The Red Line has already produced some fractures in the Baltimore delegation.
Sen. George W. Della, whose 46th District includes Canton, said Friday that he would oppose funding of the Red Line. Sen. Verna Jones from the 44th District, who attended O'Malley's announcement, expressed support for the project. And Del. Sandy Rosenberg said he and two colleagues from the 41st District delegation, Del. Jill Carter and Sen. Lisa A. Gladden, would "not support any legislation that would jeopardize or delay funding for the Red Line."
If all else fails, opponents could challenge the MTA's plans in court on any number of grounds - from charges of civil rights violations to allegations the process was rigged.
Traditionally, the courts have been loath to interfere in the transportation funding decisions made by expert agencies. Foes of the Inter-county Connector - a toll road under construction in suburban Washington - had high hopes when they challenged the highway in federal court. But the judge who heard the case threw out the lawsuit in a ruling notable for its repeated references to the principle of judicial deference to the decisions of executive agencies.
Rosenberg, a lawyer, said the prospect of court action is "not even on my radar screen."
"The court process is a very cumbersome, inefficient way to resolve things," he said.
Kay said he is unaware of any case in which a court in Maryland has intervened to block a transit project.
