Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Sean Powell met with Dorchester County officials Tuesday as part of the department’s statewide tour to discuss its transportation priorities for the next six years.
The meeting was part of the secretary’s schedule to meet with all 23 counties and Baltimore city officials to update them and the public on the proposed FY 2021-FY 2026 Consolidated Transportation Program and its $13.4 billion investment in transit, highways, the MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA), Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Officials also discussed the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDOT MTA) additional $2.8 billion investment in Maryland’s toll road and bridges.
As part of ongoing considerations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held virtually.
“This $13.4 billion budget is focused on preserving our critical infrastructure and essential connections, continuing all active construction, planning for future projects, and being a part of our economic recovery,” said Secretary Gregory Slater.
Officials said the current budget is based on data-driven decisions to fund transportation systems that provide access to essential services and support job creation. The draft budget requires $1.9 billion in cuts to the capital program because of COVID-19 related revenue declines. MDOT is also cutting its FY 2021 operating budget by $98 million due to those same revenue declines.
The $13.4 billion FY 2021-2026 capital budget and the $2.2 billion FY 2021 operating budget will be split between several MDOT priorities. The service modes – MDOT MVA and the MDOT Transportation Secretary’s Office – will receive 1.4 percent of the capital budget and 14 percent of the operating budget. The transportation network’s economic engines – the Port of Baltimore, the BWI Marshall Airport, and aviation statewide – will receive 9.5 percent of the capital budget and 11 percent of the operating budget. Highways and bridges would receive 39.6 percent of the capital budget and 13 percent of the operating budget. MDOT MTA and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority would receive 39.2 percent of the capital budget and 61 percent of the operating budget. Local jurisdictions would receive 10.3 percent of the capital budget for Highway User Revenue capital grants.