Politics & Government

$2.3 Million for Downtown Ellicott City: Capital Budget Proposal Highlights

Also, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman proposed $1.2 million for improvements at the Patapsco Female Institute.

Funding for projects from a new school to a bicycle master plan were part of the proposed capital budget that County Executive Ken Ulman released Tuesday.

"This plan contains $2.3 million for continued upgrades in downtown Ellicott City, including funding for a pedestrian connection between the Circuit Courthouse and Lot E and improvements to Lot F," Ulman said in prepared remarks. "This will bring our commitment to the downtown area to $6.3 million over two years.

"I am pleased to announce that the budget also contains $1.1 million to begin planning improvements to the site of the former Patapsco Female Institute, which is used for theater performances," Ulman continued. "Together these improvements will make Ellicott City an even more desirable place to live, work, shop and play. We have also included funding this year to complete design of an expansion of the Howard County Circuit Courthouse..."

What do you want funded in Ellicott City? Tell us in the comments! 

Ulman said the budget outlines a $259,939,000 capital spending program for the fiscal year from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, aimed at increasing the quality of life in Howard County through investments in education, public safety, the environment and recreation. Below are some highlights.

Howard County Public School System: $77.338 million
Some of the Howard County Board of Education's capital projects are listed.

  • Deep Run Elementary renovations/expansion: $13.754 million
  • Atholton High School renovation: $9.486 million
  • Wilde Lake Middle School building, to be Maryland's first net-zero energy school, generating as much energy as it uses: $7.7 million
  • Thomas Viaduct Middle School completion, to open in Elkridge in August 2014: $1.5 million
  • Systemic renovations: $13.8 million
  • Technology: $5 million
Howard County Public Library: $6.805 million
  • Renovation/expansion at Central and East Columbia branches: $550,000
  • New Elkridge branch: $6.255 million for design and construction start
Howard Community College: $4.445 million
  • Nursing school renovation completion: $1.5 million
General County Projects: $72.167 million
  • Broadband installation: $30 million
  • Alpha Ridge improvements: $4.4 million
  • Cybersecurity for county technology infrastructure: $3.5 million
  • Courthouse renovation: $3 million
  • Emergency power generation: $3 million
  • Ellicott City's downtown enhancements: $1.2 million
  • US Route 1 revitalization: $1 million
  • US Route 40 enhancements: $200,000
Police: $100,000 
  • Study for third police station planning: $100,000
Fire: $4.625 million
  • Route 1/Port Capital Drive fire station: $2.925 million
  • New Elkridge station completion: $505,000
Recreation and Parks: $22.297 million
  • Site improvements at Patapsco Female Institute: $1.1 million
  • New parks/field by East Columbia branch: $3.5 million
  • Troy Park: $8.9 million
  • Blandair Regional Park: $3 million
  • County pathway and trail rehab and expansion: $400,000
Transportation: $44.319 million
  • Road resurfacing: $14.5 million
  • Road construction: $7.648
  • Sidewalk/curb projects: $2.161 million
  • Intersection improvement program: $1.23 million
  • Bicycle master plan: $900,000
  • Bridge improvements: $700,000
  • Downtown Columbia Patuxent Branch Trail extension: $500,000
Water and Sewer: $27.843 million
  • Storm drainage projects: $16.575 million
  • Fort Meade water supply facility: $5 million
  • Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant repairs: $4.22 million
  • Water tank recoating: $3.605 million
  • Reimbursement for developers that construct major facilities: $3 million
Editor's note: Only some of the projects are listed above. See the entire capital budget proposal here.

Next, the County Council will review the budget and hold two public hearings so the public can weigh in on the proposal.

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