Around Maryland

When Maryland officials lifted statewide mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions July 1, it looked like the pandemic might be, well, maybe not over, but at least suppressed by widespread vaccination. Infection, hospitalization and death rates were down substantially across Maryland and the nation. Offices, restaurants, bars and gyms started welcoming back those who had stayed away for so long. Older adults and people with certain medical conditions got the green light from federal and state agencies to break out of isolation and hug their loved ones.

The Baltimore-DC Building Trades unions released a poll by the Democratic research and strategy firm GBAO finding widespread support (57%-36%) among Montgomery County voters along the route included in the I-270/I-495/American Legion Bridge traffic relief proposal supported by Governor Larry Hogan and other elected officials. Additionally, two-thirds of voters (66%-33%) cited the project’s economic impact as a convincing reason to support the plan when read the statement: “This project alone would provide an estimated $3.7 billion boost to the Maryland economy and 7,500 new, well-paying jobs in construction and other industries – including union jobs with benefits.”

The day before a regional panel gets set to take a second look at Maryland’s $3 billion plan to deal with traffic from the American Legion Bridge up to Gaithersburg, the state’s transportation secretary offered support for dedicated bus lanes in Montgomery County. In a letter to the Montgomery County Council, Transportation Secretary Greg Slater stated that the agency was looking to “further reaffirm our commitment to a multimodal effort” — such as the Corridor Cities Transitway or the Maryland 355 Bus Rapid Transit project — which could be “in conjunction with” Gov. Larry Hogan’s plan to widen Interstate 270 and add toll lanes up to Interstate 70 in Frederick.

Three-time swimming gold medalist Becca Meyers will not travel to Tokyo for the 2021 Paralympic Games, because the deaf-blind Timonium resident’s mother will not be allowed to accompany her as an aide due to COVID-19 restrictions. Meyers said she was disappointed and angry that U.S. Olympic officials have not found a way to accommodate her after months of requests but said she’s determined to stand up for the rights of future Paralympians.

Maryland’s health and education departments are encouraging schools to expand COVID-19 testing programs in the fall and offering to help pay — a total of $182 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The money would fund routine testing in public and private schools to catch coronavirus cases as early as possible. “We are encouraging them to sign up to participate in this program,” said Jon Weinstein, director of the Maryland COVID-19 Recovery Program.