Baltimore Regional Transportation Board

BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, February 7, 2024) – The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is drafting a transportation planning budget for the upcoming fiscal year, proposing $10.6 million for a range of studies, plans and projects. A public comment period on the draft budget closes on March 11.

Staffed and supported by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), the BRTB is the region’s federally mandated metropolitan planning organization. Most of the anticipated funding for the upcoming budget, formally titled 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.

“We often ask for feedback from community members on specific plans and projects,” said BMC Director of Transportation Todd Lang. “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.”

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 for fiscal year 2025 include:

• Conducting a Transportation Needs Assessment to identify needs and challenges for users of the region’s transportation system, with a focus on vulnerable populations,
• Continuing the Transportation and Land Use Connection grant program, which quickly unlocks resources to help local jurisdictions improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities,
• Expanding the Look Alive road safety outreach campaign to reach more people who drive, bike and walk in the region through more creative and engaging methods,
• Planning a shared-use path connecting the Patapsco Light Rail Station to Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood, advancing another piece of the Patapsco Regional Greenway,
• Drafting the region’s next short-range transportation plan (with a five-year horizon) and laying the groundwork for the next long-range plan (with a twenty-year horizon).

These are just some of the items included in the draft budget. If the BRTB and federal regulators approve the transportation planning budget, planning staff at BMC will start this work when the fiscal year begins on July 1. Proposed new tasks are described in detail in the draft document, which is available online via publicinput.com/BRTBbudget.

Members of the public can comment on the draft transportation planning budget by Monday, March 11. After collaborating with local jurisdictions to review all comments and respond to questions, the BRTB will consider approval of the transportation planning budget at a meeting on Friday, April 19.

Ways to comment include:

• Online via a short survey at publicinput.com/BRTBbudget
• Sending an email to FY25BRTBbudget@publicinput.com
• Texting keyword ‘FY25BRTBbudget’ to 73224
• Leaving a voicemail toll-free via 855-925-2801x6880
• 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.