Officials Outline Six-Year Draft Budget and Provide Key Project Updates
HANOVER, MD (October 17, 2024) – Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld and other agency leaders met today with officials in Washington and Allegany counties 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.”
The safety of all Marylanders is the top priority of the Department, and that is reflected in the Draft CTP, with projects that prioritize maintaining the current system and seek to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on Maryland’s roads. To view the full Draft FY 2025-2030 Consolidated Transportation Program, go to
www.ctp.maryland.gov.
At Thursday’s meetings, transportation officials offered details and updates on several projects and programs affecting Washington and Allegany counties. In addition to Secretary Wiedefeld and Assistant Secretary Joe McAndrew, officials attending included State Highway Administrator William Pines; Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer; Maryland Transit Administration Local Transit Support Director Travis Johnston; and Maryland Aviation Administration Regional Aviation Director Ashish Solanki and Chief Engineer Paul Shank.
State Highway Administrator Pines highlighted the agency’s commitment to move forward with multimodal projects that improve safety, accessibility and mobility statewide and said 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 Hagerstown is hosting a Complete Streets demonstration project on US 40 from N. Cannon Avenue to E. Washington Avenue designed to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The project includes narrowed lanes, speed cushions and high visibility crosswalks, and is scheduled to be in place through November as data is collected.
In addition, State Highway recently completed a $4.5 million project to improve the I-81 interchange at Maugans Avenue in Washington County, and a $4 million project replacing the MD 36 bridge deck over North Branch near Mount Savage in Allegany County.
Among other important local investments in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program:
- Work is underway in Washington County on a $61.9 million project that will widen or replace six bridge decks on I-70 from west of Interstate 81 to Bower Avenue.
- Construction also is continuing to improve the surface of US 40 bridges over I-70 near Hagerstown. This $8.9 million project is expected to be completed next year.
- C&O Canal National Historical Park will receive $1.68 million in a Transportation Alternatives Program grant to repair and rehabilitate about 15 miles of C&O Canal towpath from Little Orleans to Oldtown in Allegany County.
- Investments of nearly $1.5 million in Washington County and more than $1.2 million in Allegany County to support local transit operations.
The meetings are part of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s engagement process in 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 October. 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 2025-2030 CTP to the Legislature in January for consideration during the 2025 General Assembly session.