Evening star., 1947-11-02
Lane 10 Request
Broader Powers
|nRoadProgran
Maryland Commission
Declared Hompered by
Bond Act Restrictions
By the Associated Press


ANNAPOLIS, Md. Nov. 1.-Gov.
Lane said today he planned to rec
ommend legislative changes giving
the State Roads Commission wider
discretion in executing Maryland's
$100, ,000, 900 highway program.
The bond act, under which the
project will be financed. specifies its
funds are to be used only for con-
struction of expressways and con-
trolled access highways accommo-
dating more than 5000 cars daily.
Gov. Lane proposes to remove this
restriction and in general leave de-
sign and type of roads to be built
up to the agency.
The step was recommended by the
State Highway Advisory Council in
a report to the Governor, which the
chief executive released today, along
with his comments.
He noted the council now has
under study the feasibility of high
speed toll routes and is Of the opin-
ion that 1t will be necessary to trans
fer for maintenance certain other
funds in the highway appropria-
tions.
Requests Costs Study.
II am not fully satisfied that the
problem of having all maintenance
by forces of the commission is the
most economical way of performing
this job, and at my request the
council Is making a study Of the
relative costs involved as compared
with contract maintenance"
The chief executive said he
agreed with the council that for the
immediate future our problem in
Maryland Is to compromise in the
expenditure of available funds be-
tween meeting urgent needs and
benefits to the present population
and long-range program, the ben
efits of which will accrue 20 to Is
years in the future.
Il will recommend such changes
in existing legislation as will make
this possible"
In advocating notifications in the
bond issue act the council, whose
chairman is Howard Bruce, declared:
When you realize the very high
cost per mile of the superhighways
eligible for construction by the pres
ent bond bill and further consider
the limited areas in which these
superhighways would be built, the
very great needs of other sections Of
the State force you to the conclusion
that some notifications in the
bond bill are needed to serve the
interests of the State as whole"
For this reason, the group added,
| it is "the considered recommends
ton of the council that the bond
bill should be modified so that the
$100, 100000 to be made available for
the sale of bonds can be expended at
the discretion of the Roads Com
mission"
\ One Restriction Suggested. r.
There should be one restriction,
however: Not less than so per cent
of the money shall be spent on roads
having an average daily traffic Of
5000 or more vehicles, the council
added.
with this latitude as to type and
location Of roads" the council told
the Governor. "the Road Commis-
sion will produce a more ball
anced roads system than is possible
under the present provisions Of the
bond bill"
Denied access" roads should be
built where traffic density justifies
and the cost is not excessive. In
; other sections, roads of an improved
Ritchie highway boulevard type will
be built" the council said. adding:
Given this latitude there will be
greater benefits to the State and a
wider and more uniform distribution
of these benefits from the large ex-
: penditure of the bond issue"
The council said it had asked the
commission to prepare program
, it would recommend for immediate
construction, costing about $45, ,000,-
, 900. The sum would be made up Of
, current revenues increased by $25,-
000 900 of bond issue money.