FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Public Meetings Will Explore Transit Solutions Along the MD 5 (Branch Avenue)/US 301 (Crain Highway) Corridor in
Prince George’s and Charles Counties
BALTIMORE, MD (May 15, 2025) — The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration invites residents, business owners,
“Expanding transit options across Maryland and moving people more efficiently and safely is one of my top priorities,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “A rapid transit option in the ever-growing Southern Maryland region aligns closely with these goals. Thanks to Governor Moore's budget, and the support of the General Assembly, MDOT is making historical investments in transit to increase safety, reliability and spur economic growth.”
The MD 5 (Branch Avenue)/US 301 (Crain Highway) corridor in Charles and Prince George’s counties represent some of the most congested roads in the Southern Maryland area. The proposed Southern Maryland Rapid Transit project will improve regional mobility, reduce congestion, foster economic development and support sustainable growth. The PEL Study will evaluate previously identified and new potential transit solutions for the corridor based on current and planned development and growth in the area, comparing the potential benefits and impacts.
“The rapidly growing Southern Maryland community deserves reliable transit options,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “By directly engaging with residents and analyzing travel patterns, we’re working to develop transit solutions that meet the needs of this thriving region.”
The agency will hold two in-person and one virtual meeting. The first meeting will be held in Charles County on June 5 and the second in Prince George’s County on June 10. A virtual meeting will also be held on June 11. The public comment period will remain open through July 11, 2025. Meeting details follow:
Charles County Prince George’s County
Thursday, June 5, 6-8p.m. Tuesday, June 10 6-8p.m.
The Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Ctr Francis T. Evans Elementary School
3090 Crain Highway 6720 Old Alexandria Ferry Road
Waldorf, Maryland 20601 Clinton, Maryland 20735
A virtual meeting also will be held on June 11 at 6 p.m. Details for that are available on the project website https://smrtmaryland.com/. Please contact the project team via email at SMRT@mdot.maryland.gov if you have additional questions about the study, meetings or require assistance.
The Governor’s investments in transportation funding supported by the Maryland General Assembly enables the agency to advance both the current Planning and Environmental Linkages study and the completion of the project review under the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA). The FY2025-FY2030 Consolidated Transportation Program invests nearly $35 million for the SMRT program, including $10 million in Federal funds obtained through two Congressionally Directed Spending awards.
This study will consider a wide array of rapid transit modes including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and other transit alternatives such as those that include dedicated transit-only right-of-way and mixed-traffic operations, aimed at providing an alternative to congestion along the corridor. Public open house meeting attendees will learn about the potential transit solutions and will be encouraged to share their feedback with the project team.
The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, operating systems that include Local Bus, Commuter Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit network. Our goal is to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland, Instagram at MTA Maryland and follow us on X @mtamaryland and bluesky@mta.maryland.gov.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov
Courtney Mims
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 667-392-0157
cmims@mdot.maryland.gov
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