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

HANOVER, MD (October 6, 2025) - Maryland Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle met today with officials from Baltimore County 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."

At Monday's meeting, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Baltimore County. 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.

Acting Secretary Biddle highlighted investments to get transit in the Baltimore region back on track, the construction of the new traffic control tower at Martin State Airport, efforts to address congestion along Interstate 695 and the progress in the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold highlighted a $1.4 billion project to replace the current light rail fleet with modern vehicles and upgrade stations, systems and maintenance facilities - the first significant investment in the light rail system in 30 years. She also noted that the new Metro Subway cars are undergoing final system integration testing, and the agency expects to have the first car in revenue service by the end of the year. The draft CTP also dedicates resources for the design of enhancement projects along the MTA MARC system, including the Penn-Camden Connector.

State Highway Administrator Will Pines said the agency's commitment to move forward with multimodal projects that improve safety, accessibility and mobility statewide for all users - motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and highway workers.

Administrator Pines noted the recent completion of a $42.3 million rehabilitation of 10 bridges at the I-95/I-695 interchange in the southwestern area of the county. State Highway is also advancing design on the new interchange at I-795 and Dolfield Boulevard and is starting work on a Frederick Road project to resurface, add bike lanes and upgrade sidewalks and signage from the Beltway to the city line in Paradise.

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.