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Garrett County approves 2026 transportation priorities, seeks state funding for US 219 extension and MD 135 shared-use path
Summary
The Board approved the Garrett County 2026 MDOT Priority Letter to be submitted to the Maryland Department of Transportation for consideration in the FY2027'FY2032 Consolidated Transportation Program, highlighting projects including the US 219 North extension, MD 135 Shared Use Path, US 219 Oakland bypass, transit funding, and multiple sidewalk and trail projects.
The Garrett County Board of County Commissioners voted on March 17, 2026 to approve the county's 2026 Maryland Department of Transportation Priority Letter to be submitted for consideration in MDOT's FY2027'1032 Consolidated Transportation Program. Senior Planner Siera Wigfield presented the letter, which lists prioritized projects developed with municipalities and community partners and reflects recent grant awards and planning milestones.
Key projects in the priority letter include: the US 219 North Extension to the Pennsylvania state line (roughly 1.5 miles; the county notes FHWA selected the Record of Decision for Alternative E-Shift Modified and PennDOT is leading project development), the MD 135 Shared Use Path to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections, safety improvements on US 219 near Trader's Landing, and funding requests to expand Garrett Transit Services (including a first fixed-route service under 5307 and capital requests for vehicle replacements and facility upgrades). The letter also requests construction funding for a roughly 2,000-foot Grantsville sidewalk (estimated cost $1.86 million), design funding for a 2.4-mile US 219 Oakland Bypass, a shared-use trail from Oakland to Herrington Manor State Park, a Friendsville Complete Streets Plan, accessibility upgrades at Loch Lynn trail networks, a Phase 1 community speed safety and monitoring program across multiple towns, and Crellin Street sidewalk replacement (approximately 2,600 feet; TAP-funded design).
The priority letter states these projects were reviewed with Garrett County municipalities on Feb. 4, 2026 and were signed by the Board on March 17, 2026. The minutes record the Board approved submission of the letter (motion by Commissioner S. Larry Tichnell, seconded by Commissioner Ryan S. Savage; approved unanimously by Chairman Paul C. Edwards). The letter highlights Garrett Pathways to Safety, an FHWA SS4A award, and requests coordination with MDOT and other state agencies on design, right-of-way, and construction funding.
Next steps are administrative: submission of the priority letter to MDOT for programming consideration within the Consolidated Transportation Program and continued coordination between county staff and state agencies on project scoping, design, and funding opportunities.
