BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development have agreed to work together to build more housing near transit stations.

The agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (PDF) to spur transit-oriented development, which they say will help increase ridership, make housing more affordable, promote economic development, and address climate change goals.

The agreement formalizes an existing partnership, but it also gives priority to projects that are near transit stations and MDOT joint development projects in funding programs that the Department of Housing and Community Development oversees.

“This partnership is a win-win for Maryland families as transit-oriented development will help lower the costs of housing while increasing access and ridership to transit,” said MDOT Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Secretary (Jake) Day and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development are tremendous teammates with helping to expand affordable housing across the state. The expansion of transit-oriented development will also support the Moore-Miller Administration’s goal to grow the state’s economy and make Maryland more competitive.”

The departments will collaborate to identify joint development opportunities at MDOT transit stations and advance projects that spur economic development and more housing for Marylanders around transit stops.

“Supporting the development of dense housing around transit is critical to addressing our state’s housing shortage of over 96,000 units,” said Secretary Day. “We know that progress doesn’t come without partnership. Through this agreement, we’re making firm our commitment to collaboration with our partners at the Maryland Department of Transportation in addressing the housing shortage and fostering economic vitality for communities across the state.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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