The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), through its Commuter Choice Maryland Program, announced a new transportation demand management initiative designed to promote alternative transportation options for businesses and commuters along a five-mile segment of MD 295, helping improve travel reliability amid impacts from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.  

The MD 295 pilot program will partner with employers to encourage alternatives to driving alone. Through targeted outreach and employer engagement, MDOT will educate businesses and employees on available commuting options and incentives. The initiative is designed to help employers along the corridor, between West Nursery Road and I-95, provide best in class commuter benefits that support employee retention while identifying which strategies have the greatest impact on easing congestion. 

“It is critical to help commuters find solutions to reduce stress and congestion – both after the Key Bridge collapse and during the rebuild,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Katie Thomson. “That includes providing real-time information, expanding travel alternatives and connecting commuters with new resources and incentives.” 

The MD 295 corridor is home to a diverse mix of work sites, including schools and medical facilities that support essential services. Since the Key Bridge collapsed nearly two years ago, the corridor has experienced reduced travel reliability and slower speeds. MDOT has adjusted construction schedules, modified traffic patterns and introduced new incentives to ease congestion and improve safety.  The corridor pilot builds on those efforts by promoting commuting alternatives. As part of the initiative, MDOT will host a virtual informational workshop on January 27, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Employers may register here. 

Employers in the corridor can participate in four simple steps: 

Register for the virtual workshop to indicate interest in participating in the pilot; 

Work with MDOT to assess current commuting patterns through an employee survey; 

Implement and promote commuter benefits with MDOT’s free support; and 

Conduct a follow-up survey to identify outcomes and key takeaways. 

Residents and commuters interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the new Corridor Pilot web page HERE, which includes additional resources and opportunities to get involved. The pilot program will run for six months, concluding this summer.