Senate Bill 14-15-07
| Bill ID: | 14-15-07 |
| Name: | Resolution that the University System of Maryland Endorse Metro's Momentum Strategic Plan |
| Proposed: | 10/03/2014 |
| Sponsor: | Barret Wessel, Undergraduate Student |
| Proposal: | Many University of Maryland students, faculty, and staff depend on public transit, particularly the Metro system. This system serves the community well but has become increasingly crowded as population densities have increased. Consequently, Metro has developed the Momentum strategic plan to address continued population growth and utilization of the Metro system. Part of this plan is "Metro 2025", which outlines 7 improvements to make by 2025 in order to meet the growing demand for safe and efficient public transportation. These initiatives are: 1. Eight-Car Trains During Peak Periods 2. Core Station Improvements 3. Metrobus Priority Corridor Network 4. New Blue Line Connections 5. Next Generation Communications 6. Bus Fleet Expansion 7. Pocket Tracks. These and further initiatives are detailed in the plan itself (<a href="http://www.wmata.com/momentum/momentum-full.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.wmata.com/momentum/momentum-full.pdf</a>). If the University of Maryland is going to continue to thrive, then it must remain accessible. These improvements are necessary to maintain this accessibility into the future. Further, the Climate Action plan of the University of Maryland lists an increased use of public transit by commuters as one of its emission reduction strategies (Chapter 4, Strategy 1.1). Implementation of the Momentum plan will help to execute this strategy by reducing crowding and improving safety, thus making public transportation a more appealing option to commuters. The University Senate should pass a resolution to be sent to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents with the following language: "The Senate recommends that the Board of Regents publically endorse Metro's Momentum strategic plan, through both a press release and the WMATA website (<a href="http://www.wmata.com/momentum/corporate_support.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.wmata.com/momentum/corporate_support.cfm</a>). This plan is vitally important to maintaining safe and reliable access to the University of Maryland College Park, to the execution of the University's Climate Action Plan, and to continued economic growth throughout the region." Policy I-7.01, Policy on the Role of the University System of Maryland as a Public Corporation, states in section II.B.8 of its Appendix that the University of Maryland Board of Regents has the power to "Promote, partner, join or manage any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise". Public endorsement of Metro's Momentum plan falls within this authority as a promotion of an enterprise. Precedent exists for the USM to make public statements that promote other enterprises, one example being the nomination of Thomas E. Perez as U.S. Secretary of Labor (<a href="http://www.ums.edu/newsroom/news/1198" target="_blank">http://www.ums.edu/newsroom/news/1198</a>). Precedent also exists for the University Senate to pass resolutions on issues that policies and procedures do not directly apply to, as was the case of Senate Bill 09-10-23, which was passed by the Senate in 2009 and resulted in a letter being sent to President Mote expressing the Senate's desire that a wooded hillock on campus property be preserved. Aside from the release of a public statement in support of the Momentum plan, endorsement can be given through Metro website (<a href="http://www.wmata.com/momentum/corporate_support.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.wmata.com/momentum/corporate_support.cfm</a>), which maintains a list of organizations that have endorsed the plan, as well as a display of their logos (<a href="http://www.wmata.com/momentum/endorsements.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.wmata.com/momentum/endorsements.cfm</a>). |
| Active? | No |
Status
| Status: | Completed |
| Completed On: | 10/24/2014 |
History
| Status: | Complete |
| Reviewer: | Senate Executive Committee (SEC) |
| Received: | 2014-10-17 |
| Decision Date: | 2014-10-24 |
| Decision: | The SEC voted not to charge a committee with the review of this proposal and to send the proposal back to the proposer. |
| Related Files: |