“Marylanders spend a lot of time and resources getting to their jobs and their schools.  They ought to get their money’s worth.  ” Ehrlich said.  “We need our transit system and our roads to be safe, reliable, and efficient for transit riders, drivers and cyclists.  I am honored that Craig has agreed to chair this coalition.  Like thousands of Marylanders, Craig relies on our transportation system during a very difficult economy, yet has experienced far too many disappointments.  This coalition will help raise awareness about the need for real progress in Maryland and offer me a vital source of citizen input on how to fix a broken transportation system.  I am grateful for their support.”  

An obvious question is how would Ehrlich manage the relations with CSX and Amtrak any better than O'Malley has done -- or than Ehrlich did during his first go-round as governor. On the other hand, while O'Malley has shown a willingness to invest money in MARC, he's yet to show a convincing payoff in terms of trouble-free operations.

It's good to see transportation issues getting an airing in the campaign, but the basic question commuters should have for each candidate is: Where do we get the money to replenish the depleted Transportation Trust Fund?

It's hard to envision a real solution to the woes of MARC or any other transportation mode without substantial capital investments.