HANOVER, MD (September 17, 2026) – Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson met today with officials from Washington and Allegany counties to discuss the Moore-Miller Administration’s
Draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) for Fiscal Years 2027 to 2032. The six-year, $21.9 billion spending plan calls for investments to further enhance safety, maintain the state’s transportation system and grow Maryland’s economy.
“Visiting each county in Maryland and Baltimore City to discuss the State’s transportation system with residents and elected officials is an invaluable part of the budgetary process,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “I’m grateful to our local leaders for their vision and partnership in creating a safer and stronger transportation system for everyone.”
The Draft CTP builds on the Moore-Miller Administration’s
Serious About Safety initiative and progress in reducing the number of road fatalities and serious injuries by investing in projects that improve roadway safety for all users. The six-year capital plan also advances critical maintenance needs and invests in projects that will drive economic growth across Maryland.
At Thursday’s meetings, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Washington and Allegany counties. In addition to Secretary Thomson, transportation officials with the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration and Maryland Aviation Administration attended the meetings and provided updates.
In Washington County, State Highway Administrator Pines noted the $24 million rebuild of the historic US 40 bridge over Conococheague Creek reopened to traffic in August and will be completed soon, while a $9.2 million bridge project on US 522 over I-70 near Hancock was also recently completed. Construction is starting this fall on improvements at the I-81 and Showalter Road interchange in Hagerstown.
Administrator Pines told Allegany County officials final design is underway on the $17.5 million project to replace the MD 51 Bridge over Town Creek. He also said the State Highway Administration will host two public meetings this fall – a September 24 open house on the $10.3 million project to replace the MD 144 bridge over Evitts Creek outside Cumberland; and a meeting October 27 to gather input on the ongoing I-68 Cumberland Viaduct Planning and Environmental Linkages Study. Both will be held 5 to 7 p.m. at the Allegany Museum, 3 Pershing St., Cumberland.
Other projects funded for Washington and Allegany counties in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program, include:
- $175 million I-81 safety and widening project. Phase 2 construction will widen the highway from four to six lanes in Washington County enabling continued economic growth and addressing truck safety concerns.
- $3.5 million to Washington County to support local transit operations including for preventative maintenance, fare collection systems and maintenance facility improvements.
- $1.8 million in local transit investments to Allegany County for preventative maintenance and two small buses.
- The Hagerstown Regional Airport will receive $373,000 from the Maryland Aviation Administration’s Statewide Aviation Grants program to support improvements including enhancing the runway lighting system, taxiway rehabilitation, snow equipment and aircraft rescue and firefighting infrastructure improvements.
- $134,000 in grants to the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport through the Maryland Aviation Administration’s Statewide Aviation Grants program for supporting runway rehabilitation and hangar construction.
- In Washington County, two Transportation Alternative Program Grants: $1.5 million to provide safe pedestrian routes to schools in Williamsport and pedestrian safety improvements along Clifton Drive and Sunset Avenue and nearly $309,000 to design pedestrian safety improvements through Safe Routes to Schools near three schools in Smithburg.
- In Allegany County, two Recreation Trails Program grants: nearly $926,000 to replace two bridges on the Pine Lick Trail over Fifteen Mile Creek in Green Ridge State Forest and $866,000 to construct nine miles of new singletrack trail at Rock Gap State Park.
The meetings were 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 through October. Dates and locations for upcoming sessions can be found
here. The schedule is subject to change and will be updated as needed.
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 submit the Final Fiscal Years 2027-2032 CTP to the Legislature in January for consideration during the 2027 General Assembly session.