My name is Dan Wallace, I live at 313 Burnt Mills Avenue, Silver Spring, and I represent the 4,000 members of the Montgomery Intercounty Connector Coalition, which has opposed an ICC since 1989.

Allow me to begin by voicing our hearty support for the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, and other progressive transportation initiatives that will help to move residents throughout the county while also serving the environment. We also support upgrading existing roads as a supremely cost-effective means of improving transportation. I'd also like to steal a page from former County Executive Neal Potter's book of good ideas, too, the institution of dedicated lanes for Metro and Ride-On buses to Metro stations during morning and afternoon rush hours on local roads such as Connecticut and Georgia Avenues, and Colesville and Randolph Roads. True, losing a lane would drive some drivers crazy, but they also might get the message and ride buses and trains to work. This measure should be enacted along with a great increase of access and routes for Ride-On buses, in conjunction with an expansion of Metrorail itself.

These are just a few ideas among many other good ones that you could adopt, adapt, and push forward to ease our county's transportation difficulties. But, there is one big spoiler that might thwart your efforts, the Intercounty Connector. It's clear now, through the State Highway Administration's own study, that an ICC won't affect traffic on I-270, 495, or I-95, and will add 3,000- 4,000 thousand cars each to Connecticut and Georgia Avenues, and Colesville Road. And, the public has grown aware of the lack of value in this hefty toll road, which SHA admits would be more like the New Jersey Turnpike than a parkway; in the most recent poll, 59% said that they would prefer other solutions to an ICC.

But, here's the real rub: not only would an ICC be ineffective, it also will soak up all money in Maryland for any other promising transportation projects. In the financial plan for the ICC, $265 million would come from the general fund, while another $180 million would come from the transportation fund. (This calls into question the recent assertion by Maryland's new Transportation Director John Porcari's that the general fund allotment is to pay back the transportation fund.) Also, another $1.23 billion would come from bonds and toll revenue seven existing toll facilities, such as the Bay Bridge, on top of the $7.00 toll that an ICC itself would require for vehicles. That's why SHA insists upon allowing semi-tractor trailers, to pay tolls. The final nail is the GARVEE bond, which borrows $750 million against anticipated federal transportation funds, which are hardly assured. Maryland could end up paying the principle plus $600 million in interest for an ICC. And, council members, these are 2004 numbers that have never been adjusted to include the 20% increase in construction costs since then.

These are state monies that will not into the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, or any other worthwhile transportation project. but into an ICC, a six-lane toll road that won't work. So, I urge you, council members, to send a message to Annapolis that we don't want an ICC, we want the money instead, to go to real transportation solutions.