Montgomery Executive Seeks Study Of Bus Rapid Transit

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett is asking the County Council for $1 million to research a proposed bus rapid transit system.

The request comes a week after the county executive said the project was financially unfeasible. Leggett says the system is not affordable as proposed, but the money would be used to analyze three different routes.

The (Washington) Examiner reported that the task force originally found the streetcar-like bus system would cost $1.8 billion. Other county officials have said it could cost up to $10 billion and recommended shrinking the proposed system. Leggett says he wants the task force to analyze proposed routes, ridership and a timeline for the project.

Councilwoman Nancy Floreen, meanwhile, is questioning whether any more money should be spent on studying the proposal.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)