Officials Outline Six-Year Draft Budget and provide Key Project Updates
HANOVER, MD (October 18, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation met today with officials in Garrett 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 Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. 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 Friday’s meeting, transportation officials offered details and updates on several projects and programs affecting Garrett County. Officials attending included Assistant Secretary Joe McAndrew; State Highway Administrator Will Pines; Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer; Maryland Transit Administration Local Transit Support Director Travis Johnston; and Maryland Aviation Administration 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 in Garrett 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 the recent completion of a $4.1 million resurfacing of US 219 Business from US 40 Alternate to the Pennsylvania line. State Highway used a cost-effective “cold in place” process that recycles existing asphalt.
In addition, State Highway is working on a $6.2 million resurfacing of MD 495 between Durst Road and US 40 Alternate in Grantsville. That project is expected to be complete this fall.
Among other important local investments in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program:
- Work is underway on a $7.7 million replacement of the MD 42 bridge over Buffalo Run near Friendsville. That project is expected to be completed next summer.
- The county will receive $130,000 from the Recreational Trail Program to build a 1.4-mile mountain bike trail at Fox Run Recreation Area in McHenry.
- More than $1 million in operating and capital grants to support local transit operations in Garrett County.
The meeting is 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.