Rural, urban lawmakers spar over gas tax

O’Malley’s funding bill opens fault lines

 by Holly Nunn Staff writer

Before Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) even has a chance to present his transportation funding proposal to the General Assembly committees that would determine its fate, advocates for public transit are attempting to nip rural criticisms in the bud.

“I’ve invited my colleagues from rural areas to Rockville to see what traffic is really like,” said Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville.

The governor’s bill, which will restructure the way the gas tax is collected, is expected to raise $3.4 billion over the next five years, and some portion of that will have to go toward transit projects like the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway.

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