B’more Involved keeps you informed and engaged in activities around the region. Each month, discover opportunities to shape the Baltimore region's future through surveys, events, and public meetings. Don’t just stay informed—get involved and make an impact!

In the September 2026 issue: We're highlighting exciting new Bus Rapid Transit developments in Howard County- plus hear about Baltimore City's "RAISE" project progression, engage with Maryland's new "Slow the Fast Down" campaign, and discover opportunities to learn more about MDOT's Consolidation Transportation Program in your community. Additionally, we are sharing exciting progress on our long range transportation plan (LRTP), RegionNext 2055. As always, stay engaged through upcoming meetings and the BMC Engagement Hub.

IMPORTANT UPDATES ON REGIONNEXT 2027

What will transportation look like across the Baltimore region in 2055? That’s the question behind RegionNext2055, the region’s next long-range transportation plan (LRTP).

Currently under development, RegionNext2055 will guide transportation investments across Baltimore City, Annapolis, and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, and Queen Anne’s Counties. The plan will consider proposed federally-funded projects across roads, transit, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, freight, and other transportation investments, while accounting for the funding the region can realistically expect to have available.

But before projects make their way into the plan, there is a lot of research and analysis happening behind the scenes.

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is launching a monthly series of white papers as part of the planning process for RegionNext2055. These short papers explore specific transportation issues, trends, and challenges facing the region. They build on a series of more detailed white papers written for the current LRTP, Resilience 2050. The first white paper focuses on the transit landscape in the Baltimore region, with future topics including air quality and roadway safety. Each white paper is accompanied by a short survey to gather your input. 

The BRTB has also released a draft list of proposed projects for consideration in RegionNext2055, including a variety of active transportation, roadway, and transit projects. BRTB members submitted projects in mid-2026. The BMC team is currently working on project scoring and cost estimation. 

The BRTB will release a draft plan for public comment in 2027. Visit our engagement hub to stay involved with RegionNext2055, read the white papers, and view the draft list of submitted projects.

HELP SHAPE HOWARD COUNTY'S KINDLER BRIDGE STUDY

Howard County is exploring the potential of constructing a pedestrian and bicycle bridge connecting Kindler Road and Eden Brook Drive over the Middle Patuxent River. While a previous roadway and vehicle bridge existed in this location, it was destroyed by Hurricane Agnes in 1972.  While Howard County is still in the process of conducting a feasibility study, residents are invited to provide their input and feedback throughout the process.

While they hosted a public meeting on Tuesday, September 15, Howard County will also be providing a feedback survey that will be available following the meeting and up until October 2, 2026.

More details on the plans, routes, meeting materials, and survey link can be found on the Howard County website.

DESIGN PROCESS FOR BALTIMORE CITY'S "RAISE" PROJECT PROGRESSES

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transit Priority Project is a collaborative project between the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT). The projects also offer the assistance of the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) and Baltimore County.

The RAISE Project seeks to provide improvements around two key bus lines: CityLink Blue and CityLink Orange. Proposed improvements include full-time and peak-time Dedicated Bus Lanes (DBLs), Real-Time Information Signs (RTIS), bus stop upgrades, safety enhancements for pedestrians, alongside other general safety and efficiency upgrades. 

While construction will begin shortly on these improvements, MTA and BCDOT are still seeking feedback on their current plans. Interactive maps, common concerns, open-feedback forms, and a potential timeline can be found on the RAISE Baltimore website.

EXPLORE MARYLAND'S NEW DRIVING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: "SLOW THE FAST DOWN"

On July 7, 2026, Maryland Governor Wes Moore unveiled Maryland's new highway safety campaign, titled "Slow The Fast Down". The campaign's direct wording and straight-forward message signals to Maryland drivers that higher speeds on the road result in higher fatality and injury risks. 

Each year, nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities are caused by excessive speed, and speed is often a major contributing factor in other traffic incidents. According to the campaign, the data is clear: higher speeds reduce reaction time, lengthen stopping distance, and increase crash severity.

The campaign has launched an interactive website where you can explore the correlation between speed and higher crash risk, lengthened stopping distance, and other consequences of high speed. Check out the Slow The Fast Down campaign to explore!

BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (BCDOT) AWARDED OVER $10 MILLION FOR FERRY IMPROVEMENTS

As a part of the Federal Transit Administration's ferry grant programs, the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) has been awarded $10,935,000 for the Harbor Connector Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility and State of Good Repair Program.

This grant is one 23 ferry infrastructure projects across 14 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Federal investments total $665 million, and Baltimore's grant will mostly focus on ADA accessibility, state of good repair, and electric/low-emitting ferry infrastructure.

These improvements will provide a safer, more accessible, and reliable ferry transit system throughout Baltimore's harbor region.

ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR BALTIMORE'S B&P TUNNEL REPLACEMENT

Did you know that the biggest bottleneck on Amtrak's most crowded route, the Northeast Corridor (NEC) , is right in the heart of Baltimore? The bottleneck occurs in Baltimore's Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel (B&P), an over 150-year old tunnel dating back to the late 1800's. The tunnel is the oldest operating tunnel in Amtrak's network, and provides a substantial delay in travelers between Washington D.C. and Boston on the NEC.

However, Amtrak is undergoing an ambitious plan to replace the aging tunnel. Amtrak is taking steps to advance construction on the new Frederick Douglas Tunnel, a 2-mile tunnel that will allow trains at speeds up to 100 mph, three times the current limit with the B&P Tunnel.

HOWARD COUNTY TAKES STEP TO EXPANDING BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) SERVICE

For the past few decades, Howard County has been evaluating the prospect of introducing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to the jurisdiction. This September, the county is taking an important step to expanding BRT access to the region.

Starting on September 8, 2026, the Flash Bus, which runs in Montgomery County, is expanding along the US-29 corridor into Howard County. The new route adds Howard County stops in Fulton (Maple Lawn Boulevard, APL - Johns Hopkins Road) and Columbia (Merriweather Drive, Little Patuxent Parkway). The extension is a part of the Flash Blue Route, which runs every 15-20 minutes, weekdays only, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Additional information, FAQs, and a map of the extension can be found on the Howard County Website.

MDOT CAPITAL PROGRAMMING 2026 TOUR- LOOK FOR MEETINGS IN YOUR JURISDICTION!

Each year, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) travels throughout different counties to share the projects, programs, and opportunities included in their Consolidation Transportation Program (CTP). The CTP is Maryland's six-year capital budget for transportation projects. The full 2026-2031 CTP can be found on the MDOT Website, where it contains details on specific projects, programs, and goals MDOT seeks to accomplish for the region.

MDOT has released their Fall 2026 CTP Tour schedule, occurring throughout September and concluding in November. If interested, please consider attending the meetings below to learn more about the projects occurring in your community. Meetings will be help both in-person and virtually.

• Wednesday, September 30
  • Baltimore City- 10:00 a.m.
    • Board of Estimates Chamber, Baltimore City Hall (2nd floor), 100 Holliday Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
    • Livestream
    • Baltimore County- 1:00 p.m.
      • Towson University, University Union Ballrooms 302 D&E, 281 University Avenue, Towson, MD 21204
      • Livestream
• Monday, October 5
  • Anne Arundel County- 4:00 p.m.
    • Council Chambers, Arundel Center 1st floor, 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
    • Livestream
• Wednesday, October 7
  • Harford County- 2:00 p.m.
    • ​​​​​​​Harford County Council Chambers, 212 South Bond Street, Bel Air, MD 21014
    • Livestream information TBD
• Tuesday, October 27
  • Queen Anne's County- 2:00 p.m.
    • Queen Anne's County Commissioner's Office, 107 North Liberty Street, Centreville, MD 21617
    • Livestream

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS

September is here, and  students have already made their way back to school! With school buses and young pedestrians returning to the roads, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) would like to remind everyone to practice extra caution on our roadways.

• Slow down in school zones: Watch for reduced speed limits and crossing guards in designated school zones.
• Stop for school buses: Do not pass a bus from any direction when its red lights are flashing and its stop bar is extended.
• Stay alert: Eliminate distractions such as cell phones, and watch for children near curbs and intersections.
• Walk & ride safety: Remind students to use designated crosswalks and to always wear helmets when biking or scootering.

Lets all work together to ensure a safe start to the school year! Be sure to check out the Maryland Center for School Safety for tips on how to stay safe when traveling to and from school.
 

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FALL 2026 TRANSPORTATION 101

Want to learn more about transportation planning and funding? Look no further than The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance's (CMTA) Fall 2026 Transportation 101 course!

Transportation 101 is a 7 week course that invites participants to learn from local leaders to develop their knowledge of transportation planning, transit advocacy, and active transportation. By the end of the course, graduates will be fully equipped to help inform policymakers, business leaders, and the general public on transportation choices and infrastructure investments.

Those interested in Transportation 101 can check out the course overview and application on the CMTA Website.

OUR MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ALL 

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board and its subcommittees meet regularly to plan for the future of transportation in our region.  

These meetings are open to the public. Some meetings are held in person at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, located at 1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21230, while all are live-streamed online via zoom. Recordings are posted on the BMC website. 

Check out our calendar at baltometro.org

JOIN THE TRANSPORTATION CORE - WE NEED YOUR VOICE 

If you live or work in Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, Howard, or Queen Anne’s County, we’d love to hear from you. The BRTB is seeking motivated volunteers from these areas to help shape the future of transportation and planning in our region.

By joining, you’ll take part in online surveys and a handful of virtual meetings each year. Your input helps us improve our projects, plans and outreach efforts.

Let’s build a better Baltimore region—together! Apply today
 

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE BMC ENGAGEMENT HUB

Did you know the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) shares updates on a wide range of projects and plans — not just transportation? Stay connected, stay informed, and shape your region — Visit the BMC Engagement Hub today! 

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