EDITION 35: NOVEMBER 2025 |
New MDOT Applications Under Active Consideration West Virginia - Western Maryland Passenger Rail Extension Grant Program: Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program Agency: Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Description: $1M submission to advance the feasibility planning and design of a potential extension of MARC’s Brunswick Line passenger rail service from Martinsburg, West Virginia to Cumberland, Maryland, enhancing regional connectivity across approximately 70 route miles. The
project will construct enabling infrastructure at key points along the 90-mile corridor, including track and station modifications in Brunswick, Maryland, a new station facility in Hancock, West Virginia, and terminal facilities in Cumberland, Maryland. The project supports the goals of both the West Virginia and the Maryland State Rail Plans, addressing capacity challenges, reducing commute times, and promoting safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation options. Unlocking Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) through Innovative Financing on the Camden & Brunswick MARC Lines Grant Program: Innovative Financing and Asset Concession (IFAC) Grant Program Agency: The Secretary’s Office (TSO), MDOT Description: $1M submission to evaluate and advance transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities at six priority stations along the Camden and Brunswick MARC Lines by leveraging innovative financing and asset concession models. Sponsored by the Maryland Department of Transportation
and led by the Office of Real Estate and Economic Development in partnership with MTA, the effort includes a systemwide asset scan, facility needs assessments, preliminary concept designs, cost estimation, business case analysis, and development of an implementation roadmap. By building organizational capacity and engaging private-sector partners, the project will complete Maryland’s systemwide TOD strategy, aligning with Governor Moore’s affordable housing and economic development
priorities. Regional Bus Network Asset Scan and Innovative Finance Analysis Grant Program: Innovative Financing and Asset Concession (IFAC) Grant Program Agency: Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Description: $1M submission to conduct a comprehensive asset scan and innovative finance analysis to strengthen Maryland’s regional bus network. The 24-month effort will evaluate state, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County-owned properties for potential use in bus system
improvements, including a Fifth Bus Division facility, regional transfer hubs, strategic layover sites, and TOD opportunities with strong bus connections. These improvements aim to expand fleet capacity by 20-25 percent, reduce travel times through bus priority measures, and align with MTA’s BMORE Bus Plan and Statewide Transit Plan goals to increase access to jobs and
housing. |
Other News Helping Local Governments Access Federal Funding Opportunities The recent MDOT’s blog post, “MDOT Grants: Empowering Maryland’s Local Governments to Access Federal Funding,” highlights how local governments across Maryland are leveraging nearly $1B in federal grants through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The piece showcases how technical assistance, application reviews, and success stories like the Town of Berlin’s pedestrian crossing improvements
and Washington County’s new bus facility are helping municipalities, counties, and regional agencies expand access to federal funding and strengthen Maryland’s transportation network. The blog also emphasizes MDOT’s ongoing commitment to supporting local partners through training, workshops, and tailored grant guidance. These coordinated efforts ensure that communities of all sizes can compete successfully for transformative infrastructure funding. Read the full story here. Open Federal IIJA Opportunities *Note: Some of these federal grants are subject to ongoing federal decisions. Please check these links for any updated information. For more information about Open Federal Discretionary Grants,
visit our webpage. |
Maryland Call for Projects: FY27-29 FLAP Funding The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) is accepting applications for the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) in Maryland for FY 2027 through 2029. Eligible applicants: State, county, tribal, and local agencies coordinating with Federal Land Management Agencies; about $3.8M available for Maryland. Program goal: Improve safe, reliable access to federal lands, focusing on high-use recreation and economic sites. Eligible projects: Capital improvements, enhancements, surface preservation, transit, planning, and research. Application period: September 1 to December 1, 2025; 100% federal funding, no match required. Click here for additional details, application materials, and resources. |
All FY2026 Congressionally Directed Spending disclosures have been posted. The following links provide information on the disclosure pages for members of the House and Senate:
Visit our website for additional resources, including: - MDOT's EV Charger Siting & Installation Partnering Form
- Uniform Grants Guidance 2024 Revision
- Clean Cities and Communities: Funding Opportunities
- USDOT IIJA
Program
- USDOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard
- BIL Launchpad
- DOT Navigator
- MDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
- MDOT's Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP)
|
Did someone share this with you? Sign up to receive future issues here! Follow MDOT on X, LinkedIn and Facebook! We want to support you! Reach out to discuss your capital priorities, federal funding opportunities and how we can work together. Please visit the MDOT IIJA Federal
Discretionary Grant Information website to learn more or to view previous newsletter editions by clicking the button below. Email MDOTPlanning@mdot.maryland.gov with any questions or general inquiries. |
|
