MDOT - Maryland Department of Transportation
10/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/09/2025 09:01
Maryland Department of Transportation Visits Washington and Allegany Counties as Part of Statewide Transportation Tour
Officials Outline Six-Year Draft Capital Budget and Provide Local Project Updates
HANOVER, MD (October 9, 2025) - Maryland Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle met today with officials from Washington and Allegany counties 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 vision zero 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 meetings, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Washington and Allegany counties. In addition to Acting Secretary Biddle, several other transportation officials attended the meetings and provided updates including officials with the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration and Maryland Transportation Authority.
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 that in Washington County, the new $23.6 million I-70 bridge over Crystal Falls Drive opened in May. Work continues on I-70 bridges over I-81, US 11 and Norfolk Southern and is anticipated to be done in late 2027. In Allegany County, the State Highway Administration has been awarded a grant to study replacement of the I-68 Viaduct deck over Cumberland. Also in Allegany, crews resurfaced a section of US 40 Alternate in LaVale this past year from Campground Road to Long Drive/Cash Valley Road.
Among other important local investments in the Draft Consolidated Transportation Program:
- Funding to advance next phase of the I-81 project in Washington County to widen the highway and improve safety and mobility. Phase 1 was completed in 2020, and the CTP includes nearly $108 million for Phase 2, covering a 4-mile section from MD 63/MD 68 to north of Halfway Boulevard. Construction on the first segment of Phase 2 is expected to start in 2027.
- Investments of $6.5 million in the six-year CTP for design, right of way and utilities work for improvements on US 220 in the Cresaptown area of Allegany.
- In Washington County, two Transportation Alternatives grants: $38,800 to reconfigure the Camp Loop Trail in Greenbrier State Park and $1.5 million to repair and rehabilitate more than 21 miles of the C&O Canal National Park towpath.
- Nearly $4 million in grants to support local transit operations in Washington County, including preventive maintenance, one small bus and two heavy duty buses.
- Investments of $1.3 million in grants to support Allegany County local transit operations, including preventive maintenance.
- The Hagerstown Regional Airport is receiving $590,000 in Fiscal Year 2026. The funding, through the Maryland Aviation Administration's Statewide Aviation Grants program, will support the expansion of the terminal building and a study for a new air traffic control tower.
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A $100,000 grant for Greater Cumberland Regional Airport through the Maryland Aviation Administration's Statewide Aviation Grants program to support runway construction and installation of an updated airport beacon.
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 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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