Megan Miller Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — Washington County’s loss could be Garrett’s gain, at least this year.
That’s because the Washington County Commission voted Tuesday to forfeit $400,000 in TEA-21 funding, a federal program based in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century that supports road development projects.
Washington County passed on the money because its project will not be ready to get off the ground in time to use the funds before they expire, at the end of the federal fiscal year, Sept. 30. And there’s a good chance that the $400,000 could be awarded instead to Garrett County, which has several projects already in the works.
Those include the Cherry Glade access road in Oakland to connect Third and Fourth streets on the parcel that formerly held a Garrett County Roads Department facility, as well as the second phase of development of the McHenry business park, according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.
The Tri-County Council for Western Maryland administers TEA-21 funds for Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties. Assistant Director Guy Winterberg said Thursday that he was still awaiting official notification of the decision from Washington County.
Ultimately, he said, the Appalachian Regional Commission will have to approve any change in the funding distribution, since the ARC is responsible for allocating the funds. The state program manager will recommend that the funds be applied to a different project, and that county will be invited to apply for the funds.
“This late in the game, it will probably be a project that’s under way or will be under way very shortly,” Winterberg said.
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