Maryland Department of Transportation issued the following announcement on Sept. 18.
Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn today met with Queen Anne’s County officials to discuss the Draft FY 2019–2024 Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP), which details the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) draft six-year capital budget. Today’s meeting was part of MDOT’s annual tour of 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City to update local officials and the public on the Hogan administration’s $16 billion investment over the next six years in transit, highways, Motor Vehicle Administration facilities, the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall). Officials also discussed the Maryland Transportation Authority’s $3.3 billion in additional investments for Maryland’s toll roads and bridges.
“We continue to deliver on the largest construction program in the state’s history, improving customer service at MDOT, and setting records for containers at the port and for passengers at the airport,” said Secretary Rahn.
MDOT team members representing the agency’s business units were: Transportation Secretary Rahn, Government Affairs Director Jeff Tosi, Regional Planner Ian Beam, and Rail Program and Policy Manager Harry Romano from The Secretary’s Office; Field Operations Director Rhashad Johnson, District Manager Charles Howell, and Legislative Services Manager Ellie Simmons from the MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA); Local Transit Support Director Travis Johnston from the MDOT Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA); Administrator Greg Slater from the MDOT State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA); and Michele Gross, Bay Bridge Administrator Richard Jaramillo, and Bay Bridge Commander Lt. Ariane Warren from the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).
Secretary Rahn outlined key updates on transportation investments. Statewide, there are 816 airport, highway, transit, port, bicycle, and MDOT MVA construction projects underway with a value of $8.8 billion.
In addition to these projects, Secretary Rahn announced funding County’s local priorities, including: $8.7 million in Highway User Revenues to the county for FY 2019–2024, which includes an additional $741,000 in grants awarded recently by the Governor; and highway safety grants funded through MDOT MVA, including $9,000 for the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office.
MDOT MTA makes a significant investment in transit in Queen Anne’s County through the operation of two commuter bus routes, as well as by providing $624,000 in operating and capital grants to support the local County Ride transit operation. This funding will be used to purchase two small cutaway buses and for ongoing preventive maintenance.
Secretary Rahn also touted the latest records at the Port of Baltimore, including the port handling 10.9 million tons of general cargo – from autos and heavy machinery to containers – in FY 2018. The port remains No. 1 in the nation for autos and roll on/roll off machinery. It handled a record 596,972 containers in 2017.
In addition, Secretary Rahn highlighted steadily growing passenger traffic at BWI Marshall, with new airlines and service to domestic and international markets. In 2017, BWI Marshall set a new annual record by exceeding 26 million passengers. The airport has seen strong growth continue, setting passenger records in 34 of the past 35 months.
On the highway side, Secretary Rahn noted that under Governor Hogan’s leadership, Maryland is continuing to deliver on record investments in highways and bridges. Of the 69 structurally deficient bridges the Hogan administration identified in June 2015, all have been repaired, replaced or are advertised for construction.
Secretary Rahn also provided an update on important major projects and system preservation projects in Queen Anne’s County.
The $5.6 million project to replace two bridge decks on northbound US 301 – one over MD 290 and one over Red Lion Bridge – is complete, and MDOT SHA opened them to traffic this summer.
Among other projects, the $158 million widening of MD 404 was completed last fall. This critical safety project widened MD 404 from a two-lane undivided highway to a four-lane divided highway along the entire stretch between US 50 and the Denton Bypass.
At MDTA, Governor Hogan’s toll rate reductions have saved Marylanders $186 million since 2015. A Tier 1 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study of location and funding options for a third Chesapeake Bay crossing began in January 2017 and will take up to 48 months to complete.
Secretary Rahn encouraged Queen Anne’s County officials to develop their own highway safety plan or adopt Maryland’s. Maryland experienced 557 roadway fatalities in 2017, and a Strategic Highway Safety Plan would help target the most common causes of roadway fatalities in Maryland: impaired driving; speeding; not wearing seat belts; distracted driving; and not using crosswalks. Secretary Rahn also encouraged the officials to sign the Traffic Safety Pledge, which can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MDOTsafetypledge.
Officials and residents met today at the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners’ Hearing Room in Centreville. The meeting launched the annual CTP tour, which is scheduled to conclude November 15 in Baltimore County. Meetings are planned at various locations in all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.
For a complete list of the CTP Tour Schedule with dates, times and locations visit: http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/newMDOT/Planning/CTP/2018_CTP_Tour/Index.html. To view the draft CTP, visit: www.ctp.maryland.gov.
Each fall, MDOT presents its draft six-year capital program to every county and Baltimore City for review and comment. Following input from the 24 jurisdictions, MDOT prepares a final budget to present to the General Assembly in January.
Original source can be found here.
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