BRAC and slots were among issues specifically related to the city of Laurel that Gov. Martin O'Malley discussed in an interview with The Laurel Leader following his town hall meeting with residents.

O'Malley said that, although he had hoped to be further along in preparations for the influx of jobs to Fort Meade from the Base Realignment and Closure commission's recommendations, he remains confident that Laurel residents will not be overrun.

"I don't believe there will be a crush in the area that will overwhelm the infrastructure," he said.

O'Malley said he was disappointed not to have more roads upgraded or widened to prepare for the expected incoming jobs that will arrive at Fort Meade, but understood why it happened.

"The transportation dollars simply weren't there because of the financial situation this entire country sits in," he said. "We got a lot of help from President (Barack) Obama's (stimulus) plan, but it couldn't cover all the cuts we made."

The governor added that he expected to improve the roads in the area as soon as more highway funds become available, but was simply thankful for job creation in the state.

Early projections show that Fort Meade could get up to 5,700 direct new government jobs next year under BRAC, in addition to spinoff private sector positions.

"Do I think all the roads are ready? No. Would I have liked more roads to be upgraded? Yes," he said. "But it's a huge blessing to have jobs created in this climate. The influx of that much employment far outweighs the temporary inconvenience caused by the additional traffic."

O'Malley said he expects some help to arrive in the next two years with the opening of the Intercounty Connector, which he said is "on time."

"It is being constructed and it is long overdue," he said. "It will go a long way toward helping to alleviate the congestion in our area."

He added, however, that he believes it is important to "balance it out" with mass transit alternatives in order to take more cars off the road.

Toward that end, he said the proposed route alignment for the long-rumored Purple Line would be announced this week and that he hoped to extend Metro service closer to Laurel.

O'Malley also spoke on the issue of slots, saying he was discouraged that the debate over where slots would be located in Anne Arundel County had not yet been settled, but acknowledged that the money would not be a cure-all for state budget woes as initially hoped.

"It would be more frustrating if the pressures of this recession were not so much bigger than the benefits we're going to get from slots," he said. "We still need the money and it will bring in a lot of revenue, but as with so many other things, this economy has put that into a much different perspective than originally pictured."

O'Malley said that he would prefer if slots were placed at Laurel Park race track rather than Arundel Mills, but simply hoped Anne Arundel County legislators would move ahead so as to catch up with other proposed slots locations in the state.

"As a citizen, I believe every slot machine should be at a race track. That's how I proposed it," he said. "But the General Assembly didn't see it that way, so now all we can do is wait to see where they end up."

Following the town hall meeting, O'Malley joined with Vice President Joe Biden on July 28 to announce federal funding from the stimulus act for eight Maryland police departments. Among those receiving money, which will be used to hire new officers, were Laurel Police Department and Prince George's County Police Department. Laurel will receive $726,000 for three new positions, while the county will receive $10.6 million for 50 positions.

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