11-15-05 -- A recent analysis prepared by Baltimore Transit Alliance concludes that even in the wake of a 2004 transportation revenue increase, the draft MDOT budget shows a 22% decrease in funding for MTA through Fiscal Year 2011.

MDOT's six-year capital budget is down 7% overall, but comparable reductions to the highway program are only down 6% indicating a significant shift in funding priorities.

In the MTA maintenance category the decrease is even more extreme: funding for "system preservation" falls 35% from $275 million to $179 million for the six year period. By Fiscal Year 2010, funding for highway maintenance is more than 100 times higher than for transit maintenance. Planning funding for the Red and Green Line of $243 million is the single largest project in MTA's budget; the second largest is bus replacement at $96 million.

To see the BTA analysis, click here.

To view Baltimore Sun story: click here
To view story in the Daily Record: click here

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