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Secretary's Office of Planning, Programming, and Program Delivery |
On behalf of the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Secretary’s Office of Planning, Programming, and Project Delivery (OPPPD) remains committed to keeping you informed, educated and updated. We hope this newsletter will help you stay
up-to-date on current OPPPD initiatives and reports. |
Welcome to the newly restructured Office of Planning, Programming, and Project Delivery (OPPPD) newsletter. OPPPD (formerly the Office of Planning and Capital Programming) consists of four main subject areas – planning,
capital programming and asset management, rail and intermodal freight, and project development and delivery of larger multimodal projects. Within this publication you will learn about exciting news pertaining to planning initiatives; congestion mitigation strategies, upcoming or recently published reports, project developments, grant awards, capital programming, intermodal freight and rail projects, and much more! This issue includes: - the Draft Maryland Consolidated
Transportation Program,
- rail grant award and project updates,
- See Tracks? Think Train Week 2024,
- unlock new commuting opportunities this fall, and
- resources & other information.
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The Draft Maryland Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) |
Draft FY 2025 - FY 2030 CTP Report The Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) is
Maryland's six-year capital budget for transportation projects. The CTP contains projects and programs across MDOT. MDOT released the Draft FY 2025 - FY 2030 CTP Report on September 3. MDOT is committed to minimizing adverse impacts, conserving natural resources, and integrating sustainability and active transportation into all aspects of
transportation systems. Our commitment extends to the environment, our customers, our staff and the communities in which we operate. As such, MDOT will no longer be providing printed copies of the complete CTP book.
Fall CTP Tour Meetings MDOT officials conduct a tour of all 23
Maryland counties and Baltimore City to update local officials and the public on the Draft CTP and its investments in MDOT transportation. This year, tours kick off with the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) on September 6 and conclude on October 28.
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Rail Grant Award and Project Updates Maryland Awarded $20,000 in Federal Grant Funds to Stop Track Tragedies The Maryland Operation Lifesaver Program was awarded $20,000 in federal grant funds through OLI and FHWA's Competitive Crossing Safety State Grant to complete the Stop Track Tragedies Campaign at various Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train Stations in Maryland. The overall goal of the Stop Track Tragedies Campaign is to reduce accidents by bringing a greater awareness to the concerns regarding train tragedies surrounding the MARC station and platform crossings and nearby trespassing hotspots and educate commuters on the safety of crossing the tracks and being around the trains along the platforms. The Stop Track Tragedies Campaign will address safety at the at-grade pedestrian station crossings at the following MARC
Stations: West Baltimore on the Penn Line; Kensington, Gaithersburg, and Point of Rocks on the Brunswick Line; and Riverdale Park on the Camden Line. The Stop Track Tragedies Campaign also will address trespassing prevention along two MARC corridors: the Penn Line between the BWI and Seabrook Stations and the Camden Line between the Laurel and Riverdale Park Stations. The Campaign consists of four components: signage/visual messaging, audio messaging, social media advertising, and in-person events. |
MTA Freight Rail Chestertown Line Worton Track Safety Project Update MTA recently completed the rehabilitation of two sections of the Chestertown Line, located in Kent County, Maryland. The rehabilitation of the first section of the project included the replacement of rail, crossties, ballast and drainage improvements at the “Worton Curve” near Worton. The second section of the project included the replacement of rail, crossties, ballast, drainage improvements and the replacement of a deteriorated
switch serving the Eastman Specialties facility at Worton. The completed project addressed safety concerns and extended the life cycle of track to support continued safe operation of the Chestertown Line.
The project was funded partially through a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) discretionary grant
and with local matching funds provided by MTA, the Maryland Department of Commerce, the County Commissioners of Kent County, the Maryland and Delaware Railroad (MDDE), the Delmarva Central Railroad and Eastman Specialties Corporation.
See Tracks? Think Train Week 2024 In Maryland each year, on average 23 people are killed or injured in grade crossing and trespassing incidents. MDOT and Maryland Operation Lifesaver are committed to helping reduce the number of fatalities and injuries that
occur around tracks and trains and to prevent these needless incidents from happening.
This year, See Tracks? Think Train Week (previously Rail Safety Week) will be observed September 23-29 in North America and encourages the public to help #STOPTrackTragedies.
As part of See Tracks? Think Train Week, an ongoing campaign called #STOPTrackTragedies features videos with the personal stories of people directly affected by rail crossing or trespassing incidents — including victims, friends and family members, locomotive engineers, and first responders. The full campaign can be viewed here. Each day of See Tracks? Think Train Week, Maryland will emphasize a different theme. This year’s themes include:
- Monday, September 23, kicks off the week with the overarching theme of #STOPTrackTragedies.
- Tuesday, September 24, focuses on the annual observance of Operation Clear Track in the U.S. and Canada, which emphasizes the importance of obeying crossing safety and anti-trespass laws.
- Wednesday, September 25, highlights Crossing Safety.
- Thursday, September 26, Transit Safety Thursday and Professional Driver Safety, showcases how to stay safe as a rail commuter or transit rider.
- Friday, September 27, focuses on Volunteering for Operation Lifesaver
and Wearing Red or "Red Out" for Rail Safety.
- Saturday, September 28, highlights Trespass Prevention, educating pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, college students, people experiencing homelessness and outdoor enthusiasts about the dangers posed by being on or near the tracks.
- Sunday, September 29, promotes No Photo, Video or Selfie is Worth the Risk.
Even if there are not any railroad tracks in your community, all Marylanders are likely to encounter tracks and trains. With 140,000 miles of track and 212,000 railroad crossings throughout the U.S., it’s important that
everyone knows how to stay safe around tracks and trains!
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Unlock New Commuting Opportunities this Fall Does your commute take you to or through the Baltimore region? As schools return for a new year and traffic congestion remains, now is the perfect time to explore your commuting options. Visit our new website www.BaltimoreCommutes.org and set up your free account to find ridematches, register for the free Guaranteed Ride Home
program, download incenTrip and much more. Trying a different commute option (even a few times per month) can help reduce traffic throughout the region. And, you might find a new cost-effective, lower-stress way to commute. If you’re an employer, visit our Key Bridge Commute webpage for ideas on how to help your team by providing commuter options and programs that benefit the region (and
your business)! Offer telework days for employees who can work remotely and for those who can’t, consider compressed or flexible schedule options to help commuters avoid peak traffic times. Provide transit passes and trip planning information, carpool and vanpool subsidies and preferred parking and discounts for walking and biking commuters. Subsidizing any of these options may qualify your organization to claim up to $1,200 per employee per year with the Maryland Commuter Tax Credit. Get everyone out of traffic, save parking for your customers and improve your recruitment and
retention. Commuter Choice Maryland can help you figure all of this out for FREE. Get started by contacting us at 410-865-1100 or commuterchoice@mdot.maryland.gov.
Like, Follow and Share Commuter Choice Maryland
Need some new
content in your daily scrolling sessions? Find and follow Commuter Choice Maryland at @CommuterChoiceMD on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn! Get tips on how to save time and money on commuting, find out how other Maryland employers are making the commute easier for
their team and maybe laugh at an occasional celebrity interview or dad joke.
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Resources & Other Information To learn more about other OPPPD programs, click the links below. Programs Other Information |
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