“I was disappointed in the coverage of the Lancaster County Transportation Coordinating Committee meeting published in the April 28 New Era.  A couple of dozen members of TRRAAC took time from work and other activities to come downtown for a 12:30 pm meeting.  We wanted the committee to delay voting to give $4 Million in our federal tax money to F&M until a real public hearing and opportunity for public comment would occur.  The newspaper originally erroneously reported that the committee had approved the $4 Million request two weeks ago.

“I am not usually active in local politics or issues, but I could not believe what I witnessed yesterday (Monday).  It was a farce beyond words.  Mayor Gray actually fed F&M official Keith Orris softball questions, such as:  Aren’t there going to be nursing schools and other businesses located on the vacated property that will help Lancaster’s economy?

“He actually had the audacity to tell us that Lancaster City’s been dealing with the train yard for a long time, and that it’s ok to put it in another area with FAR LESS POPULATION than Lancaster City.

“I am no expert, but I have been reading for two years how this project will eliminate 55,000 tractor trailer trips annually from area roadways.  But, the committee’s own staff consultant only came up with 7000 truck trips.  Something about different methodologies.  All I know is our lawyer raised some excellent issues, none of which were refuted by Mr. Orris.  The committee staff hemmed and hawed about modeling and population growth.  It was clear they did not consider the increase in traffic that will result when the former rail yard is redeveloped to include up to a thousand nursing students, retail, office, parking garages, etc.  Mayor Gray responded that nursing students will walk and not drive. Yes, that’s what he said!

“My favorite was Mayor Gray telling us that the existing yard is the same as the proposed yard.  When I called out that the existing yard has only two tracks and the proposed yard has FIFTEEN, I was told to be quiet.  Yes, I was out of protocol, but wasn’t the only one commenting from the peanut gallery.

“I was about 15 seconds away from asking him to recuse himself for his obvious bias.”

Bottom line: they voted ‘yay’ to allow the partners to continue applying for the CMAQ funding? SHOCKING? …  Not.

I am becoming far more cynical about politics and politicians after today’s show.  Not a single member of the committee voted ‘no’ or to delay the vote to enable real public scrutiny of the project.  Commissioner Martin let us down and we will remember that in the future.