Acting Maryland Transportation Secretary Samantha Biddle told Carroll County officials that MDOT's draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) totals $21,500,000,000 and includes investments aimed at safety, state of good repair and economic growth.

'We are continuing to push forward to expedite progress, to sharply bend the curve on all roadway fatalities and serious injuries,' Biddle said, adding MDOT is pairing new state revenues with federal resources to stretch funds.

The administration said the increased annual transportation revenue passed during the recent legislative session raised roughly $400,000,000 in recurring state transportation revenues; MDOT said those dollars, combined with federal matches and financing tools, increase annual transportation funding to about $700,000,000. The draft CTP the department presented is about $300,000,000 larger than the final CTP released in January.

Local projects cited for Carroll County include:

- A multi-year program to replace 26 reservoir bridges, a roughly $46,000,000 effort for which design began this past spring; MDOT officials said design may finish in 2027 with construction anticipated to start in 2028.

- A New Windsor sidewalk project on Maryland 31 from Lambert Avenue to East Church Street, with the district engineer confirming sidewalk improvements are scheduled for 2027.

- A $220,000 bikeways grant for the town of Mount Airy to advance an east'west multi-use trail at Watkins Park.

- Nearly $226,000 from the Maryland Aviation Administration for Carroll County Regional Airport for an automated weather observation system replacement and land acquisition toward a runway-extension project.

Maryland State Highway Administrator Will Pines described recent local work and near-term activity: SHA completed a $16,400,000 project replacing bridges on Maryland 91, upgraded crosswalks in Sykesville and New Windsor, reduced a speed limit on MD 30 business in Hampstead and narrowed lanes while adding shoulders on MD 27 to improve bicyclist access.

'Repairs are underway' on a large bridge strike earlier this month at MD 27 and I-70, Pines said, thanking local emergency crews for their response as the agency worked to minimize traffic impacts.

MDOT officials said the department has advanced planning and engineering on several corridors, including a Federal Highway Administration review of a planning and environmental linkages (PEL) study for the MD 97 corridor. Officials cautioned some projects remain unfunded for design, utilities or construction and that construction timelines depend on final scope, traffic maintenance needs and utility work.

The department invited county and municipal staff to follow up with district engineers to refine breakout projects, pursue federal programs such as Transportation Alternatives and 5310/5311 grant sources, and consider local cost-sharing where appropriate.

Ending: MDOT staff said they will follow up with field meetings and direct contacts to refine scopes and help jurisdictions seek federal or state grant funding for projects referenced in the draft CTP.