THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                  1307

House Bill No. 459—Commercial Entrances Upon State Roads

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 32 of
Article 89B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1951 Edition),
title "State Roads", sub-title "Distribution and Use of Special
Funds",

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RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE
STATE ROADS COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE MEANS
OF INGRESS TO AND EGRESS FROM CERTAIN COMMER-
CIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES.

April 28, 1955

Honorable John C. Luber
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

House Bill 459 amends Section 32 of Article 89B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1951 Edition) dealing with the authority of the
State Roads Commission to fix the width and location of points of
ingress and egress to commercial and industrial properties along state
highways carrying an average traffic volume of more than 2,000
vehicles per day. This authority was granted to the Commission in
1951, and the sole purpose of the present bill is to make the Com-
mission's authority applicable only after June 1, 1955. This would
undo all of the work of the Commission during the past four years
in entrance channelization designed to provide for the orderly move-
ment of vehicles in and out of roadside places of business. The
safety theory inherent in this exercise of authority by the Com-
mission is apparent to any highway user and has enjoyed the co-
operation of many large business enterprises and of the major oil
companies.

The Commission's program in this field since 1951 has, because
of its nature and expense, been a slow process. There remain many
places of business which have large frontages on state highways and
continuous paved areas adjacent thereto. This not only permits the
conduct of private business on public property, but entrance on or off
the highway at dangerous angles and speeds, creating continuous road-
side hazards conducive to accidents.

To invalidate all of the work accomplished by the Commission in
the past four years would definitely be inimical to the public interest.
It would undoubtedly result in the removal of much of the channeliza-
tion constructed during that period, and thereby interfere with a
recognized safety factor. I have accordingly vetoed this bill.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor

TRMcK:R