MDOT releases draft six-year capital budget

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) today released its Draft FY 2022 – FY 2027 Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP), which details MDOT’s $16.4 billion six-year capital budget.

The Draft CTP reflects a $1.2 billion increase compared to the $15.2 billion Final FY 2021 – FY 2026 CTP released in January.

With a focus on system preservation, major projects and planning and engineering, this $16.4 billion budget is on par with the record $16.4 billion transportation investment in the FY 2019 – FY 2024 CTP.

The Draft CTP outlines investments in each of MDOT’s transportation business units funded by the Transportation Trust Fund, including:

• Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA),

• Maryland Port Administration (MPA),

• Maryland Transit Administration (MTA),

• Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA),

• State Highway Administration (SHA),

• The Secretary’s Office (TSO).  

The Draft CTP includes $1.1 billion for the MPA. The Port of Baltimore will benefit from planning, engineering and construction investments in a project to reconstruct the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore.

The project will allow double-stacked containers to travel to and from the Port of Baltimore, boosting business and eliminating a critical freight bottleneck on the East Coast.

Investments in the dredging of the shipping channels leading to the Port of Baltimore will allow for heavy cargo vessels to access the port – and for the dredged sediment to be repurposed in a variety of ways across the state.

The Draft CTP also includes funds for the reconstruction of Berth 3 at Dundalk Marine Terminal to better accommodate larger and heavier pieces of farm and construction machinery.

In addition, the Draft CTP includes funds for MPA to continue expanding the Cox Creek, Masonville and Poplar Island dredged material containment facilities, as well as begin the mid-Chesapeake Bay Island ecosystem restoration project.