BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, February 5, 2025) – The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is drafting a transportation planning budget for the upcoming two years (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027), proposing $10.8 million for a range of studies, plans and projects.
Staffed and supported by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), the BRTB is the region’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization. Most of the anticipated funding for the upcoming budget, the Unified Planning Work Program, comes from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, with additional contributions from the Maryland Department of Transportation and local jurisdictions.
“This new work program and budget prioritizes the critical needs of our region’s transportation network,” said Todd Lang, BMC’s Director of Transportation. “This includes efforts to address the unacceptable fatalities and injuries we see on our transportation system and methods to better facilitate safe and efficient movement for all transportation users.”
The BRTB collaborated with planners in local jurisdictions and community members to develop the proposed budget based on ongoing work, regional priorities and feedback from previous public outreach. Funding items in the proposed budget include:
- Continuing the Transportation and Land Use Connection Grant Program, which quickly unlocks resources to help local jurisdictions improve multi-modal facilities, access to transit, transit oriented development, or climate change adaptation strategies;
- Planning for the Henryton Road Bridge, advancing another piece of the Patapsco Regional Greenway;
- Drafting the region’s next short-range transportation program (with a five-year horizon) and laying the groundwork for the next long-range plan (with a twenty-year horizon);
- Funding for local jurisdictions to update local bicycle plans based on the Bikeable Baltimore Region project;
- Assisting local jurisdictions in preparing applications for the newly updated MDOT prioritization process.
These are a few of the items included in the draft budget. If the BRTB and federal regulators approve the transportation work program and budget, BMC’s planning staff will start this work on July 1, 2025. Proposed new tasks are described in detail in the draft document.
Members of the public can comment on the draft transportation work program and budget by Sunday, March 9. After collaborating with BRTB members to review all comments and respond to questions, the BRTB will consider approval of the transportation planning budget on Friday, April 25.
“We often ask for feedback from community members on specific plans and projects,” Lang said. “This is a chance for the public to weigh in on our overall budget and the work we’d like to achieve in the next year.”
Ways to comment include:
- Online via a short survey at publicinput.com/brtbbudget (English version) and publicinput.com/presupuesto26 (Spanish version)
- Sending an email to FY26BRTBbudget@publicinput.com
- Texting keyword ‘FY26BRTBbudget’ to 855-925-2801
- Leaving a voicemail toll-free via 855-925-2801x11078
- Finding us on Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn (comments on social media posts are reviewed, but are not included in the official public record)
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Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality. As the Baltimore region’s council of governments, BMC hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.
BMC operates its programs and services without regard to race, color or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable laws. Appropriate services can be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities or those in need of language assistance who submit a request at least seven days prior to a meeting. Call 410- 732-0500. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-735-2258 to initiate a TTY call through Maryland Relay. Si se necesita información de Título VI en español, llame al 410-732-0500.