[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6577601,"mediaKeyId","3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0","parentId",3113388,"title","DPWT outlines FY2026 cuts and new programs; committee presses for sidewalks, shelters and clearer paving priorities","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",2673000,"endMs",3226000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0&start=2673&end=3226","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0/thumbnail_2673000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577601/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/DPWT-outlines-FY2026-cuts-and-new-programs-committee-presses-for-sidewalks-shelters-and-clearer-paving-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577601-24b69d51a78447e3a4f5521cf282adce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430739&Signature=LKsGoCgJ0Dpcxbaqg1NXBaGA7tklHNvEmz-jLEMofqTVfj5gRnX0dx8TQ9HxmzGgW5cIQjmGJfqxYU9Rc2EueZj1DHjBD0yeDhi0B1jvBQvtLpuRgEV4iHDFPHQJB8YQnWp9v0Y18UT~I7SCpxHffewvU1wmLWtOxHPfIvJRBSmr1o~aF0ctTJw1HyuPvLXiEruRJFZadELKXSjU9aWlqkCgV~LPSUOEb2hvs0sxM08Haq17ed-sZr4etwoIW-96BsYzOsJIfnN99ld3xDNCI7eZFWyZ~uCZU4jBtNtmsrg2yvqIkGO4LiLUYj4zJmD0OT9~6ayG4Tv7fEEwl-Ll8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Prince George's County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPWT) presented its FY2026 proposed budget and a wide-ranging overview of operational programs to the Transportation Infrastructure Energy Environment Committee, including street-sweeping expansion, a thin-lift paving pilot for low-traffic residential streets, a planned countywide sidewalk condition inventory and a multi-year transit transformation effort.

Budget overview and grants

\"The FY26 proposed budget for DPWT is approximately $45,100,000,\" DPWT budget analyst Miss Singleton told the committee, noting that figure represents a 33.1% decrease from the FY25 approved budget largely because one-time grant appropriations and vehicle purchases in FY25 do not repeat in FY26. Singleton said the department expects to request an FY25 supplemental to cover snow and ice control costs and explained proposed capital outlays for electric buses and paratransit equipment.

Street sweeping, paving pilot and sidewalks

DPWT described an expanded residential street-sweeping program that moved to phase two in April and will run in 24 sweeping zones; the department reported it had collected roughly 75 tons of litter in the program's first week. DPWT also described a thin-lift overlay pilot for lower-load residential streets that uses a 4.475-millimeter lift rather than conventional thicker asphalt builds in areas not subject to heavy truck loads.

On sidewalks, DPWT said it lacks a comprehensive, cleaned dataset of sidewalk conditions and is undertaking a countywide inventory and data cleaning effort. The department told the committee it expects an initial cleaned inventory by spring next year; council members asked for earlier briefings and the district-specific profiles DPWT said it has prepared to guide project prioritization.

Transit and bus shelters

DPWT presented a Transit Vision Plan (TVP) update and said it will complete a near-final draft and launch a public website; the department said the short-term network aims to make bus service more reliable and increase frequency toward a \"show up and go\" standard. DPWT also described a fleet diversification effort that includes hybrid and electric buses and retrofit work that reduced bus emissions.

Committee members pressed DPWT on bus shelter availability and accessibility for seniors. DPWT said the budget includes $900,000 for new and replacement bus shelters and estimated a per-shelter installation cost in the $17,000-$20,000 range to deliver accessible pads and amenities; the department said it expects to add roughly 16 stops/shelters in the coming period and that additional shelters could be funded through other CIP or bond choices.

Paving funding and equity questions

Multiple council members asked about how DPWT prioritizes paving across council districts. DPWT officials and the administration noted that the county's annual core paving allocation is approximately $25.5 million and that carry-forward and construction timing cause apparent year-to-year variation. DPWT said it is shifting toward a network-based approach for pavement investments rather than a strict equal-per-district split to improve overall pavement condition indices (PCI), and officials agreed to provide historical spending data and contract breakdowns to the council offices.

Other programs

DPWT highlighted accomplishments and operational work including tree planting and \"right tree, right place\" initiatives, storm-drain repairs and sediment removal, pond inspections and maintenance work, and an expansion of the county's bike-share network to new stations. The department said it has reduced a backlog of PGC 311 requests and moved the 311 handling into the director's office to speed response times.

Requests and next steps

Council members asked DPWT for district-level lists of planned paving, traffic studies and sidewalk/pedestrian safety projects, contract spending details for recent paving work, bus-shelter project lists by district, and timing on the sidewalk inventory data product. DPWT agreed to provide the requested lists and to brief the committee and district offices as the sidewalk and transit work progresses.

