MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VISITS CAROLINE, TALBOT AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES AS PART OF STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION TOUR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maryland Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs
David Broughton, 410-599-9428

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

HANOVER, MD (September 16, 2025) – Maryland Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle met today with officials from Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester counties 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 vision zero 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 Tuesday’s meetings, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester counties. In addition to Acting Secretary Biddle, several other transportation officials attended the meetings 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.

State Highway Administrator Pines highlighted 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 completion of improvements at MD 328 and MD 404 in Caroline County, adding left turn lanes from MD 328 to MD 404 as well as signal phasing. In Talbot County, the agency reconstructed signals at US 50/Airport Road and installed a new signal at MD 331 at Black Dog Alley. In Dorchester County, the State Highway Administration is implementing a “Quick-Build” Complete Streets project to improve safety for students at Warwick Elementary School.

Among other important local investments in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program:

  • The Easton Community Bicycle Parking Initiative will receive a $4,500 Kim Lamphier Bikeways grant for the installation of bike racks throughout the Town of Easton.
  • The Easton Airport is receiving $640,000 in Fiscal Year 2026. The funding, through the Maryland Aviation Administration’s Statewide Aviation Grants program, will support a runway extension project.
  • The Cambridge-Dorchester Regional Airport is receiving $18,000 in funding to support important obstruction removal.
  • Investments of $872,000 in Dorchester County to support local transit operations and $1 million in operating and capital grants to support local transit operations provided by Delmarva Community Transit (DCT) in Caroline, Talbot and Kent counties.
The meetings were 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. 


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