BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Transportation has released its $21.2 billion final six-year capital budget for fiscal years 2025-30. The budget fully funds and revives projects that prioritize safety and reliability while driving economic growth statewide.

“Maryland deserves and demands to have a safe and reliable transportation system that is accessible for all to use and helps drive our ability to make this Maryland’s decade,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld.

The plan adds $420 million in annual state transportation funding starting in fiscal year 2026. This investment maximizes federal funding and financing, transforming a $420 million state investment into $695 million for the state’s transportation network. It also enables the department to meet state of good repair investment levels, ensuring safe access to opportunity for more Marylanders.

The department is making targeted investments in safety, system preservation, utilizing all available federal funding, growing the economy and working to make Maryland more competitive and affordable. The final consolidated transportation program was released after extensive statewide public engagement, including a meeting in every Maryland county and Baltimore City, to gather input from local officials and the public.

The more than $21 billion program includes:

• Reinvesting millions of dollars to enhance safety by repairing bridges, resurfacing roadways, and implementing other measures.
• Advancing statewide highway projects, including constructing critical safety projects on Interstate 81 and U.S. 15 and advancing design on other deferred projects throughout the state, including MD 97 Montgomery Hills, MD 90, and Medical Center Drive.
• Addressing critical state of good repair needs at the Maryland Transit Administration and the State Highway Administration.
• Modernizing the Light Rail system with $213 million from a federal grant for new accessible vehicles.
• Enhancing the Port of Baltimore’s economic competitiveness to sustain and expand its growth-driving capacity statewide.
• Fund the environmental study process for the proposed Southern Maryland Rapid Transit project and fully leverage federal formula funds for statewide MARC improvements.
• Addressing system preservation and safety needs at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport.
• Increasing support for locally operated transit systems (LOTS) in communities around the state.
• Protecting Highway User Revenues (HUR) for local government partners.

The department’s budget and debt service coverage are strengthened by the $420 million annual funding increase. Addressing the department’s debt service needs is important to maintain its AAA credit ratings and strong financial practices. $200 million in new state funding will support capital projects.

• $155 million to meet commitments for debt issued to fund the capital program.
• $65 million for operating budget needs.

The six-year final consolidated transportation program itemizes capital investments in each mode funded by the Transportation Trust Fund, including Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, State Highway Administration, Secretary’s Office, and Maryland’s investment in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The Maryland Transportation Authority finances, builds, operates, and maintains its toll facilities with customer-paid tolls.

When Gov. Wes Moore took office, Maryland’s transportation system faced severe underinvestment, especially in public transit. Over $3 billion in one-time federal COVID-19 relief funds kept critical services operational, but the state’s transportation trust fund issues persisted. This increased state transportation funding will help the department make this Maryland’s decade through targeted investments in a reliable, safe infrastructure system safeguarding lives and driving economic growth.

To view the full final fiscal year 2025-30 consolidated transportation program, go to https://ctp.maryland.gov. The fiscal year 2026 budget and additional revenue proposed by the governor requires approval by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session.

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

Photo: Rendering showing new development opportunities at the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration Penn Line Odenton MARC Station in Anne Arundel County.