As roughly half a foot of snow accumulated in parts of Frederick County, hundreds of people called 911 Wednesday, leading dispatchers to disperse a flurry of first responders to crashes and other snow-related incidents.
But while first responders may have had a tough day, some Fredericktonians found fun in the first snow of the season.
Local resident Doug Cooke, for instance, was spotted skiing on snow-covered streets downtown.
Cooke, who was venturing south on Carroll Street near the post office, said it was good conditions for skiing Wednesday because dry snow is better than wet snow. He hoped to get in at least four hours of skiing.
State board approves $250M Purple Line settlement
Initial claims from project contractors totaled $800M
December 16, 2020 | 9:31 pm
December 18, 2020
Maryland is moving on from the legal feud and litigation over cost overruns and delays with the Purple Line light rail project with a settlement of $250 million.
The payment is part of the litigation settlement with the project’s contractors and will allow the state to pursue a new design-build contractor to continue the public-private partnership (P3).
Gov. Larry Hogan said the payment was worthwhile to keep the project moving, considering the contractor’s insistence on being paid $800 million to cover cost overruns.
UpdatedThu, Dec 17, 2020 at 7:22 pm ET
Replies(33) If you don t have to travel, please don t, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Greg Slater said at a news conference Thursday with Gov. Larry Hogan as a new travel restriction takes effect. (Shutterstock)
MARYLAND To help prevent an increase in the spread of the coronavirus over the winter holidays, Gov. Larry Hogan announced several executive orders including reducing the size of public gatherings. He said his theme was home for the holidays, encouraging Marylanders to stay at home rather than gathering with those outside their households. This holiday season could present our toughest challenge yet, Hogan said at a news conference Thursday evening, noting the Thanksgiving holiday did not present as great a surge as was feared.
‘A Great Day for the State’: Board of Public Works Approves Purple Line Settlement
The three-member Maryland Board of Public Works unanimously approved a settlement that ends all financial claims and litigation concerning the proposed Purple Line. Under the agreement, the state will pay $250 million, of which $100 million is due by the end of this month.
“We are going to see the Purple Line, a little late, but still working to unite the suburbs,” said board member and Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp at the board’s Dec. 16 meeting,
The Maryland Department of Transportation, Meridiam, Star America and Fluor, which had been partners on the project, reached an agreement that allows the Purple Line Transit Partners P3 Agreement to proceed, but only with Meridiam and Star America as P3 developers and equity partners.