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MDOT secretary outlines TOD revolving loan timeline, warns NEVI charging awards are temporarily on hold after federal guidance
Summary
MDOT issued a notice of funding opportunity for the $5 million annual TOD revolving loan fund and expects to award about $4 million in the first round; MDOT also said FHWA temporarily suspended approvals that affect later NEVI charging obligations.
The subcommittee received briefings on the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) secretary’s office budget and two cross‑cutting programs: the transit‑oriented development (TOD) revolving loan and federally funded electric‑vehicle charging work under NEVI.
Steve McCullough of the Department of Legislative Services summarized the secretary’s office operating budget: MDOT’s secretary’s office allowance for fiscal 2026 increased by $13.3 million (about 11.7 percent), though DLS noted a fiscal 2025 budget amendment that affects year‑over‑year comparability.
Secretary Paul Wiedefeld described program implementation steps and timelines. On TOD revolving loan fund activity he said MDOT released a notice of funding opportunity on Feb. 5, will accept applications through April 8 and will hold a second applicants’ information session March 4. Wiedefeld said MDOT expects to award “just under $4,000,000 of the $5,000,000” for the first round and expects the annual $5,000,000 appropriation to be fully utilized in future years.
Wiedefeld also summarized IIJA/IRA and other federal grant activity the secretary’s office supports: MDOT’s secretary’s office had nine IIJA grant awards totaling about $127,800,000 in the past year. DLS briefly reviewed the six‑year capital program for the secretary’s office and asked for reporting language to track PAYGO and operating grants.
On electric‑vehicle charging and NEVI grant implementation, MDOT told the committee that the Federal Highway Administration issued a memo suspending approval of state vehicle infrastructure deployment plans; MDOT said this guidance affects the federal approval pathway for the state’s EV charging network. Secretary Wiedefeld said MDOT’s first round of NEVI obligations was completed for a set of projects (22 corridors, 126 DC fast chargers) and will proceed to construction; he said subsequent NEVI solicitations or obligations have been delayed while federal guidance is clarified.
Why this matters: The TOD revolving loan fund and NEVI implementation affect where charging stations and development‑oriented investments are placed and how quickly funds can be obligated and spent. The temporary federal pause on approvals affects later rounds of NEVI funding and certain mid‑ and heavy‑duty vehicle grants MDOT intended to advance.
Next steps: MDOT expects to announce first‑round TOD awards in June and will reassess NEVI round timing after federal guidance is clarified. DLS and the committee requested written notifications on budget bill language, PAYGO changes and program roll‑outs.
Provenance: DLS summarized the secretary’s office budget and Secretary Wiedefeld answered committee questions and described program launch dates and federal impacts.
