One more chance on transit

New plan: Glendening should follow through on improved transportation blueprint.

THE GOVERNOR has a chance to end his tenure better than he started it on the transportation front.

The 2001 Baltimore Regional Transportation Plan gives Gov. Parris N. Glendening a useful blueprint that he can help put into action.

The plan calls for a downtown light-rail loop that would link the existing light-rail line and the Metro subway by 2010. It also envisions rail extensions to the Social Security complex and White Marsh.

Mr. Glendening has only 15 months left in office, but the governor should get things moving. According to Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Pocari, "We must begin in earnest to decide on a system of rail investments for the Baltimore region if we are to compete for federal transportation funds." He's right.

The Glendening administration named a 23-member rail transit advisory committee Monday. Its first meeting will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Maryland Transit Administration headquarters.

The committee and the governor should act quickly. The area's transit needs are apparent and have been discussed to death. Now is finally time to do something about them.