State Highway Access Permit Stakeholder Review Group Formed

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

In Maryland, new construction projects that access state roads are subject to a lengthy permit process that, over the past several years, has become increasingly difficult to manage and impossible to predict.  Economic development has been delayed and in a market where projects are few and far between, any delay in moving these projects forward could mean the difference between working and collecting unemployment.

Fostering Economic Development in Maryland

With the help of Harford County Delegate, Mary Dulaney James, a dialogue with the State Highway Administrator, Neil J. Pederson initiated a move to bring industry leaders together to make recommendations on improving the process to foster economic development.  Representatives from across the state, from both the private and public sectors, are members of the SHA Access Permit Stakeholder Review Group that will be chaired by the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Christian Johansson.

Ideas to Improve Efficiency

Ideas will be developed to improve the efficiency, clarity, and consistency of the access permit process while maintaining the goal of ensuring public safely and operational integrity.  Streamlining the necessary submission and coordination efforts will be a focus along with the use of technology to allow applicants the ability to obtain real-time updates on the process.

Recommendations are to be made by September 2010 with an aim to identify opportunities for improvements that could be easily and quickly implemented possibly even prior to the final recommendations.

More information about the SHA Permit Stakeholder Review Group.

TPierce   Infrastructure
Frederick Ward, Infrastructure, Roads
No Comments »