Keaton PetersRoads, bridges and rail systems in Maryland are set to receive significant repairs and upgrades. The state is launching a major revitalization effort for transportation infrastructure, with the recent announcement of a coalition called Mobilizing Opportunities for Vital Economic Growth (MOVE) to support $420 million in annual state funding. When combined with federal dollars, the program has potential to unlock nearly $700 million in total transportation resources. The funding will flow through Maryland’s Consolidated Transportation Program and support critical safety projects across highways, bridges and transit systems. The initiative comes as Maryland faces a structural deficit in its Transportation Trust Fund, which was temporarily bolstered by $3 billion in federal COVID-19 relief that has since been depleted.
Officials say Maryland’s transportation system has suffered from years of underinvestment. With aging infrastructure requiring urgent attention and growing demands on public transit systems, the state is looking to shore up funding streams that can support improved mobility and long-term economic growth.
“The people of Maryland demand and deserve to have a world-class transportation system that is reliable, convenient and spurs economic growth,” Maryland Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Samantha Biddle said. “These additional dollars are critical for the department to keep our transportation system in good working order.”
The initiative will advance several major projects, including long-awaited improvements to Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 15. It also includes a complete rehabilitation of Maryland’s light rail system and enhancements of the Port of Baltimore’s facilities. Bridge repairs and roadway resurfacing will also receive millions in funding to address critical safety needs.
To build support for the investment, the MOVE Coalition will bring together more than 40 organizations from both public and private sectors. The coalition aims to advocate for the transportation funding package as part of the administration’s broader economic development strategy.
Michael Sakata, president and CEO of the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association, framed the funding as a critical public safety issue. “Maryland’s transportation
funding crisis is a public safety crisis that, if not addressed, would lead to fatalities, lost jobs and the erosion of our quality of life,” Sakata said. The $420 million investment is one part of the $21 billion transportation budget proposed through 2030. The budget needs approval from the state assembly, which will vote on it before the legislative session concludes in April.
