The Committee on Public Works and the Environment voted 3-2 today to cut local funding to re-open Klingle Rd.

I will hold a public roundtable on May 8 to allow public comment. The roundtable will be held at 6:30pm at the historic John A. Wilson Building.

I am disappointed by the Committee’s action today. The decision to remove funding and not open Klingle Rd. should only be made after maximum opportunity for public comment.

The Council voted to re-open the road in 2003 with the use of federal funding. For the past two or three years the Federal government has obstructed the project through a series of delays.

To move the project forward, Mayor Fenty proposed to use two million dollars of local money in this year’s budget to start the project. The city would then use the Federal money for other projects across the city.

The Committee voted against the Mayor’s plan today and passed a recommendation to not open Klingle Rd. at all.

I disagree with the Committee for making this substantial change without public notice. The public must be allowed to weigh in on these important decisions.