for a stop sign on how many cars are coming through. It's such a blind intersection.

M

There and everybody I've talked to thinks the four-way. Stop would fix it, so something we're.

M

Looking for some flexibility on helps slow cars down a little bit right at a busy intersection of.

C

Main street, where we get a lot of foot traffic anyway, so I know it's going to take a little.

M

Outside of the box thinking, you know, but but we've been patient on the grass cutting you know we were.

M

Almost getting ready to cut the grass for you at the top and I unders we understood you know we.

M

Were so thank you, but they came they popped up. You know we made a call, you guys popped up and.

M

Came out and cut it, so thank you and uh I want to thank your team all across the state it is. It is a.

M

Really good team and I'm always so happy to come back to bwi from some of the places we traveled.

M

To I'm, like god, the airports are awful, you know when I come back home, I'm like man. This place is.

M

Nice, you know so so thank you and uh thank you for your team and just anything you can do to.

M

Help us keep that project moving and keep get some traction. I would really appreciate it, so thank you.

B

Absolutely mayor shaw, thank you for sharing that I know I agree. Our team is, is really great.

B

I've worked with many of them for years, the sex field projects- you know it's certainly, you know.

B

The important thing right now, especially in our budget, is to just keep having the conversation and.

B

Keep it on the forefront of our thoughts as we're trying to make decisions. You know the one thing we.

B

Have with this budget is a lot of uncertainty, so we're really thinking about you know.

B

If, if it starts to recover, if the money starts to come back faster than we envision, we want to.

B

Make sure we're prepared to kind of invest it the right way. So just keeping those conversations at.

B

The forefront, um you know, I know tim and terry are on here as well, but the one thing I'll note.

B

About the the guidelines on the flexibility side is you know, I think we try and look at things from.

B

A couple of different perspectives, but a lot of those guidelines. Some of those guidelines are.

B

Really on the federal law side and don't give us a lot of flexibility and- and you know so they get.

B

Give us some exposure on the legal side, so you know if we step out of the federal legal side.

B

And then say: okay, we're going to put something here or put something there. That's outside of that.

B

And something happens we get exposed legally. So the way we find flexibility is to try and look at.

B

Things from a couple of different perspectives um and and try and find creative solutions.

B

That are within those guidelines, and- and so maybe tim and terry want to add something to that.

C

Yeah I'll just add about uh the 851 work is uh that's part of the reason why we're having.

C

Ctp tours is to kind of give that feedback we put kind of. We were progressing through.

C

With design with terry's team, uh we put it on pause just to kind of gather feedback, as we and.

C

Because, uh as greg says, we've made some tough decisions and we're no longer separating needs.

C

From wants we're kind of ranking our needs and trying to make the best decisions with.

C

The needs we have uh that's and then, like I said this is a great collaboration, we're trying.

C

To get everyone's feedback before making a final decision and then, uh with regard to the stop sign.

C

uh We're more than welcome to have to have additional discussion, but I guess we can be.

C

Creative and flexible, but I guess that's also we're asking for your your your ability to be.

C

Creative and flexible on your side, sometimes when we start with a solution, it's tough to.

C

Then end with that, like greg, was mentioning with some of our federal regulations, but if our intent.

C

Is for safety and maybe slow traffic down there might be other ways we can do that with other.

C

Other solutions um that are would be well within our ability to do so. I guess that's that's what.

C

We're asking is flexibility on both sides to kind of achieve a means to an end that makes sense.

M

Yeah, no thank you and we looked at some different like roadway designs, but some of them just didn't.

M

Seem to really fit right for the location you know and yeah, so yeah. So whatever we can do to.

M

At least take another look at it. I know uh terry had mentioned, maybe taking a look at it and with.

M

Your team and seeing if there's any you know, there's any options for we really think a stop.

M

Sign will fix it because it's just such a weird corner to where people can't see around so cars.

M

Come out and then they pull way far out onto 851 from oklahoma trying and then with parking.

M

And the reconfiguring it just didn't seem like there didn't seem to be a good fit, but just I.

M

Appreciate you taking another look at it at least we can keep betting it out and see if there's some.

M

If there's any, if the stop signs can be just ruled in or out, you know, we understand. Okay. Thank you.

A

All right do do we have any other uh any other mayors or electeds on.

M

There are four people that have called in okay: I've got.

A

Got some folks that called in how about any anybody that called in.

A

I want to make sure we give everybody the opportunity here before we sign out.

A

Okay, I'm not I'm not hearing any additional, uh mr secretary, so uh on that note, I guess we'll.

A

Wrap it up by just saying: look, it's all been said, but you, you know how we truly appreciate.

A

The the collaboration between all of your your departments, all of your agencies, all of your folks.

A

Everybody there is top notch, there's no question about it and you all do a tremendous job and we.

A

Truly do appreciate it, so thank you so very much. We appreciate all of you taking the time today.

A

To give us the updates- and um I don't I agree with- I agree with mayor shaw man- it's good to.

A

Come back into bwi because there's a lot of crappy airports out there I'll leave I'll leave it at.

A

That, maybe, if ricky's still on you, know it that that's a that's a valid point, maybe not the best.

A

Way to say it, but a valid point I am here I mean I'm look, I'm writing all these compliments down.

G

I haven't heard from commissioner often yet, though,.

I

I am always here for you, sir always I know you are my friend. I want to add that I'm very proud.

H

Of chrissy, neiser she's doing a wonderful job and I think she must have discovered a fountain of.

H

Youth because she don't age at all, and thanks for everyone on your staff secretary slater, I think.

H

We got some good connections with your department, uh lots of great people and the feedback you give.

H

Us is wonderful. The communication interaction is very helpful for us, as publicly elected officials.

H

To execute our jobs so keep up the good job and we're very proud everyone. Thank you.

A

And greg you're muted, I hate you're muted. Oh sorry, I look forward to a time we can all see.

B

Each other in person soon yep, absolutely all right. Thank you all so very much.

A

uh Our best to your family as well greg at this being a carroll county.

A

Carroll county guy- we always want to put that in there as well. So thank you. Everybody.

A

And uh stay safe out there and we'll we'll see everybody soon, hopefully in person yep.

A