10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2024 09:58
Officials Outline Six-Year Draft Budget and provide Key Project Updates
HANOVER, MD (October 07, 2024) - Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld met today with officials in Anne Arundel County to discuss the Department's Draft Consolidated Transportation Program for Fiscal Years 2025 to 2030. The $18.9 billion, six-year spending plan invests in projects and programs that help advance Maryland's goals to be a safer, more affordable, more competitive and more sustainable State that leaves no one behind.
"We are making strategic investments to further enhance the safety of our system and maintain operations," said Secretary Wiedefeld. "This draft budget is balanced but we had to make tough decisions and reductions to live within our means. We will continue to follow the data and make investments that support Maryland families in a fiscally responsible manner."
At Monday's meeting, transportation officials offered details and updates on several projects and programs affecting Anne Arundel County. In addition to Secretary Wiedefeld, officials attending included State Highway Administrator William Pines; Motor Vehicle Administration Deputy Administrator Leslie Dews; Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner; Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold; Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Jonathan Daniels; and Maryland Aviation Administration Executive Director Ricky Smith.
State Highway Administrator Pines highlighted the agency's commitment to move forward with multimodal projects that improve safety, accessibility and mobility in Anne Arundel County. He also noted that State Highway has worked in the past year to streamline its process to grant highway access permits, which supports commercial, industrial and residential development.
Administrator Pines noted that MD 2, from Mountain Road to Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, was selected for a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP) project. State Highway hosted a public workshop last month to get feedback from the community on safety improvements to make MD 2 safer and more accessible for all users. He also announced MD 3 (Business), from Interstate 97 to MD 100, has been selected for a PSAP project as well. Discussions on that area will begin in the coming months.
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 2025-2030 CTP to the Legislature in January for consideration during the 2025 General Assembly session.