Delegate Al Carr's newsletter - November 2017
Dear Friend,

Did you know more than 900 pieces of legislation were passed in Maryland in 2017? Over 400 those new laws went into effect in October.

Of course, there's much work to be done in the coming months (and years) to continue advancing the lives of everyday members of our community.

As my staff and I plan for the 2018 legislative session that begins on January 10, I hope you'll join us in sharing the pride of our 2017 accomplishments. I know I'm feeling a particularly renewed sense of energy and commitment to advancing progressive, common sense laws for Marylanders following the recent elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Let's keep the positive momemtum going!

I look forward to hearing from you in the coming months about the issues that matter most to you, so we can work toward moving them forward .

Sincerely,
Al
Delegate Al Carr
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
The following are some of the over new 400 laws that took effect in October 2017:

  • A ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Maryland
  • Maryland's landmark law to address the problem of prescription drug price gouging
  • My bill protecting kids by closing a loophole in the law about driving past a stopped school bus
  • A new law requiring periodic testing for the presence of lead in drinking water in school buildings
  • A bill protecting victims of sexual assault so that evidence of physical resistance is no longer required to prove a sexual crime occurred
  • A bill addressing the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture
  • An overhaul of the state's procurement laws for cost savings, greater efficiency and more opportunities for local businesses
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
Transportation issues like those below are a mainstay of my work as a 10-year member of the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

Maryland DOT "Road Show"
On November 2, I attended the Maryland Dept. of Transportation's "Road Show" presentation. Covering six years, the plan addresses every type of transportation, including roads, rails, airports, EZ pass, shipping, MVA, and more. You can view a recording of the meeting here.


Beltway Widening
Governor Larry Hogan recently announced his proposal for a private company to add four toll lanes to the beltway and to similarly widen and privatize I270 and the Baltimore Washington Parkway. The Montgomery County Council has requested a briefing by Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn which is scheduled for November 16.


Metro
  • Metro's Red Line will be closed between Fort Totten and Silver Spring from Nov. 25 to Dec 10 for track work. More information.
  • At the request of Virginia Governor McAuliffe, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued his report on WMATA governance and funding. As house chair of the Joint Committee on Federal Relations, I will preside over a briefing in Annapolis on December 5 to discuss Metro governance and funding.


Purple Line

MARC Train Service
I recently wrote to Kevin Quinn, Director of the Maryland Transit Administration, requesting the addition of a later train to help working parents. Here is his response.


Bus Service on Connecticut Avenue
The L8 bus line on Connecticut Avenue is currently run on weekdays by WMATA and on weekends by Ride On. I wrote to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) requesting a more consistent service arrangement for the L8 bus line on Connecticut Ave. Here is the response.


Roadwork near you
  • Jones Bridge Road widening near Connecticut Avenue - this BRAC-related project is scheduled for construction in 2018. The status is that the project cost has increased by over $4M because of required stormwater management work.
  • Veirs Mill Rd - ongoing resurfacing
  • Knowles Avenue at Beach Drive - wiring work to activate the new signal
  • Cedar Lane and Summit Avenue - WSSC has completed replacing water mains. Repaving was planned for completion by Thanksgiving but is weather dependent. Montgomery County DOT (MCDOT) has agreed to replace the side islands on Cedar Lane with center islands. MCDOT is also studying the traffic patterns on Summit Ave between Cedar and Knowles.

Photo below: Del. Carr testifies at the Nov 2nd "Road Show" meeting
Photo of Del. Al Carr testifying at the 2017 road show
SCHOOL NOTES
  • In October, I met with a group of leaders from the new Silver Creek Middle School to address concerns about student safety in walking to and from school. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation continues to investigate ways to improve pedestrian safety near the school. The Maryland State Highway Administration has agreed to study traffic and pedestrian safety issues along Connecticut Avenue between Washington Street and Saul Road.

  • In October MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith released the new Capital Improvements Plan, which contains current and projected enrollment data, long-range boundary and facility plans, demographics, and more. School PTA organizations and other groups testified before the Board of Education in early November. The Board will continue to deliberate on the CIP through December. Many school facility projects that affect District 18 residents will be on my radar screen.

  • On November 14th the Montgomery County Board of Education adopted a new calendar for the 2018-2019 school year. The new calendar has a shortened spring break compared with prior years. Governor Hogan's controversial 2016 executive order on the school calendar reduced the options available to the Board.
INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS
  • WSSC has continued their efforts and outreach to revise the rate structure for water and sewer rates in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. The Maryland Public Service Commission had ruled in 2016 that the current rate structure is discriminatory. WSSC recently approved a recommendation that three options be considered going forward. The options will be presented to the two County Councils for a final decision. More information in this Washington Post article and WSSC rate structure web page.

  • The Public Service Commission issued their decision in a case granting Pepco a portion of their requested rate increase by Public Service Commission. The PSC also addressed an issue by which Pepco's tariff unfairly discouraged Montgomery County and other local governments from upgrading county-owned street lights to energy efficient LED technology.

  • The MD PSC continues to consider the proposed merger of Washington Gas with Alta Gas. The Montgomery County Council sent a letter in opposition to the merger.
IMPORTANT DATES
  • Monday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 6 -The Montgomery County Delegation's public bill hearings will take place at 7pm in the 3rd Floor Hearing Room, Stella Werner Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. The meetings will be carried live over County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 on Comcast and Channel 30 on Verizon) and can also be live streamed on County Cable Montgomery's website. Individuals and organizations are invited to testify. More info at www.montgomerycountydelegation.com.
  • December 31 - Deadline to appeal your Property Tax Assessments if your property was last assessed in 2015 or 2016 (red and yellow areas on this map).
  • January 10, 2018 - First day of new Maryland legislative session in Annapolis.
  • January 1 - April 30 - Applications accepted for 2018 Delegate Al Carr Scholarships to be awarded in July 2018. To be eligible, a FAFSA must be submitted by March 1, 2018. In 2017, I was proud to award 76 scholarships to District 18 residents pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at Maryland institutions of higher learning.
  • April 10 - Final day of 2018 legislative session
  • June 14-21 - Primary early voting for the 2018 Gubernatorial Election
  • Tuesday, June 26 - Primary Election Day. We will be nominating candidates for Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, U.S. Senate, Congress, Maryland Senate, House of Delegates, County Council and School Board. Get out and vote!
KEEP IN TOUCH

For help regarding state legislation, constituent services or legislative scholarships, contact me through my Annapolis office at 301-858-3638, alfred.carr@house.state.md.us or via the mail to :
Delegate Al Carr
House Office Building, Room 222
6 Bladen Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

To contact me regarding my campaign for re-election, please e-mail me at alfred.carr@gmail.com,  call 240 292-4598, or mail to:
Friends of Alfred Carr
3904 Washington Street
Kensington, MD 20895
Have you heard the news? I recently filed for re-election to the Maryland House of Delegates. I'll be on the ballot in the Democratic primary election in June 2018. Will you support my re-election campaign?