MDOT presents $21.2 billion six‑year plan; DLS highlights revenue assumptions and debt limits as transit riders press for repairs

The Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee received a detailed overview of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s proposed fiscal 2026 plan, the Transportation Trust Fund forecast and a separate debt service analysis that examined capacity for new bond issuances and the proposed use of grant anticipation revenue vehicle (GARVEE) bonds.

Department of Legislative Services analysts opened with headline figures: MDOT’s total operating and capital budget across the plan is roughly $6.7 billion for the year under review and approximately $21,200,000,000 is programmed in the six‑year capital program. DLS noted the Transportation Trust Fund closed fiscal 2024 with a $631,000,000 balance, which the forecast projects will decline to about $400,000,000 in FY26 absent additional action. The department derives about 20% of TTF revenue from motor fuel taxes; titling, registration and federal support are other major revenue sources.

DLS and the department discussed new revenues proposed in the BRFAA and the Governor’s budget that would add roughly $420,000,000 in ongoing state transportation revenue annually; MDOT officials said those…