No committee vote was taken on DPWT's budget in this session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee - Budget Work-session: Department of Environment, Department of Public Works & Transportation - Apr 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","DPWT presented a smaller FY2026 operating budget and told the TIE committee about expanded street sweeping, a thin-lift paving pilot for light-load roads, a countywide sidewalk inventory and a transit transformation plan aimed at improving bus reliability.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577605,"County environment department warns of large enterprise fund deficits; committee questions service cuts",0,2570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0&start=2570&end=2570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0/thumbnail_2570000.jpg","/articles/6577605/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/County-environment-department-warns-of-large-enterprise-fund-deficits-committee-questions-service-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577605-bf67ecc1272d2dfe7400a1b2b43b7c8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430739&Signature=koLU2u0EWMG98nTnHBpWo6bO9rUf3RK1VYiZfCQdcv1ACtkM~RWU8wLb2w3o0Kl-0pBVBETSaRio7xSeePHQfU8MvPZvCFOAwvk1Uyq4nUvQklcLmh4iyaAmXVvWbDUNv-qn8MkWtfS4jA~CCQ2GXKxKeAHQRq-~zSAFZND5hHS3x5aI5h-RuE1Y5R2D2I96GV-Jq4vp1kUYMtCSLJ2DFJpHWK2KoRwiio8ghjk-Nc0NU4bgzeuEWr6rXzmqwpgRm8QHarAki54OctuEzQQHOaMInZioEFF2nBKF-lfczsHbaWxyF~7lldu0IQS7F5fzc9oCTMyG6G81qvs76PM89g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince George's County Department of the Environment (DOE) presented its proposed fiscal 2026 budget to the Transportation Infrastructure Energy Environment Committee and outlined a series of structural funding challenges the agency says will require service prioritization and program cuts.

\"The proposed budget for the Department of the Environment for fiscal year 2026 is $265,200,000,\" Alex Hertel, the county's legislative budget and policy analyst, told the committee. Hertel said that represents a $5.6 million increase over the prior year and that enterprise funds make up roughly 94.6% of the department's funding. He also told members the department requested a $571,900 supplemental for FY2025 for overtime at the animal shelter and other costs.

Hertel and DOE staff described three enterprise funds with pressure: solid waste, stormwater and local watershed protection. Hertel said the combined enterprise funds for those services are \"expected to exceed a combined deficit of $327,000,000 in fiscal year 2026,\" a figure he and other officials said is driven by higher operating costs, landfill maintenance and uncertain federal and state grant revenues.

Committee members asked detailed questions about how solid waste services are funded and about possible impacts to curbside collection. Hertel explained the solid waste fund draws on a system benefit charge paid by residents and additional fees for curbside collection; commercial haulers and some curbside contractors pay tipping fees at the landfill, though Hertel said the county negotiated waivers for some haulers in exchange for expanded curbside services.

\"Our rate right now is still lower than most area jurisdictions,\" Hertel said of tipping fees, noting a $77-per-ton rate instituted in January and a planned increase to $85 per ton on July 1.

Stormwater funding drew repeated committee attention. DOE officials said the fee structure currently in place (a rate described in the meeting as roughly five-and-a-half cents per $100 for most of the county, lower in a southern portion) is inadequate to cover long-term stormwater capital needs. Committee members were directed to forthcoming stormwater fund briefings planned by the administration and task force.

The department also told the committee it will pause the rain-check rebate program in FY2026 to redesign the program for better uptake. Director Early (county executive's office/DOE administration) said roughly $300,000 is currently budgeted for that program and typical annual expenditure has been about $175,000 to $200,000. The pause, department leaders said, is designed to allow retooling of the program with partner Chesapeake Bay Trust and to shift contractor work rather than lay off county staff.

Committee members pressed DOE for progress on landfill methane capture and monetization. DOE staff said they are preparing to negotiate with the top three bidders for a methane collection and monetization facility at the Brown Station Road landfill and hope to begin negotiations within weeks, with an award possible in the following months.

Animal services was another recurring subject. DOE officials said they plan to hire an in-house veterinarian pending council approval, are proposing kennel improvements, and are seeking bond funding for facility upgrades while they continue to plan a north-county shelter. DOE reported improvement in live-release rates to about 80% (up from roughly 40% in prior years) and noted continuing staffing challenges and high turnover in lower-paid animal care positions.

