This is the time of the year when Maryland Department of Transportation officials usually tour the state -- going from county to county describing the wonderful projects coomiing to them in tthe six-year Comprehensive Transportation Program.

This year the meetiings are taking place but the message will be virtually the same in every county, according to Transportation Department spokesman Jack Cahalan: "In terms of projects, there are none. There's nothing new because there's no money to do anything new."

Such has been the drop in revenues from decreased collection of gas tax, titliing  and registration fees Don't look for any proposals to raise new revenue anytime soon: Next year is an election year.