Leggett Celebrates Annapolis Session Accomplishments; Executive’s Top Priority to Expand Transportation Funding Succeeds

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (center) celebrated this year’s Annapolis session accomplishments and congratulated the Montgomery County State Delegation for their successes. Pictured from left to right are: County Councilmember George Leventhal, Sen. Jennie Forehand, County Councilmember Marc Elrich, County Councilmember Nancy Floreen, Sen. Brian Frosh, County Councilmember Craig Rice, County Council President Nancy Navarro, Del. Susan Lee, Montgomery County Senate Delegation Chair Sen. Jamie Raskin, Montgomery County House Delegation Chair Del. Anne Kaiser, Del. Al Carr, Sen. Richard Madaleno and Del. Charles Barkley.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett celebrated the accomplishments achieved by Montgomery County in Annapolis this year.

“Montgomery County’s number one priority for more than 10 years has been to obtain more transportation funding,” said Leggett. “Six years ago, I virtually stood alone in advocating for an increase in the state’s gasoline tax, which hadn’t been increased since 1992 when George Bush Sr. was President. Since then, I have testified at every hearing on this issue and have been relentless in its support.

“An increase in transportation funding is vital to helping commuters who are stuck in traffic congestion and to our ability to attract jobs and investment in the future. Thanks to our continuing efforts and the hard work and diligence of our state legislative delegation, we finally will have the sustainable funding source to help us build the transit, road, pedestrian and bike projects we so desperately need.”

The new revenue raised by the gas tax increase is expected to raise $4.4 billion over the next six years. This funding will help support the costs of key County projects, including the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway and a backlog of major road projects.