MDOT presents $21.5 billion draft CTP with major projects for Anne Arundel; I‑97 widening draws local concern

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…