Evening star., 1953-04-08
Get
$71.2 Million in
Funds
4-Yeur Share for
Prince Georges and
Montgomery Listed

NaVu1SV's10'y 6SStSO
Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties will receive
$71.2 million in improvements to
State roads during the first four
years of Maryland's new highway
program.
This estimate of the two coun-
ties share Of the program was
made yesterday by w. F. Childs.
jr, chief engineer of the Mary
land State Roads Commission,
and Anthony Di Domenico, Office
engineer of the commission. They
spoke at a luncheon meeting of
the District Advisory Board Of
the American Automobile ASso-
citation.
Earlier yesterday, the Mary
land General Assembly approved
funds for the first four-year part
of the 12-year program the roads
Commission is planning.
The first stage calls for $242
million in improvements. The
total program will cost 1868 mil
lion.
Debate on Finance.
Mr.. Childs commented, 1--WE
feel very kindly toward the As
sembly. The engineering pro-
gram never was discussed in on
adverse manner"
Financing did cause consider
able debate, however, before the
Assembly approved the plan.
The gasoline tax was raised
from S cents to 6 cents, effective
July /. A proposed increase in
vehicle registration fees was de-
ferred until 1865.
Mr.. Childs said the Assembly
also placed a limitation on bor-
rowing through bond issues by
restricting the sale Of bonds to
$25 million lots. The roads
Commission must get it's balance
below $25 million before it can
sell the next lot. he edded.
He gave the breakdown on
Montgomery County and Prince
Georges County as follows:
In Montgomery County, the
12-year program calls for 1868
miles of State roads either i'm
proved or constructed at a cost
of $68.7 million. The first four
years will consist Of 123.5 miles
at a cost of $29.8 million.
Prince Georges Figures.
In Prince Georges County, the
12-year program calls for i'm
provement or construction of
278.3 miles Of StAte roads, at a
cost of $82.8 million. In the
first four years, the improve
ments will total 124.6 miles at
a cost of $41.4 million.
The road work planned for
Prince Georges and Montgom-
cry Counties during the 12-year
program amounts to about Is
per cent of the total for the
State.
The difference in cost of ap-
proximately the same number of
miles of highways in the two
counties is due to the different
types of roads to be built, Mr..
Childs explained.
Mr.. Childs pointed out that Of
the $242 million approved by the
Assembly for the first four years,
about $25 million is for surveys.
plans and acquisition Of rights
of ways.
with the four-year program
under way, you are almost as
sured that the second four years
will go ahead" he declared.
Confusion Cleared.
Mr.. Di Domenico cleared up
some confusion that has existed
because Of references to the en-
tire Maryland roads program
county and State-as a 5000 mil
lion program over the IL years.
He said Maryland will get an
estimated total Of about $987 mil
lion from all sources for roads
during that period. ,..
That $987 million consists of
$62 million in Federal contri-
buttons; $606 million from the
gasoline tax; $233 million from
the motor vehicle fees. and $85
million from excise taxes.
Under a formula used in the
State, it will be split between
the State roads commission for
State roads; Baltimore for its
streets and the counties for the
county road system.