Acting Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Samantha Biddle and agency officials presented the draft six‑year Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) to the Anne Arundel County Council and county officials on Oct. 20, 2025, outlining roughly $21.5 billion in planned capital investments statewide and multiple projects affecting the county.

The draft CTP, presented as a follow‑up to the 2025 legislative session, reflects additional annual transportation revenue secured by the Moore‑Miller administration and the General Assembly. Biddle said the $21.5 billion capital budget is a modest increase from last year and that the administration is using state dollars together with federal resources and financing to accelerate projects across modes, with priorities on safety, system preservation and economic mobility.

Why it matters: The draft CTP includes investments that will affect congestion, transit access and shoreline crossings used by county residents. Locally, MDOT officials flagged projects such as the I‑97 safety and widening project, safety and accessibility work on Ritchie Highway, two pedestrian safety action plan projects and a “complete streets” quick‑build project. The plan also dedicates nearly $1.4 billion for light rail modernization in the Baltimore region and advances transit‑oriented development (TOD) work at Odenton and Cromwell stations — measures county leaders said could shape development, commuting patterns and environmental outcomes.

What MDOT told the council
- Funding and scope: Biddle said the administration combined roughly $400 million in new state transport revenue with other sources and financing to increase annual transportation resources to nearly $700 million in leveraged funding. The draft CTP retains current highway user revenue levels through FY2027, she added.
- Transit: Holly Arnold, Maryland Transit Administration Administrator, outlined the $1.4 billion light rail modernization program (fleet replacement, stations and maintenance facilities) and design work to improve MARC service reliability. Arnold also described a new MTA code of conduct for riders and noted MTA grants to support local transit operations in Anne Arundel (roughly $3.3 million in operating support and four small buses).
- Highways and safety: Maryland State Highway Administrator Will Pines summarized local quick‑build complete streets work (for example Maryland 261 in Rose Haven) and pedestrian safety projects on Ritchie Highway and Maryland 3 Business that are in design with construction expected in 2027 for some projects. He highlighted a $113.8 million partnership on I‑97 mobility improvements and multiple county cost‑share projects (e.g., lanes and shared‑use paths along Maryland 3 and Maryland 2).
- Bridges and crossings: Bruce Gardner, Maryland Transportation Authority executive director, described rapid progress rebuilding the Key Bridge, early piling activity in the Patapsco River and an anticipated advertisement for Bay Bridge protection. Gardner also said MDTA will publish a draft environmental impact statement and hold public hearings for the Chesapeake Bay Crossing (NEPA) study in early 2026, with a final decision expected in 2026.
- Aviation, ports and motor vehicle services: Shanetta Griffin (Maryland Aviation Administration) noted BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport projects and statewide aviation grant funding; Robert Monroe (Maryland Port Administration) discussed cargo volumes, the Howard Street Tunnel project and a $147 million EPA Clean Ports grant; Chrissy Neiser (Motor Vehicle Administration) reported consistent branch wait times and outreach on traffic safety programs.

Local reaction and concerns
County Executive Stuart Pittman praised the CTP funding and emphasized multimodal priorities and transit‑oriented development, including a planned Odenton parking garage and state coordination on TOD designations.

Several county officials asked questions about project timing, environmental stewardship and local impacts. A council member raised concerns that the I‑97 project, originally scoped as ramp safety improvements, has evolved into a corridor widening that will add impervious surface through sensitive forested and easement areas near Crownsville Memorial Park, Bacon Ridge Natural Area and multiple stream corridors, and urged MDOT to pursue more transit‑first or longer‑term multimodal approaches to reduce climate and water‑quality impacts. MDOT staff replied that earlier alternatives (including shoulder running) were studied and that pavement and safety considerations, constructability and regional corridor interactions informed the decision to proceed with a widening alternative in the draft CTP; staff said environmental mitigation and stormwater stewardship will be part of project design and permitting.

On the Chesapeake Bay Crossing NEPA study, MDTA said the draft EIS will present alignment preferences, and that public hearings are planned for early 2026. The agency said it will post recordings of industry forums and public feedback opportunities to its website as the process continues.

What the agencies said they will do next
MDOT and modal agencies asked for county input on priority projects, promised continued outreach on design and mitigation, and said they will coordinate with the county on TOD announcements and transit supportive development. MDTA said it will hold public hearings on the Chesapeake Bay crossings NEPA study in early 2026; MDOT agreed to follow up with local stakeholders on I‑97 engineering and environmental studies.

Details and context
- Draft CTP totals: $21.5 billion over six years (balanced capital budget; described as a modest increase vs. the prior year). MDOT attributed the increase to state revenue and federal matching/financing options.
- Light rail modernization: MDOT/MTA estimate a nearly $1.4 billion program for fleet replacement and station upgrades; agency officials said procurement activities have already been advertised.
- I‑97 partnership: MDOT described a $113.8 million partnership project to widen and improve mobility on I‑97 between MD‑32 and US‑50; county officials said the county has agreed to contribute roughly 10% to advance the project on a fast‑track design‑build model.

Ending note
MDOT’s multi‑agency team asked for continued local feedback as projects move from study and design towards construction, and county leaders repeatedly urged the state to coordinate environmental mitigation, multimodal alternatives and community engagement as the draft CTP is finalized. No formal county decisions or votes were taken during the presentation; agencies identified formal public‑comment windows for major NEPA actions and committed to additional briefings with county stakeholders.