BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

2947

roads to travel in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, A considerable number of Anne Arundel County
residents and other citizens of the State rely upon and
regularly use Ritchie Highway in meeting their employment
and business responsibilities, and in their family and
recreational activities; and

WHEREAS, Statistics show the high accident rate and
dangerous conditions on Ritchie Highway and the lack of
safety in entering and leaving the highway; and

WHEREAS, Ritchie Highway presently is overburdened with
traffic from the Baltimore City line to the junction of U.S.
50, and projected traffic analysis based upon general
development plans and land use proposals in Anne Arundel
County show that by the year 2000 over 100,000 vehicles each
day may travel Ritchie Highway; and

WHEREAS, There are a considerable number of traffic
signals and intersections on Ritchie Highway to allow access
and egress from residential communities and commercial
establishments which significantly impact on traffic flow
and safety conditions along the highway; and

WHEREAS, The State Highway Administration of the
Maryland Department of Transportation is responsible for the
safe and expeditious flow of traffic on Ritchie Highway and
has jurisdiction over development and maintenance of the
highway; and

WHEREAS, The Maryland Department of Transportation
presently is having prepared a consultant study on the
Baltimore-Annapolis transportation corridor which includes
looking at Ritchie Highway as well as Route 3 and Route 32
to develop immediate and long—range plans and proposals in
the corridor for the expeditious flow of traffic, to
increase and improve safety conditions and to handle vehicle
capacity; and

WHEREAS, It is important to have and      maintain an

effective Baltimore-Annapolis transit corridor      to handle

present and projected traffic flow in a safe and  expeditious
manner; and

WHEREAS, The Governor Ritchie Highway presently needs
improvement to assure adequate handling of traffic flows, to
increase safety conditions, and to allow for future vehicle
capacity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Maryland Department of Transportation is requested to give
high priority and attention to the completion of the
consultant's study on the Baltimore-Annapolis transit
corridor; and be it further