WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1990.

May 25, 1990

The Honorable R. Clayton Mitchell, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed House Bill 786.

House Bill 786 would require that sidewalks be constructed at the time of major
rehabilitation, construction, or reconstruction of an urban highway unless the State
Highway Administration (SHA) determines that they would not be essential for safety,
would be too costly, or are unnecessary.

While I agree that SHA projects in urban areas should often include construction of
sidewalks, I do not believe that such construction should be mandated. The bill requires
sidewalk construction any time an urban highway is constructed, reconstructed, or even
just rehabilitated, with the burden of proof placed on SHA as to why sidewalks would
not be needed. Under the bill, sidewalks would be required even when the roadwork is
limited to resurfacing, unless SHA demonstrates they are not essential for safety, or the
cost and environmental impact is too great.

While I find such a requirement unacceptable, I would, however, support legislation
next Session that would allow construction of sidewalks where they are needed for
public safety and where costs and community impacts are not unreasonable.

For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 786.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

House Bill No. 786

AN ACT concerning

Highways - Sidewalk Construction

FOR the purpose of requiring sidewalks to be constructed at the time certain work is
performed on certain highways unless the State Highway Administration makes
certain determinations; altering the procedures by which sidewalk construction
becomes part of a highway construction project; requiring the construction of
sidewalks to meet certain standards; altering the financing of sidewalk

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