HANOVER, MD (June 10, 2025) – The Maryland Department of Transportation today announced the award of $1.25 million in grant funding as part of the initial phase of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund which the Department launched in February 2025. The grant program will help advance development projects near transit stations that will spur economic activity and increase connectivity in communities across Maryland.
Grant awards for this first round of funding support the implementation of dense, mixed-use development projects at Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station in Baltimore City, Odenton MARC Station in Anne Arundel County and the North Bethesda Metro Station in Montgomery County. The program, also known as the TOD Fund, is the Department’s latest tool to speed up state and local efforts to create vibrant, connected communities around transit, grow transit ridership and expand housing opportunities.
"These grants will help jumpstart the progress of building unique, dense communities around transit stations that will further connect Marylanders to opportunities," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. "Thank you to Governor Moore, Senator Malcolm Augustine, Delegate Jazz Lewis and all our partners in the General Assembly for the creation of the TOD Fund. Our collective vision and investment to increase development near transit stations will create dividends of economic prosperity in Maryland for decades to come."
The TOD Fund was established by the Equitable Inclusive TOD Enhancement Act signed into law by Governor Wes Moore in 2023. The funding program includes a total of $5 million to support the construction and design of transit-oriented developments across the state and help advance the State’s transit, economic development, climate and housing goals.
Funding for the grant program was included in the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP) Fiscal Year 2026 budget, with the support of Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly. The grant program advances MDOT’s goal to make smart investments that improve safety, drive economic growth and preserve Maryland’s transportation system.
“Transit-oriented development will help create strong communities in Prince George’s County and across the state that are centered around providing equitable access to transportation and opportunities,” said Senator Malcolm Augustine. “Thanks to MDOT for getting the TOD Fund up and running. I am glad to see the legislation I sponsored in action and I look forward to seeing more transit-oriented developments across the state that will benefit Maryland’s economy.”
Transit-oriented development is widely known as a highly effective approach to help increase transit ridership, support economic development, maximize the efficient use of transportation infrastructure and increase affordable and accessible housing.
"Investing in transit-oriented development will improve our economy and improve the daily commute of thousands of Marylanders," said Delegate Jazz Lewis. "I was proud to sponsor legislation to create the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund so that we can begin investing in the TOD projects that will make our state a more accessible and transit-friendly place to travel in. It is great to see this process coming to fruition."
The program supports local jurisdictions and their development partners seeking to build equitable and inclusive development at sites that the state has designated for transit-oriented development. This year’s awardees are:
- Anne Arundel County ($750,000) for pre-construction of a new parking garage at the Odenton MARC Station. This new commuter garage is necessary to catalyze the mixed-use development at the train station by freeing up existing parking for development opportunities. Odenton Station is an integral part of the Penn Line Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy Plan , an effort to catalyze growth and further private investment along MARC’s busiest commuter rail line. The Department is in the process of selecting a development partner for the site.
- Montgomery County ($250,000) for preliminary design and community engagement for Project Connect, which includes a new entrance, public plazas and other infrastructure investments at the North Bethesda Metro Station. These investments will increase transit rider capacity, support pedestrian and bicycle safety and enable development of the planned 1.9-million square feet mixed-use life sciences district atop the Station.
- Baltimore City ($250,000) for a Wabash Avenue Multimodal Access Plan supporting connectivity to the planned development at Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station. This effort will develop concept plans for the redesign of Wabash Avenue between the West Cold Spring Metro Station and the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station. This will support access to current and future transit-oriented developments, safe corridor travel for multimodal users and increased access to transit. Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station is the site of a mixed-use joint development project led by MDOT and Wabash Development Partners.
The Maryland Department of Transportation worked closely with the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to evaluate grant applications and select the awardees.
A new round of funding will be announced later this year. Eligible local jurisdictions can apply for up to $1 million for planning, design or public infrastructure improvements. Nonprofit or private development partners are eligible to apply in partnership with a local jurisdiction for up to $1 million in gap funding for projects within a State-designated transit-oriented development. More details about the program can be found
here.