June 8 ICC Groundbreaking Event Cancelled

As many of you know, state and federal officials have all signed off on the construction plan for the Intercounty Connector (ICC), and in a ceremony on May 30 marking this “Record of Decision,’ Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich announced, “It’s a go.”

Well, not so fast, Governor. While Ehrlich spent time planting a tree to send the message the ICC would be good for the environment, our technical staff and legal team have been building the real record. After a careful examination of the federal decision, the team will determine our next actions.

In the meantime, our grassroots activities of writing letters to editors and ‘flyering’ at Metro and in targeted neighborhoods are having clear results – particularly our message on priorities. Our poll showed that three major points soften support for the ICC: first, $7 a day toll road; second, the ICC offers no relief on major roads like the Beltway or I-270; and third, with its growing price tag, the ICC drains money away from real solutions, such as Metro expansion and road improvements

Even County Executive Doug Duncan has had to change how he talks about the ICC. On May 31, The Examiner ran this telling quote:

“They (the Ehrlich Administration) have gutted the state dedicated transportation fund, cut transit and left future generations of Maryland to deal with the consequences,” said Duncan, who did not attend Tuesday’s event. “We must not be lulled into the belief that one road alone will solve our transportation challenges.”

Come if you can!

Saturday Outreach (June 3):
It is evident that the May 30 ICC ceremony usurps any protest scheduled for June 8. With no rally to recruit for, the plan for Saturday is to revert to petition gathering. We’ll meet at White Oak Library from 12:45 - 3. Now is the time to be louder than ever that the ICC is not a done deal!