|
|
An ICC would look like NJ Turnpike exit 18W pictured here
|
|
Write your state Senator & County Executive
|
With your help, we can stop the ICC and provide better transportation choices for all of Maryland. Write a letter to your state Senator and County Executive asking them to oppose the Intercounty Connector (ICC) in favor of cheaper, more effective transportation improvements around the state. Despite its $3 billion price tag, the overwhelming majority of drivers would not benefit from the Intercounty Connector – especially the crowded Interstates. By investing in the local projects we really need, we can better serve all Maryland residents. Make sure your local jurisdiction isn’t short changed by the ICC.
Your state elected officials' contact info can be found at: http://mdelect.net. Your County Elected officials can be found by calling your county elections office. For a list of contact info, click here.
Why a letter?
An original letter sent to an elected representative's
office is one of the most powerful ways to influence a
decision-maker's position on an issue.
Sample letter - This letter is A GUIDE ONLY.
Use facts from the Web site to write a letter in your
own words. Taking ten minutes to write an original letter
sends a strong message to elected officials that this
issue is important to you.
|
|
DATE
Dear Elected Official,
Many people in our area may not have heard of the proposed Intercounty Connector (ICC), but they should because it affects everyone in Maryland. The ICC is a proposed six-lane toll highway in Montgomery County – and at $3 billion, it would be the most expensive transportation project in Maryland's history. Every Maryland household has been issued a bill for more than $1,400 to pay for a toll-highway outside of Washington, DC.
If built, the ICC would drain more than $1 billion from Maryland’s future federal transportation funds. The Maryland Transportation Authority, the state’s toll collector, could borrow up to $1.9 billion on an ICC, leaving little for investment in other projects. The ICC is a black hole that threatens major transportation improvements across the state. With high gas prices already significantly reducing Maryland’s transportation revenues, and the cost of the ICC likely to go up due to higher construction costs following the hurricane, projects we need in our area would be at risk. Dumping the ICC eliminates that risk.
Finally, Governor Ehrlich isn’t just using transportation money for the ICC, he also wants to drain $265 million from the state’s General Fund over the next five years to pay for it. If Gov. Ehrlich moves forward with the proposed ICC, state budgets for education, healthcare, and other essential services would become even tighter. Luckily the ICC is far from a done deal. Many questions from the federal government threaten to derail the ICC, and public outcry against it could slow it down further. Please oppose the $3 billion ICC boondoggle. Help protect our local and state transportation needs.
Sincerely,
YOUR
SIGNATURE
YOUR
NAME
YOUR ADDRESS LINE 1
YOUR ADDRESS LINE 2
|
|
|
|
|
One of the most powerful ways to shift public
opinion and persuade our leaders to take a position is to make
your voice heard in local papers through Letters To The Editor.
|
Baltimore Papers:
Baltimore Sun
letters@baltsun.com
Annapolis Capital
capletts@capitalgazette.com
Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 911
Annapolis, MD 21404
Eastern Shore:
Star Democrat – Easton
Editorial phone: 410-770-4010
stardem@chespub.com
Daily Times – Salisbury
115 East Carroll Street
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 749-7171
Editorial page editor: slparker@smgpo.gannett.com
|
Western Maryland:
Hagerstown Herald-Mail
100 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: 301-733-5131
Newsroom fax: 301-714-0245
opinion@herald-mail.com
Cumberland Times-News
P.O. Box 1662, 19 Baltimore St.
Cumberland, MD 21501-1662
Phone: (301)722-4600
Editorial Page Editor: rkerns@times-news.com The Washington Post
Letters to the Editor
1150 15th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20071
Letters@washpost.com
|
Sample letter -
To have your letter printed be sure to give your name, address and telephone number, use your own words, and if possible connect your thoughts to a recent article from the paper you are submitting to.
|
|
Dear Editor:
Baltimore residents ought to be concerned about the sky-high cost of the Intercounty Connector (ICC). This 18-mile toll-highway in Montgomery County has a $3 billion price tag, most of which the Ehrlich administration plans on paying using the state’s tolls, most of which come from the Baltimore region. If an ICC is built, Maryland’s tolling authority would run up a $1.2 billion ICC debt, limiting what we can do with Maryland’s tolls for many years to come.
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
YOUR E-MAIL
|
|
|
|
Dear Editor:
We are all being asked to cough up $3 billion for Montgomery County’s Intercounty Connector (ICC), the nation’s third most expensive transportation project. Why? Most people won’t benefit from it, and few would use it. According to the State Highway Administration’s ICC study, three major highways in the region—the Beltway (I-495), I-270, and I-95—would not see any congestion relief if an ICC were built. In 2030, highway analysts found these roads would carry over 750,000 cars daily, compared to the ICC’s 80,000 users. It’s time to start asking our decision-makers what we’re spending all this money for.
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
YOUR E-MAIL
|
|
|
|
Dear Editor:
Many people in this area may not have heard of the proposed Intercounty Connector (ICC), but you should because it affects everyone in Maryland. The ICC is a six-lane toll highway in Montgomery County – and at $3 billion, it is the 3rd most expensive transportation project in the entire U.S. Every Maryland household has been issued a bill for $1,134 to pay for a toll-highway outside of Washington, DC.
If built, the ICC would drain more than $1 billion from Maryland’s federal transportation allotment for 12 long years. The Maryland Transportation Authority the state’s toll collector could borrow up to $1.9 billion on an ICC, leaving little for investment in other projects. The ICC is a black hole that threatens major transportation improvements across the state. And it’s already started. If you’ve been wondering why the State Highway Administration has been moving slowly on projects in your area—it’s because of the ICC.
But Governor Ehrlich isn’t just using transportation money for the ICC, he also wants to drain $265 million from the state’s General Fund over the next 5 years to pay for it. If Gov. Ehrlich moves forward with the proposed ICC state budgets for education, healthcare, and other essential services would become even tighter. Luckily the ICC is far from a done deal. Many questions from the federal government threaten to de-rail the ICC, and you can help. Let your local elected officials know that you oppose the $3 billion boondoggle ICC.
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
YOUR E-MAIL
|
|
Contact Family and Friends Throughout Maryland
The ICC’s $3 billion price tag would affect the bank accounts of all Maryland residents. The per household cost of the ICC would be over $1,400 – in addition to the projects across the state that could go unfunded. The Metro, Baltimore Rail, and other transit across the state could face serious budget shortages if we saddle Maryland with billions in debt. And we’ll all be breathing dirtier air, and facing worse pollution problems in the Chesapeake Bay if the ICC’s environmental impacts become a reality.
Spread the word, statewide, to family, friends and colleges – the ICC costs too much, and is the wrong priority for Maryland. If we can generate letters statewide, there’s a good chance to beat the ICC, and make wise investments for our transportation future.
Send them this link: “What You Can Do,” (http://www.savecommunities.org/youcando.html)
|
|
