Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) (above) recently helped launch the “Mobilizing Opportunities for Vital Economic Growth” or MOVE Maryland coalition to support a proposed $420 million annual investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure.
[Above photo by the Maryland Governor’s Office]
The new coalition represents more than 40 organizations statewide that are committed to the governor’s vision for transportation infrastructure that maximizes Maryland’s economic potential.
“You cannot have economic mobility without physical mobility. That’s the mindset at the center of MOVE Maryland – a broad coalition of leaders from both the public and private sectors who have raised their hands to help us write the next chapter in the story of Maryland transportation,” the governor said in a statement. “In partnership, we will create jobs, grow our economy, and make transportation across our state safer and more reliable for all.”
The $420 million in annual funding proposed by Gov. Moore’s Consolidated Transportation Program focuses on construction of critical safety projects and infrastructure revitalization. Other focal areas include:
- Advancing statewide highway safety projects, including constructing long-awaited improvements on I-81 and US 15 and advancing design on other deferred projects throughout the state.
- Reinvesting millions of dollars in critical bridge repairs, roadway resurfacing and other safety enhancements to make roads safer for all users.
- Addressing the most critical needs at the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to provide reliable access to opportunity for more state residents, including a full rehabilitation of the MTA’s Light Rail system.
- Enhancing the economic competitiveness and sustainability of the Port of Baltimore to maintain and expand its ability to drive growth and opportunity statewide.
The Maryland Department of Transportation added that it plans to “maximize” the governor’s plan by “fully leveraging all available federal funding and financing,” which would turn the proposed $420 million in annual investment into $695 million worth of yearly resources for the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.
The agency noted that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly $3 billion in federal COVID relief dollars helped “paper over” the infrastructure funding issues. However, that funding has since run out, exposing the structural deficit within the state’s Transportation Trust Fund — first outlined by the Department of Legislative Services in 2019.
Without new revenue, the Maryland DOT said it would need to consider additional budget cuts — jeopardizing critical transportation projects across Maryland.
“The people of Maryland demand and deserve to have a world class transportation system that is reliable, convenient and spurs economic growth,” added Samantha Biddle, Maryland DOT deputy secretary. “These additional dollars are critical for the department to keep our transportation system in good working order by making critical bridge repairs, providing much needed investments to transit and enhancing the economic competitiveness of the Port of Baltimore.”
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