Rawlings-Blake answers questions about Red Line "local match"

At a press conference at City Hall yesterday, Mayor Rawlings-Blake was questioned about the city’s matching contribution to the Red Line. (Here for main article).

This is what she said:

BALTIMORE BREW: MTA/DOT is saying Baltimore will need a local contribution of $200 million. The issue is whether it would be in kind or in cash or a mix. Tell us what your thinking is about that and whether a cash contribution would be needed.

SRB: My commitment is to doing everything we can to make the Red Line project a success. Every vibrant, forward-looking city is a connected city and continues to look for ways to increase opportunities for public transportation. And we desperately need that east-west corridor to connect many of our public transportation hubs. So I’m working very hard. I’ve been an advocate for the project. We are working closely with the Maryland Department of Transportation to establish not just what the level of contribution is, but how we’re going to get there. My team is committed to getting that done. We meet on a regular basis, and I think we are on the right track.

WBAL-TV: What is going to get done? It’s at least $200 million. Am I correct?

SRB: I can get you the exact number.

BREW: The number from MTA is $200 million. How will you meet that $200 [million]?

SRB: It will be a combination of what you would call in kind and cash.

BREW: How much cash are we looking at?

SRB: I don’t have that exact number in front of me.

WBAL-TV: Where does it come from?

SRB: It will come from multiple sources. Again, I’ll have that specific information in front of me, and I can supply that.

WBAL-TV: Many people are concerned that there might have to be a tax or fee increase to cover the amount.

SRB: I can understand that concern. But as hard as I have worked to reduce the burden of property taxes on our residents, I certainly don’t see an additional increase as a first option.

BREW: If the project’s costs go beyond present projections – and they have been going up – the federal government does not cover that. So the $200 million runs the possibility of getting higher. How is the city dealing with that possibility?

SRB: We are very aware of the potential of [the] increasing cost of the Red Line. That is why we’ve been very intentional about our work with the state, with the federal government, to make sure that the project is moving on target. Because every time there’s a delay, or there’s a perceived delay, the project costs more. We are aware of the potential of the increase and we are doing everything to avoid it on our end with the understanding that this is an important project and if that is a bridge we have to cross because of increased costs, we’ll cross that bridge. But we’re not there yet.

BREW: County Executive Kamenetz has had a different take on this. He does not want to use cash for the county’s share and has objected to a $50 million contribution by the county. How does that figure in the overall success of the project if Baltimore County appears to be balking at the price?

SRB: This is a regional project that I believe will benefit Baltimore City residents and Baltimore County residents. The good thing about having independent government is he doesn’t tell me how to reach my goals and I don’t tell him. The same meetings I have with the Department of Transportation I know that his team is having those meetings as well. My hope is that as we have worked to resolution on numbers and how we achieve those numbers, I’m sure he’ll do the same. . .

BREW: Is September 1 the deadline in terms of getting the matter resolved?

SRB: Again, I don’t have that in front of me, but I can certainly find that information out at a later date.