Maryland Sierra Club Commends Maryland Department of Transportation for Restoring Funding for Public Transit and Bike Infrastructure

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation released its six-year capital budget proposal for the fiscal years 2025-2030. 

The current proposal includes plans for $420 million in additional funding to address the fiscal imbalance for the transportation budget. This proposal would: 

  • Restore minimum funding levels mandated through the Transit Safety and Investment Act to address the safety and maintenance needs of the Maryland Transit Administration.
  • Provide the state match for a federal grant needed to replace MTA’s aging light rail vehicles in Baltimore.
  • Restore cuts to the Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program that provides grants to support bike infrastructure across the state and increases funding for the Complete Streets program that is focused on creating safer infrastructure to reduce deaths and serious injuries of vulnerable roadway users. 

Maryland Sierra Club will be reviewing the budget and providing further analysis in the coming days. 

In response to the current budget proposal Maryland Sierra Club Senior Clean Transportation Representative Lindsey Mendeslon, has released the following statement:

“While we are still reviewing the proposed capital budget for MDOT, at first glance we are pleased to see that it includes plans to restore the minimum maintenance funding levels for the Maryland Transit Administration. This is needed to help address safety concerns like vehicle breakdowns so that people can have more reliable public transit to get to work, school, and other locations. Additionally, we are glad to see funding increased for the Complete Streets Program that helps ensure safer travel crossings for pedestrians and cyclists. 

When we invest in public transportation, walkable, and bikeable communities we are not only investing in climate solutions, but also in Maryland families. More diverse transit and biking options allow Marylanders to access essential services like healthcare, school, and work, while reducing tailpipe pollution that makes people sick and fuels the climate crisis. We will be analyzing the rest of the budget in the next few days and hope this year’s budget will also include full operating funds for WMATA and construction funding for the Red Line light rail in Baltimore."

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