ISSUES (Click Here for Issue Overview)

ISSUE IN FOCUS: Traffic Congestion Relief Vision

Traffic congestion continues to interfere with the quality of life for the residents living in District 7.   The traffic congestion in District 7 continues to grow as the volume of traffic generates demand for space greater than the available road capacity. This traffic congestion is a recurring problem and needs to be fixed.

As chairman of the Anne Arundel County Delegation to the General Assembly, I secured funding for Reversible Lanes on Mountain Road.  As a result of that funding, 3 positive things happened for the people living and working along Mountain Road:

  People were able to regain control of their lives.

  Public safety was enhanced because the incidence of accidents was greatly reduced.

  Businesses along Mountain Road are now thriving because there is easy access in                          and out of their locations.

Reversible Lanes work.  They are working on Mountain Road and they will work in District 7 along Route 214.  A Reversible Lane is an extra lane added to a road where traffic can travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions. It will improve traffic flow during rush hours (in either direction), by having overhead traffic lights that are lighted to notify drivers which lanes are open or closed to driving or turning.

District 7 needs traffic relief and they need a voice to represent them by a person who knows how to get things done.  I have been successful over the years with funding transportation projects and will continue to do so. 

Some of the projects that I have secured transportation funding for are:

  The Traffic Circle at Rt. 2 and Rt. 408 (Bayard Rd)

  Widening of Rt. 2 south of the South River Bridge to Virginia Ave.

  A traffic signal at Edgewater Elementary School at Mayo Rd.

  Safety signage in front of South River High School and Southern High School

  Safety improvements on Rt. 424 and Rt.450 through Crofton

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A Note from Phil: Following is an overview of where I stand on several issues that will be important during the next Council term.  This is by no means all-encompassing, but is should give you an idea of what I stand for.  If there are areas where you have concerns, please feel free to contact me.  I will do my best to answer your questions and post additional content where more information is needed.  Thanks!

Do the leg-work, find what works and put it to work.
I fell like this county spends a lot of time re-inventing flat tires.  Counties and municipalities all over the country are facing the same challenges we are. School funding, traffic and public transit issues, open space preservation, building and growth, job creation – the list goes on. We need to identify best practices in other jurisdictions and put them to work for us here in Anne Arundel County. We need to make smart investments in proven solutions. This is the path to our success, and it will take good leadership to find it and follow it.

Common Sense Business Rules Apply to Government Too
As a “services business,” Anne Arundel County needs to be run like one. Every dollar spent should provide a necessary service and every decision-maker should be accountable to the stockholders – the citizens of Anne Arundel County. In the short term, I can do three things:

1. Provide responsive constituent service, clearing the bureaucratic path for individuals and small businesses who are in need of existing County services;
2. Advocate for stricter enforcement of existing laws and avoid legislating (and spending) our way out of solvable problems; and
3. Offer some useful analysis of what tax dollars are funding and what value taxpayers are getting for their investment.

Our Economy and Our Environment are NOT Competing Forces
The General Development Plan is up for review.  Traditionally, the battle lines are drawn with business and environmental concerns at the extremes.  This should not be the case. 

We have a responsibility to nurture local businesses and help them weather this economic storm, as well as grow deep and sustaining roots here. Further, we must look for opportunities to draw in compatible enterprises to engage our local workforce. In both cases, incentives can effectively be used to encourage redevelopment in areas of the county with existing infrastructure. Irreplaceable green space must be preserved and smart traffic management must be a primary focus.

Our environment, our natural resources, our Chesapeake Bay – these things are not partisan “issues.” We are privileged in our proximity to the Bay and all of its wonders, but with that privilege comes responsibility. We are all stewards of our environment. In that role, we need to explore long term, regional approaches to controlling erosion and run-off and stemming the flow of pollutants into the air and water. In the short term, we need to strictly and consistently enforce our existing zoning and conservation laws.

Tough Times and Tough Choices in Our Schools
It is our responsibility to support teachers in higher learning, pay them competitive salaries so that they may better experience life outside the classroom, and provide them with the resources they need to impart their knowledge. In addition, we need to look at ways to better engage parents, local businesses and mentors to create a learning environment that extends beyond the classroom. Most importantly, we need to create a working and learning environment that is insulated from contract and political cycles. I hope to have an open and running dialogue with parents, teachers, the school board and the administration year-round – not just at negotiation time.

It's also important that parents and community leaders have a full understanding of the new federal mandates are in the pipeline and what they mean to our teachers, kids and facilities.  It is imperative that we, as a community, remain proactive and our children's' education, not reactive to the strings attached to federal funding.

Public Safety is about People
There is a simple formula for effective public safety services in this county. We need to retain talented individuals who can lead by example. And we need to make good investments in technology and training to help them do their jobs. The men and women who put themselves in harm’s way for us deserve the resources and equipment needed to keep them safe. Many people come to Anne Arundel County because it is a good place to live, work and raise a family. Options must be explored to maintain our competitive edge against neighboring counties where talent is concerned.