Ch. 13

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

which lists the projects to be funded.

Further provided that up to $750,000 of this
appropriation may only be expended for the
purpose of completing a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement, including holding the
required public hearing and reviewing public
comment on the proposed project. The
department shall undertake a study of options
to fund further phases of the project. The
options to be studied should include:

(1) the feasibility of receiving federal funding
and the extent of federal participation It is the
intent of the General Assembly that the agency
continue to explore avenues for attaining an
additional $5.0 million in federal ISTEA
funding for use for the potential Final
Environmental Impact Statement; and

(2) the possibilities of incorporating the project
as part of the next phase of WMATA's
Metrorail construction (beyond the 103 mile
system) whether as a revision to the existing
WMATA compact or an entirely new compact
agreed to by the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Virginia, the U.S.
Congress, and the State.

Further provided that the approval of the
$750,000 does not constitute endorsement of
this proposed Metrorail extension, nor does it
constitute authorization to develop any future
phases of this project. The Department of
Transportation shall provide a report to the
budget committees on October 1, 1996, which
documents the findings of this study. Further
provided that up to $750.000 of this
appropriation may only be expended for the
purpose of completing a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement, including
holding the required public hearing and
reviewing public comment on the proposed
project. Provided, however that no
additional funds may be expended to
develop any future phase of this project
until:

(1) The project is incorporated as part of the

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