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Ch. 494
1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND
WHEREAS, THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC IN THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON,
D.C. WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY MORE
THAN 70% BETWEEN 1990 AND 2020; AND
WHEREAS, THE DETERIORATION OF WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE AND THE
GROWING POPULATION IN THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, D.C. WASHINGTON
METROPOLITAN AREA ACCOUNTS FOR A LARGE PART OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION,
AND IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVES TO THIS VITAL LINK IN THE INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IS CRITICAL TO ADDRESSING
THE AREA'S TRAFFIC CONGESTION; AND
WHEREAS, THE WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE IS THE ONLY DRAWBRIDGE ON
THE REGIONAL INTERSTATE NETWORK, THE ONLY PIECE OF THE CAPITAL
BELTWAY WITH ONLY SIX LANES AND THE ONLY SEGMENT WITH A REMAINING
LIFESPAN OF ONLY TEN YEARS; AND
WHEREAS, THE EXISTING WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE IS THE ONLY PART OF
THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
FACILITY; AND
WHEREAS, WHILE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE BRIDGE, NO ENTITY HAS EVER BEEN GRANTED FULL
AND CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THIS FACILITY; AND
WHEREAS, CONTINUED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF THE
WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE WILL IMPEDE COHESIVE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING AS IT RELATES TO IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR
RESOLVING PROBLEMS OF THE EXISTING WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE CONTINGENT
UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO UPGRADE THE
FACILITY, IT WOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE REGION, THE STATES, AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THE FACILITY TO AN
INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY: AND
WHEREAS, ANY CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF THE WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE
MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INTEREST OF NEARBY COMMUNITIES, THE
COMMUTING PUBLIC, AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS, AS WELL AS THE INTEREST
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
INVOLVED; AND
WHEREAS, THE WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE COORDINATING COMMITTEE,
ESTABLISHED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND COMPRISED OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, IS
UNDERTAKING PLANNING STUDIES PERTAINING TO THE WOODROW WILSON
BRIDGE, CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION ACT AND OTHER APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS; AND
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