FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 8, 2021
Contact:
MDOT Public Affairs
Erin Henson, 410-865-1025
Jim Joyner, 410-865-1030
MDOT Invites Non-Metropolitan Area Officials to
Weigh in on Project Consultation Process
Brochure Outlining Draft Consultative Process being Distributed to Seven Counties;
Process Effectiveness Reviewed every Five Years
HANOVER, MD – To ensure all local officials and the public have a voice in Maryland's transportation planning, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is inviting officials from the state's seven non-metropolitan areas to comment on MDOT's Draft 2021 Consultative Process. A brochure being distributed to county and municipal officials describes the process for local officials and community members in non-metropolitan areas to have a say in the development of the Maryland Transportation Plan (MTP) and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). MDOT's Draft 2021 Non-Metropolitan Areas Consultative Process brochure also can be viewed at www.mdot.maryland.gov/regionalplanning.
A non-metropolitan area is a jurisdiction that is not a voting member on a federal Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), a policy-making authority comprised of representatives from local governments and governmental transportation agencies. Maryland's non-metropolitan areas include the following counties: Garrett, Kent, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester counties.
MDOT is seeking input from local elected officials, legislators, citizens, businesses, government agencies, and community leaders in the seven counties. At least once every five years, the state solicits comments from non-metropolitan areas on the effectiveness of the consultation process on transportation projects, in accordance with federal law. This brochure was last updated in 2016.
The MTP is MDOT's guide for providing state transportation services and infrastructure over the next 20 years. The STIP is Maryland's federally-required program of transportation projects based on the MTP. The STIP contains all projects in the six-year Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) that will be implemented using federal funding. The final STIP goes through several series of public comment phases before its submission to the United States Department of Transportation for approval.
Comments on the brochure or the planning/programming process are due by November 22, 2021 to mdotplanning@mdot.State.md.us or by calling 888-713-1414.