2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program and Air Quality Conformity
2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program and Air Quality Conformity
The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB), as the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Baltimore region, seeks public comments through Friday, July 9 on two transportation-related documents – the draft 2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the associated Air Quality Conformity Determination.
The TIP includes a proposed listing of federal, state, and local money for highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects during the next four years. The funding goes toward maintaining, operating, and expanding the transportation system. The TIP also translates recommendations from the long-range plan into a short-term program of improvements. The long-range plan identifies transportation improvements for the 20 years beyond the time frame of the TIP. As projects move from the conceptual into the implementation phase, they enter the TIP, which defines funding by fiscal year and funding source.
The TIP is not a “wish list” of projects, but rather must be fiscally constrained. This means that proposed funds in the TIP must not exceed the funds available over the next four years. The TIP is the region’s way of allocating these limited resources among its various capital and operating needs, based on a clear set of short-term transportation priorities.
Those intersted in learning more are invited to join us on Thursday, June 17 at 7 p.m. for a virtual public meeting and information session. RSVP below. Speakers include:
Ramond Robinson, Anne Arundel County Transportation Officer and Vice Chair of the BRTB
Nicole Hebert, Air Quality Planner
Keith Kucharek, Transportation Planner
Details about the TIP and Air Quality conformity are also below and on our story map.
The draft 2022-2025 TIP is the list of regional transportation projects requesting federal funding in the near term. It includes $4.04 billion in proposed funding (federal, state, local, toll revenue) for highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects during the next four years. The funding goes toward maintaining, operating and expanding the transportation system. These projects support regional goals such as accessibility, safety, and prosperity. Funding identified in the TIP is based on funding reasonably expected to be available from all sources.
The draft 2022-2025 TIP includes 129 projects, 6 of which are new. Highlights include:
Anne Arundel County is dedicating $14 million in funding for a multi-modal transportation center in Parole at the Westfield Annapolis Mall to serve existing local and regional bus service, with possible future connectivity to modes such as bikeshare, carshare, and ride hailing services;
Baltimore City, in partnership with the state of Maryland, is investing $12.6 million in an East-West Priority Bus Corridor, which will provide a comprehensive suite of investments facilitating more efficient transit trips, improving multimodal connections, and addressing existing safety issues.
Baltimore City is also moving forward on vital roadway rehabilitation investments, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements, on portions of Belair Road, 25th Street, Fremont Avenue, Madison Street, Park Heights Avenue, Patapsco Avenue, and Pennington Avenue.
Carroll and Harford Counties are dedicating federal and local funding for 20 essential bridge improvement projects.
Howard County continues progress on a $27 million project at the US 29 and Broken Land Parkway Interchange which will provide new direct connections from the westbound US 29/Broken Land Parkway interchange ramp to a new road (Merriweather Drive) and to Little Patuxent Parkway. The project will also provide a direct connection from Merriweather Drive to Broken Land Parkway.
MDOT SHA is dedicating $281 million in the draft 2022-2025 TIP on expanding the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) from I-70 to MD 43 by converting the inside shoulder into a new travel lane from I-70 to MD 43 and on reconstructing the interchange of I-695 and I-70.
The Maryland Port Administration is partnering with CSX to leverage federal grant funding to reconstruct the 125-year-old Howard Street Tunnel in order to create double-stack rail access to and from the Port of Baltimore.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is investing $102 million in toll revenues through 2027 on a project at the I-895/Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Toll Plaza replacing the existing toll booths with an overhead gantry which will eliminate traffic queues, improve vehicular and employee safety, and reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption.
MDTA also continues engineering and construction on a $1.1 billion project in Baltimore and Harford Counties adding two additional Express Toll Lanes on I-95 from north of MD 43 to north of MD 24. This project is funded with toll revenues.
Please view the draft 2022-2025 TIP through the BRTB’s interactive project map (below) and story map. The draft 2022-2025 TIP is also available in PDF format for download at baltometro.org.
Click on the image below to view the map and share your comments.
Public Meeting for 2022-2025 Transportation Improvement Program and Air Quality Conformity
Those interested in learning more about the draft 2022-2025 TIP and Air Quality Conformity may do so during a virtual public meeting and information session.