MDOT - Maryland Department of Transportation

09/15/2025 | Press release | Archived content

Maryland Department of Transportation Visits Baltimore City as Part of Statewide Transportation Tour

Officials Outline Six-Year Draft Capital Budget and Provide Local Project Updates

HANOVER, MD (September 15, 2025) - Maryland Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle met today with officials from Baltimore City to discuss the Department's Draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) for Fiscal Years 2026 to 2031. The spending plan calls for a $21.5 billion, six-year investment in projects and programs aimed at enhancing safety, maintaining the state's transportation system to keep it in working order and driving economic growth.

"Listening and engaging with local elected leaders and Marylanders is critical in successfully delivering the State's capital program," said Acting Secretary Biddle. "The feedback we receive helps us to better serve the State and deliver a program that aligns with our shared goals to uplift communities and enhance connections to opportunities."


Safety is the Maryland Department of Transportation's top priority. The Department's Serious About Safety initiative is reflected in the Draft CTP, with projects that prioritize the safety of all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Serious About Safety builds on the Department's progress and accelerates work toward the State's goal to save lives and bend the curve on the number of fatalities and serious injuries on Maryland roads. To view the full Draft FY 2026-2031 Consolidated Transportation Program, go to ctp.maryland.gov .

At Monday's meeting, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Baltimore City. In addition to Acting Secretary Biddle, several other transportation officials attended the meeting and provided updates including officials with the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration and Maryland Transportation Authority.

The Draft CTP supports critical transportation and infrastructure projects in the Baltimore region. It includes funding for the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and critical rehabilitation work at Berth 11 at Dundalk Marine Terminal, the initial phase to enhance port operations and support economic growth. In addition, it advances the construction of the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel, which will improve travel for MARC and Amtrak passengers, a new, ADA-accessible West Baltimore Station, and continued planning and design of the future Baltimore Red Line.

Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said this year's Draft CTP enables needed investments to preserve and strengthen the Baltimore region transit system. This includes funding for final system testing of the new Metro Subway cars with the goal to have the first car in revenue service by the end of the year.

Administrator Arnold also noted resources for the design of enhancement projects along the MARC system, including the Penn-Camden Connector and Silver Spring Turnback - to improve system reliability and flexibility and position MARC for future expansion opportunities.


Among other important local investments in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program:
  • Nearly $1.4 billion to modernize the 32-year-old Light Rail System with new vehicles, upgraded stations, systems, and maintenance facilities.
  • An investment of nearly $5.3 million to support Baltimore City's local transit operations including the Charm City Circulator.
  • Nearly $1.3 million in state funds and $1.5 million in federal funds to support transit-oriented development in Baltimore, including projects at Reisterstown, Rogers Avenue, West Baltimore and Metro Subway sites across the city.
  • A $135,000 grant for the Pier 7 Heliport in Baltimore City through the Maryland Aviation Administration's Statewide Aviation Grants program to support the installation of a sophisticated Automated Weather Observing System.
  • Highway safety grants: nearly $12,000 to the Baltimore City Police Department and more than $40,000 to Bikemore.
  • Investment of $973,000 at various schools in the city as part of the Safe Routes to Schools program.
  • A $160,000 grant through the Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program to aid design of the Remington Avenue bike path between University Drive and the 28th Street cycle track.

The meeting was part of the Maryland Department of Transportation's tour of all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City to discuss the funding plan and receive input from local officials and the public. The tour continues into November. Dates and locations for upcoming sessions can be found here​ . The schedule is subject to change and will be updated as needed throughout the process.

The six-year Draft CTP outlines capital investments in each mode funded by the Transportation Trust Fund: Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, State Highway Administration and The Secretary's Office, as well as Maryland's investment in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The Maryland Transportation Authority's toll facilities are financed, constructed, operated and maintained with toll revenues paid by customers using those facilities.

Following the tour, the Maryland Department of Transportation will finalize the Draft CTP and submit the Final Fiscal Year 2026-2031 CTP to the Legislature in January for consideration during the 2026 General Assembly session.

MDOT - Maryland Department of Transportation published this content on September 15, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 24, 2025 at 18:43 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]