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Testimony at Public Hearing on Cross County Connector Extension by Johnnie DeGiorgi, July 31, 2008

Good evening. My name is Johnnie DeGiorgi. I live in Nanjemoy and I am a candidate for Charles County Commissioner, District 2 in 2010. Tonight I am speaking as a concerned citizen of Charles County, a resident of the western region of the County and my views will be reflected in my actions if I am elected in 2010. I am very concerned about the impact of the Cross-County Connector extension into Bryans Road and the impact on the Mattawoman Creek watershed. This project does not only affect our region but will have a huge impact on the Chesapeake Bay. This road project will have a horrible environmental impact, and an impact that the powers that be apparently are not interested in evaluating.
     I am totally puzzled by the County Commissioner’s lack of concern for the environment. I find it totally unbelievable that no Environmental Impact Study will be performed. The county commissioners are ignoring the experts they have paid, the Planning Commission, and pushing through this road project.
     Let me talk about finances first. The estimated cost by County Commissioners is 50 Million dollars for this unneeded road (traffic goes to DC, Bryans Road is not an end point; Route 228-Middletown Road already serves as a cross-county connector for DC headed traffic). The Baltimore Sun estimates 70 Million dollars. We already know from recent cost overruns with Rosewick and other roads that County estimates tend to be on the low side for construction. The County has already raided funds set aside for this project to complete other projects. There is no state funding for this road. This means that each household in the county will be required to pay, based on the county’s estimates, slightly more than $1000 for this commissioner’s road. With increases in construction costs related to petroleum products (such as asphalt) I would not be surprised if this goes up to $2000 or $3000 a household based on the commissioner’s estimate of costs. If this seems extreme – think about what you would have thought of $4 a gallon gas in the summer of 2006.
     This proposal means that there will be increased traffic to Bryans Road and 210, especially in morning and afternoon commuting times. Anyone who commutes this route to DC in the morning knows already how crowded this highway is. This will just add grief to those workers. It will create more blacktop causing more flooding and runoff problems. It will add to the air pollution, increase the noise and generally make life less livable in Charles County. Many of us moved here to be in a rural environment – this road and all it brings will destroy that.
     The environmental impact of this project is huge. The lack of a complete Environmental Impact Study and the unwillingness to allow one to be performed indicates to me that the County Commissioners want the development AT ANY COST. The obvious lack of concern for the citizens, their quality of life and our environment amazes me.
     The watersheds of Charles all head towards the Chesapeake Bay. What we do here does not just ‘stay in Charles County’ but affects the entire Chesapeake Bay. We have heard constantly in the news this summer the troubles of the Bay and the watermen, as well as sportsmen, who harvest the different catches. What we do in terms of building in Charles County has a great impact on all. The Mattawoman Creek is considered to be the best, most productive tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. At the time when we need to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay the County Commissioners wish to destroy one of its major sources of renewal.
     We DO NOT need the Cross County Connector extension. The funds required would be much better spent elsewhere. We need to upgrade roads, such as BelAlton-Newtown, for safety concerns. We need additional public transportation. The metro bus line that runs between Bryans Road and DC is already saturated. We need to understand our impact on the environment so a complete Environmental Impact Study is needed and once complete needs to be released to the public. We need to protect our environment. We need to be good citizens of the State of Maryland and help protect the Chesapeake Bay. We DO NOT need the uncontrolled sprawl, the local environmental damage and the wide ranging environmental destruction that will come from this road.