Other budget details included a proposed decrease in grant funding for FY2026 (Hertel reported an anticipated grant funding drop of roughly 54.6% driven by uncertain federal/state and foundation funding), and a departmental reorganization to add climate and energy and community engagement divisions. The county climate officer, DOE said, was hired in March 2025 and the administration plans to convene an interagency climate committee.

Committee members asked for follow-up materials, including more detail on tipping-fee waiver practices, a write-up on methane capture procurement, and a response to questions from the Solid Waste Advisory Commission. DOE officials said they would provide follow-up briefings and coordinate with council offices on outreach and program clarifications.

No formal committee action or vote on the DOE budget occurred in the meeting; the session consisted of presentation and Q&A.","Prince George's County Department of the Environment presented a proposed FY2026 budget that officials say includes a projected combined enterprise fund deficit and program reductions; committee members pressed department leaders on solid waste tipping fees, stormwater funding, the rain-check rebate pause and landfill methane capture.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577609,"Committee advances three amendments to county 10-year water and sewer plan",3349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0&start=3349&end=3349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3113388-2581a297fc4f350d965ebe274d9260e0/thumbnail_3349000.jpg","/articles/6577609/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Committee-advances-three-amendments-to-county-10-year-water-and-sewer-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577609-e884166c131d154b789c871303a47339/orig.mp4?Expires=1770430739&Signature=iR5xXQB981ihFgEKda0p5iwIUQvTR9blOIzgyFZb-m703vXfmQGukCtoCGE3hhl-p1aDdYMY7C-0rbBj5B86Wp2AKilMn~Q8RIn-IYmnYVskvVxCvBgbpSt~13hMkvs6W5Z~6AGnRnD69vFFHfcjwgA-aF~qjcEbgnWgtWswfihjUG88BtoRlYkBJIQ0xp~RJnfSfFEKCMnCfQZn6sE25CChHXH9MQmMTifIP10FbFjCwkZYfDWZ6ItV0voOQHFs3orjlnboCxjEVOaKjJllqlMJ4KRk4ytbK7M2hMFPiqvdZfk9UO58b5QWBH9Oy40XEIXrDHAUvy11OPhH7AlKfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Transportation Infrastructure Energy Environment Committee voted to move favorable CR 30 7 20 20 5, the December cycle of amendments to Prince George's County's 10-year water and sewer plan, after a brief staff presentation and no committee discussion.

\"CR 30 7 20 20 5 is the December cycle of amendments to the, county's 10 year water and sewer plan,\" County staff member Mister Battle told the committee, listing three applications covered by the resolution. The committee recorded a 3-0 vote in favor of the recommendation.

The resolution covers three separate requests, each seeking a redesignation from category 5 to category 4. According to Battle's presentation, the requests are: 24 W O 1 Glorious International Christian Center (District 9), which would allow construction of a 350,000-square-foot church; 24 P 05 Allentown Parcel 232 (District 8), proposing three single-family dwellings; and 24 P 07 Johnny M Johnson (second property), a site where a property owner intends to build a personal residence and which does not require a public preliminary plan of subdivision.

Battle told the committee the planning board had reviewed the applications and concurred with the county executive's recommendation for approval. Committee members moved, seconded and recorded the favorable recommendation with a roll call vote that produced three ayes and no nays. The clerk noted the motion carried 3-0.

The redesignations to category 4 allow applicants to file preliminary plans of subdivision and proceed in the development process. Battle also noted minor map updates to acknowledge properties already connected to the sewer system or eligible for connection.

Votes at a glance

- CR 30 7 20 20 5 (December cycle amendments to the county 10-year water and sewer plan): Motion to move favorable by Vice Chair Harrison; second by Mister Genova. Vote: Chair Olsen ' aye; Council member DeNogue ' aye; Vice Chair Harrison ' aye. Outcome: approved (motion carries 3-0).

Committee members did not request additional analysis during the meeting. Staff present for the item included Shirley Branch (DPIE), Susan Dweck (Health Department) and Bobby Ray (Planning Board), who were acknowledged by Mister Battle during his presentation.

The committee record does not include subsequent final adoption steps; the resolution will proceed according to the council's normal legislative process.","The Transportation Infrastructure Energy Environment Committee voted 3-0 to send a resolution that moves three properties from category 5 to category 4 in the county's 10-year water and sewer plan; the planning board and county executive recommended approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DPWT outlines FY2026 cuts and new programs; committee presses for sidewalks, shelters and clearer paving priorities

County environment department warns of large enterprise fund deficits; committee questions service cuts

Committee advances three amendments to county 10-year water and sewer plan