Congressman Ruppersberger and Harford County Executive Craig Hold BRAC Town Hall

(Edgewood, MD)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Harford County Executive David Craig held a town hall meeting about the new jobs and residents heading to Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision on September 12, 2007, at Edgewood High School.      

“The thousands of new jobs and residents heading to Aberdeen Proving Ground from Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, are both a great opportunity and a great challenge for our state.  I am committed to preserving the excellent quality of life everyone enjoys in Harford County.  I am working hard in Washington to ensure we have the resources we need to serve existing residents while preparing for new ones,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).  

Congressman Ruppersberger is a Member of the Appropriations Committee.  He is committed to helping improve economic conditions, meet health care demands, address infrastructure needs, expand educational opportunities, promote environmental protection, enhance transportation and military advancements, and strengthen intelligence capabilities in Maryland and across our nation.  The following funds have been included in Appropriations bills to help the area prepare for BRAC: 

• $1 Million for Road Improvements In and Around Aberdeen Proving Ground
• $500,000 for State Highway Construction at Aberdeen Proving Ground
  This project will fund preliminary planning on several road projects in and around Aberdeen Proving Ground in support of the BRAC initiative. Improvements to these existing roads that provide either links or direct access to the installation are essential to the transportation network’s ability to successfully handle an anticipated on-post daily commuting population of more than 25,000.
• $500,000 for Road Improvements in Harford County
  This project will help improve safety, operations, and access at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in anticipation of BRAC-related growth.
• $750,000 for Widening I-695       
  This project will support the widening of I-695 to  eight lanes to  reduce traffic congestion and  improve  traffic  flow  around the  Baltimore  Beltway. The Maryland State Highway Administration will also use these funds to improve safety on the highway.
• $500,000 for Traffic Light Synchronization on MD 175 near Ft. Meade
  The Maryland State Highway Administration has requested funding to improve traffic flow through  traffic  light systemization  between MD  170  and MD  173 to  improve  access to Ft. Meade in anticipation of BRAC-related growth in traffic volume.
• $1 Million for Buses and Bus Facilities
• $250,000 for Central Maryland Transit Operations
  The State of Maryland will use this funding to contribute to the construction of the Central Maryland Transit Operations facility that will provide storage and maintenance for a 120-bus operation, employing 200 people.
• $750,000 for the Maryland Transit Agency
  This project will help the State of Maryland improve existing Maryland Transit Agency bus facilities and build new bus facilities throughout the State of Maryland.
• $250,000 for BRAC Workforce Development at Towson University
  This project will help Towson University create a comprehensive demand-driven workforce development and student enrichment program that will prepare Marylanders for current and projected BRAC and Homeland Security high-wage/high-growth occupations. The targeted populations include at-risk or under represented youth, veterans, and those areas directly impacted by BRAC.

The meeting was put together by the BRAC Planning Action Committee.

 

 

 

 

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