Priority Letter Guidance 

The purpose of this site is to provide guidance to local jurisdictions on the Priority Letter process for sharing local transportation priorities. In the past, MDOT has provided little guidance on the length, format, or content of priority letters. One advantage of this system has been its flexibility. Localities have been free to submit letters that best express their situations and desires. However, it has also had disadvantages. There are a wide variety of submissions including some where it has been difficult to discern the top priorities and the relative priorities among other projects. It was in part for these reasons that the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs (TRAIN) recommended that “… MDOT should standardize local priority letters…”. With this guidance, MDOT has sought to maintain the flexibility that localities have enjoyed in the past while also ensuring that essential information is clearly identified.

Starting with this year’s priority letter (due May 16) for the FY 2026 – FY 2031 Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP), MDOT is offering two ways to submit priority letters: 

• The first is the way they have traditionally been submitted.  Localities can submit priority letters exactly as they have in the past.  Or,
• Priority letters may be submitted through an online form. The form incorporates both opportunities for narrative descriptions of local transportation goals and structured fields for listing priorities across key funding or project categories.

As always, priority letters should be endorsed by the Commissioners/Council (and/or County Executive, as appropriate), as well as a majority of the local legislative delegation, and should reflect the State transportation goals and the local goals.

Due Date
Priority letters are due each year to MDOT by May 16th

Questions
Questions about the application or the new project prioritization process can be directed to mdotplanning@mdot.state.md.us.

Resources
Priority Letter Submission Online Form One Stop
One Stop Registration Proces
Priority Letter Map.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why send a priority letter to MDOT?
These letters publicly express to MDOT local priorities for major capital projects so those needs can be included in decision making on our budget. Each year, the Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) or six year capital budget for State transportation projects, will be revised based on these letters, State needs, State goals and funding availability.

When should priority letters be submitted to MDOT?
Priority letters are due each year to MDOT by May 16th.

What is the Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP)?
The CTP is Maryland's six-year capital budget for transportation projects. The Capital Program includes major and minor projects for the Maryland Department of Transportation and its modal agencies. The CTP is the comprehensive listing of transportation investments to be made by the State of Maryland. Each year, MDOT published the State Report on Transportation (SRT). The SRT contains three important documents: the Maryland Transportation Plan (MTP), the Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) and the annual Attainment Report (AR) on Transportation System Performance.

How is the CTP Developed?
A Draft CTP is published by September 1 of each year and the final CTP is published by the third Wednesday in January as part of the Governor’s Budget to the Legislature. In order for the local jurisdictions to express their transportation capital project priorities and be considered for the Draft CTP, the priority letters are due each year to MDOT by May 16th.

How does this priority letter relate to the project prioritization process in which applications for individual projects are due earlier in the year?
The Project Prioritization Process is separate from local priority letters.

The Project Prioritization Process is open for applications from January into February and is only used to score capacity expansion projects over $5 million dollars and under $400 million dollars. Through this process applicants submit individual projects to be considered for construction funding and these projects are scored against all other individual projects submitted. The scoring is based on data and analysis only. Once projects receive a score and are published in the draft CTP, local priorities will be considered.

The priority letters are not due until May 16th and cover a much larger range of topics including requests for feasibility studies, state of good repair projects, small capacity projects and other topics.

Who should participate in the priority letter development process?
Priority letters should be coordinated amongst all local jurisdictions with planning, public works and economic staff. Priority letters should be endorsed by the Commissioners/Council (and/or County Executive as appropriate), as well as a majority of the local legislative delegation.

What types of projects should be included in priority letter requests?
The Department encourages multi-modal submissions, including transit, pedestrian, and bicycle needs, to enable local governments to have a greater impact on all State transportation investment decisions.

Where can I find the Maryland Transportation Plan?
Priority letters should detail how each project supports the goals of the Maryland Transportation Plan (MTP) and are consistent with the County’s land use plan goals. The four MTP goals are:

• Enhance Safety and Security: Protect the safety and security of all residents, workers, and visitors.
• Deliver System Quality: Deliver a reliable, high-quality, integrated transportation system.
• Serve Communities and Support the Economy: Expand transportation options to allow Maryland’s diverse communities to access opportunities and to support the movement of goods.
• Promote Environmental Stewardship: Minimize and mitigate the environmental effects of transportation.

The full MTP is available on the web here.

Where can I see other county priority letters?
You can view all priority letter requests submitted to MDOT over the past few years.

Who can I contact for assistance?

• Dan Janousek– Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Dorchester County, Harford County, Howard County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Somerset County, St. Mary’s County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, Worcester County: djanousek@mdot.maryland.gov, 410-865-1098, or toll-free in Maryland at 888-813-1414
• Kari Snyder – Charles County, Frederick County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County: ksnyder3@mdot.maryland.gov, 410-865-1305, or toll-free in Maryland at 888-813-1414
• Shawn Kiernan – Allegany County, Garrett County, Cecil County, Washington County: skiernan@mdot.maryland.gov, 410-865-2775, or toll-free in Maryland at 888-813-1414