Maryland Transportation Secretary Gregory Slater met with Anne Arundel County officials Monday to discuss the Maryland Department of transportation’s proposed six-year capital budget.
The meeting is part of the MDOT’s annual tour of all 23 Maryland counties, as well as the city of Baltimore, to update officials on Governor Larry Hogan’s plan for $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, over the next six years.
Because of restrictions in place to combat 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,” Slater said.
The draft budget addresses a $1.9 billion budget cut due to decreased revenues stemming from the pandemic and cash flow changes for projects that were not completed. MDOT is also reducing its operating budget by $98 million as part of the response to revenue declines.
Budget decisions, officials said, were based on data on how to fund the network and provide access to essential services while supporting job creation in that state.
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 Maryland Transit Administration and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority would receive 39.2 percent of the capital budget and 61 percent of the operating budget. According to the proposed budget, local jurisdictions would receive 10.3 percent of the capital budget for Highway User Revenue capital grants.