UPWP CONSULTANT PROJECTS 

The 2024 UPWP includes a number of projects. As part of the planning process for many of these projects, we are looking at ways we can increase your awareness and involvement. This may be through a project advisory committee, focus group, survey, or briefing.  

Below you'll find a list of upcoming projects we anticipate to get underway in 2024.  

• Baltimore Regional Freight Profile - to develop a comprehensive needs assessment of major freight generators such as ports, airports, distribution centers, and warehouse districts. Additionally, the study will develop a needs assessment for major freight corridors, intermodal connectors, STRAHNET, truck rest stops and inspection stations, and rail lines. RFP not yet released.
• Coordinating Affordable Housing and Transportation - to conduct a series of demographically representative focus groups that will help local policy makers understand overall public attitudes on housing supply and affordable housing. The insights should include how those attitudes toward housing relate to public transportation and other forms of mobility, as well as wealth-building and other types of economic opportunity. Consultant selection imminent.
• Fares Fees and Fines - seeks to assess the impact of transportation fees, fines, and fares on low-income individuals and vulnerable populations in the Baltimore region. The project will assess the impacts of these costs on these populations, summarize transportation revenue sources in the region, identify and evaluate strategies to alleviate the disproportionate financial burden on lower-income individuals, understand tradeoffs between affordability strategies and revenue generation, and recommend policy changes to reduce inequitable financial impacts. Consultant selection imminent. 
• Local Signal Infrastructure Assessment – a pilot program will assess inspection programs in the region (state and local), best practices from around the US, and field inspections of 40-50 intersections in the region as a baseline condition. Based on the results of this pilot program and future funding availability, similar inspections will be conducted on a 3-5 year cycle.
• Making Transit Oriented Development Viable in the Baltimore Region - To support TOD in the Baltimore region, this project will develop a guide or toolkit including recommendations specific to the Baltimore region for improving the viability of TOD. Topics to be addressed in the guide would include best practices for planning, incentives, and improved transit.  This task was withdrawn after MDOT and MEDCO released 2 RFPs in August on TOD, one was titled Penn Line TOD Development Strategy and one was titled Baltimore TOD Investment Study.
• Microtransit Solutions - to support microtransit in the Baltimore region by developing best practices for implementing, operating and funding microtransit, including regional coordination. RFP not yet released.
• Patapsco Regional Greenway: Stoney Run -  to complete 30% design for this approximately 4-mile segment between Elkridge in Howard County and the BWI Trail in Anne Arundel County that will connect to other segments of the PRG. Consultant selected, working on contract.
• Patapsco Regional Greenway: Branding Scheme plus Operations and Maintenance Strategy - to develop a branding plan for the PRG as well as an operations and maintenance plan for the PRG. RFP not yet released.
• Post-pandemic Trends in Employment, Commercial Real Estate, Housing Location Choice, and Travel Demand - seeks a consultant for a 2 phased project: 1) surveys of regional workers and employers to determine the current state of remote work arrangements and policies, and what they may look like in the future and 2) incorporate the results of the first, and the analyses will explain how the shifts in work arrangements are expected to affect employment and demographic trends, commercial real estate markets, and home location decisions in the Baltimore region. Consultant selection imminent.
• Support For Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Infrastructure -  to inform local jurisdictions with options on how to provide EV charging opportunities to existing residential housing, specifically for rowhomes, apartments and condos. RFP not yet released.
• Vision for a Regional Bicycle Network - seeks a consultant to develop a statement of vision, goals and objectives; development of criteria for a regional bicycle network; analysis of current conditions and identification of the regional bicycle network; a final plan; and educational and outreach materials to increase awareness and support of the vision for a regional bicycle network in the Baltimore region. Consultant selection anticipated in several weeks.​

Do any of these sound interesting to you?  Please let us know your top 3 interests below.