MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VISITS CARROLL COUNTY 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 (October 30, 2025) – Maryland Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle met today with officials from Carroll County 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 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 Thursday’s meeting, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Carroll County. In addition to Acting Secretary Biddle, several other transportation officials attended the meeting and provided updates including officials with the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Transportation Authority and Maryland Aviation Administration.

State Highway Administrator Will 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 recent completion of the $16.4 million project to replace the bridges on MD 91 over the North Branch and the Maryland Midland Railroad, as well as completion of a rehabilitation project on MD 851 in Sykesville, which was coordinated with a county water line project.

Among important local investments in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program:

  • A $220,000 Kim Lamphier Bikeways grant for the Town of Mount Airy to advance and east-west multi-use trail at Watkins Park.
  • An investment of $1.8 million in grants to support Carroll County’s local transit operations including the rideshare program and three small buses.
  • A $226,000 grant for Carroll County Regional Airport through the Maryland Aviation Administration’s Statewide Aviation Grants program to support installation of a sophisticated Automated Weather Observation System and for land acquisition to support the runway extension.
  • A $500,000 grant through the Freight Rail Grant Program for improvements at the Finksburg Rail Terminal. The project will upgrade rail unloading and storage equipment, expand terminal capacity, enhance safety and reduce diesel emissions.
The meeting was 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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