Montgomery Co. forms transit task force

Montgomery County is launching a transit task force to help advance rapid transit in the jurisdiction.

County Executive Isiah Leggett announced the creation of the panel Thursday.

"Our region recently made the top of a very undesirable list - among the worst in the nation for traffic congestion - and that is why we need to invest in alternative transportation on a scale that will really make a difference to our residents," Leggett said.

The task force is charged with helping the county implement transportation priorities such as the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway and a county-wide bus rapid transit system.

The task force is includes members from government and the business industry. It's being chaired by Mark Winston, a lawyer with Glazer Winston Honigman Ellick who has served on the Maryland Transportation Commission and the State Roads Commission.

Other members include: Councilmember Marc Elrich, a proponent of bus rapid transit; Roger Berliner, who chairs the Council's Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee; Marilyn Balcombe, Corridor Cities Transitway Coalition; Francoise Carrier, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; Del. Brian Feldman (D-15); state Sen. Rob Garagiola (D-15); Jonathan Genn, Percontee; David Hauck, Sierra Club; Art Holmes, Montgomery County Department of Transportation; David McDonough, Johns Hopkins University; Darrell Mobley, Maryland Department of Transportation; Henry Montes, Latin American Advisory Group; Rich Parsons, Parsons & Associates; Steve Silverman, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development; Craig Simoneau, Rockville; Tina Slater, Action Committee for Transit; Tom Street, Montgomery County Executive's Office; U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (or his designate); Francine Waters, Lerner Enterprises; and Dan Wilhelm, Montgomery County Civic Federation.