Maryland Department of Transportation Visits Garrett County as Part of Statewide Transportation Tour

HANOVER, MD (October 10, 2025) - Maryland Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle met today with officials from Garrett 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."

At Friday's meeting, transportation officials offered details and updates of several projects and programs affecting Garrett 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 and Maryland Aviation Administration. ​

Acting Secretary Biddle highlighted investments to replace and rehabilitate several bridges across the county to ensure they remain safe and reliable as well as the allocation of nearly $2 million for trail projects across the county.

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 crews resurfaced a section of MD 495 south of Grantsville and upgraded drainage and guardrails. State Highway continues to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on the county's No. 1 priority: US 219 from Old Salisbury Road to Meyersdale. PennDOT recently received its Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision approval from the Federal Highway Administration for a four-lane alignment east of the existing U.S. 219. PennDOT can now move the project to final design. SHA completed Maryland's section of US 219 from I-68 to Old Salisbury Road in 2021.

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.