Baltimore Local Bus, Metro Subway, MARC Train and Allegany Transit Receive Funding 

BALTIMORE, MD (October 28, 2020) –The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has been awarded more than $4 million in federal grants – funding that will be used to improve the safety and reliability of MDOT MTA’s transit network and enhance mobility options for transit riders locally and statewide. As outlined in the recently published Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan, MDOT MTA will continue to explore discretionary funding sources to deliver key agency initiatives.

“I appreciate the Federal Transit Administration selecting these MDOT MTA projects to receive funding.” said MDOT MTA Administrator Kevin Quinn. “In a time of unprecedented revenue declines during the COVID-19 emergency, the federal grants will support the agency’s ability to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit service to all riders across the state.”

Federal grants awarded to MDOT MTA include:

• Baltimore County - MARC Train:  MDOT MTA received $3.1 million in a Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant to fund modernization of the rail switch at the Martin’s Yard on the Northeast Corridor in Middle River. The project improves safety for MARC workers, increases intercity passenger rail capacity at Baltimore Penn Station by reducing MARC storage needs, and improves overall train movement of the Northeast Corridor. This $6.3 million project will include a $2.6 million match from MDOT MTA and $500,000 from Amtrak.
• Baltimore City - Local Bus: MDOT MTA will receive $225,000 in an Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone (HOPE) grant to fund a community-based planning study of a mobility hub, including passenger amenities such as shelters, ticket vending machines and real-time signage, along the busy Fayette Street corridor in Baltimore. The federal grant will be matched with $25,000 from MDOT MTA for a total investment of $250,000.
• Baltimore City - Metro SubwayLink: MDOT MTA will receive $675,000 in an FTA Safety and Research Development grant to expand the track warning and detection pilot program to five additional stations in the Metro SubwayLink system. The technology will instantly alert train operators when someone is on the tracks. The federal grant will be matched with $540,000 from MDOT MTA and $135,000 from the vendor providing the pilot program system for a total project investment of $1.35 million.
• Allegany County: MDOT MTA will receive $121,500 in an FTA HOPE grant for Allegany County Transit to study new transit options in Allegany County and explore building a transit hub in Cumberland. The county will evaluate transportation services and prepare a plan that best fits its population and seeks to improve reliability and increase ridership through innovative technologies. The federal grant will be matched with $12,500 from Allegany County for a total project investment of $134,000.

“As Maryland continues its recovery from the COVID-19 emergency, collaboration and support from our partners at the federal, state and local levels will continue to be critical,” said MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. “These grants will help us improve our transportation network and serve riders who are performing the jobs essential to Maryland’s recovery.”

MDOT MTA is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States. MDOT MTA operates LocalLink and commuter buses, Light RailLink, Metro SubwayLink, Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train service and a comprehensive Mobility (paratransit) system. MDOT MTA’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mdot.maryland.gov or mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.

 Media Contacts
Brittany Marshall
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 443-970-0424
bmarshall1@mdot.maryland.gov

Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov