The board is recognized by the federal government as the chief planning body for transportation in the Baltimore metropolitan region. Its members include the mayors of Baltimore and Annapolis; the Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford and Howard county executives; the Carroll County commissioners and state transportation officials.
The board decided to use the money for mass transit projects after citizen groups and transit advocates complained that the group's long-term plans were too heavily weighted in favor of roads.
The additional funds, from Gov. Martin O'Malley's package of revenue increases, had not previously been factored into the regional board's long-range plans.
Shropshire said last week that he has looked at successful streetcar projects in Denver, Colo., and Portland, Ore., and wanted to emulate them in Annapolis. He said he has discussed the plan with Annapolis Mayor Ellen O. Moyer and the city transportation department director.
Both were on vacation yesterday and could not be reached for comment.
Shropshire said transportation experts say it would cost about $15 million a mile to create the system. He said he expects the city will seek federal and state funding for the project, which he plans to push during this year's city council session.
"Wouldn't it be great if Annapolis was a place people could live and work without a car?" Shropshire asked. "To be able to live without a car, a $1,000-a-month increase. No insurance. No gas. No maintenance. It's an incredible gift to the people of Annapolis - a streetcar system."
Last year, Shropshire persuaded the City Council to adopt a resolution asking the General Assembly to study the feasibility of expanding rail service in the Baltimore-Annapolis-Washington corridor.
Christopher Field, president of the Transit Riders Action Council, said the group has recommended to the board that half the money be used for MARC enhancements and the other half for bus system enhancements.
Declining to take a stance on a streetcar system in Annapolis, Field said: "The money available is nowhere enough for all the projects that are worthy."
