BREAKING: Gov. Larry Hogan orders state transportation secretary to rebid a contract to oversee the largest public-private highway project in the country, ultimately a $7.6 billion widening of I-270 and I-495.

The order comes after Hogan withdrew the contract from Wednesday's Board of Public Works agenda after questions arose about the speed of the procurement and Transportation Secretary Pete K Rahn's involvement with the bidding and the winning consortium led by HNTB, which previously employed Rahn.

Details soon on The Daily Record.

Maryland Democrats have called on Republican Gov. Larry Hogan to release any communications between his administration and one of the companies included in a $68.5 million consultant contract related to

So let's get this straight:

✔️ Larry Hogan announces new highway toll lane plan.
✔️ Larry Hogan and his allies start receiving tens of thousands in donations from HNTB Corporation, Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn's former employer.
✔️ Larry Hogan's Transportation Secretary Rahn has dinner with HNTB and gives them advice on the contract.
✔️ Larry Hogan's Transportation Department recommends HNTB to receive $70 million contract to serve as "shadow government" for Hogan's highway toll lane plan.

There is a cloud of scandal around this deal, and Larry Hogan owes it to Marylanders to come clean immediately.

There have been news stories over the past few days about a Maryland Department of Transportation procurement related to the large-scale Public Private Partnership (P3) involved I-495 and I-270 (the Governor's proposed lane expansion). The item was withdrawn from consideration before the Board of Public Works could consider it yesterday. Bu you can still read it here: https://tinyurl.com/ybrr7nfl

I have a lot of concerns about the practicality, impact, and cost of the whole project, but this item raises a few particular questions/issues:

1. Despite my earlier understanding, the waiver procedure the Maryland Department of Transportation is attempting to use was part of a broad reform of our state procurement laws last year and not the underlying P3 law passed the previous term. This waiver provision needs to be amended so that the Board of Public Works must approve any waiver (not just the underlying contract) and there is legislative notification.

2. The contract at issue is for the HNTB/JMT/Parsons team to "provide fully integrated support, guidance and oversight" to the state on the P3. Would these companies or the other team members be eligible for the actual work if design/engineering/construction/operation/maintenance were to go forward? It would be very concerning if that were the case and needs to be discussed.

3. Does the state anticipate that this contract would ultimately be paid for by toll revenues? We have been told there will be no cost to taxpayers for this project in its entirety, but the fund source listed on the item for $68.5 million is the Transportation Trust Fund (which we all pay into).

4. The Amazon reference in the Item is specious (at best). Other than one comment about a blank check by Secretary Rahn, all discussion of the infrastructure investment around Amazon (if they come) has been in the low single billions. This project would take up all of that and more.

I hope the withdrawal of this contract gives the Administration to more carefully consider this project in total, particularly what is warranted and feasible. There is an open house at BCC High School on the project this evening.