SPRING 2026

• MD 295 Corridor Pilot Gaining Momentum with Six State Agency Partners, 
• Maryland State Freight Plan Update,
• Commuter Choice Maryland Annual Report: 2025 Year in Review,
• Railroad Information Manual (RIM) Update,
• MDOT's Transportation Trails Strategic Plan Award, and
• Resources, Events, & other information.

The MD 295 Corridor Pilot project, focused on providing Commuter Choice Maryland's free support to employers and commuters along the MD 295 corridor (between West Nursery Road and I-95), is gaining momentum through partnerships with six state agencies.  

The six state agencies committed to the pilot include: the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). 

All six agencies are committed partners in our pilot efforts, and more than half have hosted, attended, or planned commuter-focused events to engage employees and promote sustainable commuting options. 

Recent highlights include two interagency discussions—attended by the MPA and MSDE—focused on sharing Commuter Choice Maryland resources and helping employees explore new ways to get to work. Upcoming events include MVA’s Earth Day event and a Lunch and Learn session with MAA. 

Employee engagement is growing, with more than 200 state employees participating in the corridor survey as of early April. This early response demonstrates strong interest in different commuting options and supports CCM’s goals to reduce congestion and improve travel along the MD 295 corridor. 

As the pilot continues, MDOT will continue to work with partner agencies to expand programming, raise awareness, and support more efficient, sustainable commuting choices for state employees. 

Employers and organizations interested in learning more or getting involved are encouraged to visit mdot.maryland.gov/295 and/or contact the team at [email protected]. 

On April 8, the MDOT Office of Planning, Programming, and Project Delivery hosted the spring State Freight Advisory Committee (SFAC) meeting. The hybrid meeting hosted 35 individuals from MDOT, railroads, state agency partners, MPOs, federal agencies, and industry advocates. The meeting kicked off with MDOT Assistant Secretary Joe McAndrew welcoming new and existing SFAC members and helped set a focus for the next six months. The SFAC meeting also included presentations on modal freight efforts including, truck parking, the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild, and ongoing Port of Baltimore initiatives. The next SFAC meeting will be held in June.

The SFAC will be assisting with the development of the 2026 update to the Maryland State Freight Plan, which is a federally mandated, four-year update. The Plan will be submitted to USDOT for review in early September and adopted by December 5, 2026. The Plan will follow the 17 federally required elements but will be include inputs from the SFAC and our modal partners. 

We are excited to announce that we recently published our Commuter Choice Maryland (CCM) Annual Report: 2025 Year in Review. This publication highlights all the great strides the CCM program has made throughout 2025, including the new Ride Together Rewards: Transit, Carpool, and Vanpool Incentives Programs; the continued success of the Employer Partner Program; and insights into the program’s outreach and marketing strategies and efforts. To read the full report (PDF), click the button below.

The Railroad Information Manual (RIM) provides information about a broad series of topics relating to the administration and use of state-owned freight railroad corridors. The RIM is intended as a first-stop reference to help all stakeholders understand processes and expectations relating to the use of such railroad corridors. The first edition of the manual was published February 21, 2025, and has become an indispensable tool in managing railroad corridor assets under state ownership.

The RIM 2^nd Edition has been developed and revised as a joint effort between the MDOT Office of Rail Safety and Economic Development, the Maryland Transit Administration, and local stakeholders and railroad partners. Updates for the 2^nd Edition include new sections on unauthorized activities, the project initiation process, engineering review, and the highway-rail grade crossing safety program. The RIM is intended to be updated annually to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information. The 2^nd Edition will be published in late spring 2026.

Any questions or comments regarding the RIM can be directed to the MDOT Office of Rail Safety and Economic Development via email at [email protected].

MDOT's Transportation Trails Strategic Plan was recently awarded the 2026 Maryland Sustainable Growth Award for Policy by Governor Moore, Secretary Flora, Secretary Day, and Assistant Secretary McAndrew! This is an impressive plan, and an even more impressive planning effort led by Aviva Klugh, Strategic Planning Manager and Meg Young, Deputy Director of Active Transportation and Micromobility. During the course of 12-months, Aviva, Meg, and many other team members collaborated with more than 75 stakeholders throughout the state to plan, prioritize, and create tools to help MDOT and our local partners accelerate delivery of the planned trail system. Additionally, the team developed an interactive website and map, which has been well received (kudos to Andrew Bernish, our GIS and web support member!). Congratulations to Aviva, Meg, and the collective team for the Governor's award!

To learn more about other OPPPD programs, click the links below.

Upcoming Events

For more events, visit the Commuter Choice Maryland Events page (webpage) here.

Programs

• Ride Together Rewards
• Commuter Choice Maryland Employer Partner Program
• MDOT Freight Rail Grant Program
• Maryland Commuter Tax Credit
• Federal grant resources and assistance