Several lanes of traffic with cars driving towards the right of the camera.
A few train cars that are yellow and red.
A bus is parked at a bus stop. A person is walking across the road the bus is on.
Overview
The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is seeking public comments through Monday, June 17 on two transportation-related documents – the draft 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program and associated Air Quality Assessment.
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes $4.52 billion in funding over the next four years for 162 bicycle, transit, bridge, highway, pedestrian, and freight projects.
Check out more information and an interactive map below and then share a comment at publicinput.com/BRTB-TIP!
A pie chart showing the percentage of money that each funding source provides. Federal funds provide 62% of the money, State and Local funds provide 27%, and Toll Revenues provide 11%.
2025-2028 TIP Project Funding
The TIP documents the anticipated timing, cost and purpose for federally-funded or regionally significant transportation improvements to be made in the Baltimore region over the next four years. Federally-funded projects receive funds from either the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration. Regionally significant projects may not necessarily be federally-funded but are of regional importance.
The TIP is a translation of recommendations from the long-range transportation plan (LRTP) into a short-term list of projects. This includes specific capacity improvements from the LRTP, such as widened roadways or new transit service, as well as system preservation projects and operational initiatives that are supported in the LRTP but have not been previously detailed.
TIP Funding
The draft 2025-2028 TIP is the list of regional transportation projects requesting federal funding in the near term.
It includes $4.52 billion in proposed funding (federal, state, local, and toll revenue) for highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects during the next four years.
Federal funds account for $2.80 billion, or 62% of the proposed funding. State and local funds account for $1.24 billion, or 27% of the proposed funding and MDTA Toll Revenues account for $490.08 million or 11% of the proposed funding.
Funds programmed in the TIP cannot exceed what funds are available from state, local, and federal sources.
The funding goes toward maintaining, operating and expanding the transportation system. These projects support regional goals such as accessibility, safety and prosperity.
TIP Funds by Category
TIP Projects can be grouped into ten funding categories.
This year, about 37.4% of programmed funds go toward Highway Preservation projects, and nearly 13.4% go toward Highway Capacityprojects.
Transit Preservation projects receive approximately 19.1% of programmed funds, and nearly 3.6% go toward Transit Capacity projects.
Projects related to the Port receive 10.2%. Smaller amounts in Emission Reduction Strategy, Commuter Rail Preservation and other programs account for the remaining funds.
Projects often fit into multiple categories. For example, many highway and bridge projects also incorporate bicycle and pedestrian elements such as bike lanes and sidewalks.
TIP Projects by Category
The 96 Highway Preservation projects account for nearly 60% of all projects.
The draft 2025-2028 TIP also includes 18 Highway Capacity projects, 14 Transit Preservation projects, and 14 Emission Reduction Strategy projects.
Environmental/Safety, Commuter RailPreservation, Ports, Transit Capacity, Enhancement Program, and Miscellaneous projects account for the remaining 20 projects.
TIP Funds by Sponsoring Agency
The largest source of programmed funds is the MDOT State Highway Administration, contributing about $1.4 billion of the total $4.52 billion.
The next largest source is the MDOT Maryland Transit Administration, contributing about $1.2 billion. It’s important to note that the $1.2 billion does not include the vast majority of MDOT MTA operating funds, which are state funds only and not included in our regional planning process. MDOT MTA operating funds (not included in the TIP) amount to nearly $5 billion statewide over this four year TIP cycle, with the bulk of those funds being in the Baltimore region.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) accounts for about $570 million using toll revenue, the MDOT Maryland Port Administration accounts for $463 million, and Baltimore City accounts for $418 million.
The MDOT MTA also programs over $196 million for Commuter Rail.
Other locally-sponsored projects from the City of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County account for about $287.6 million.
TIP Highlights
The draft 2025-2028 TIP includes 162 projects, 11 of which are new, 146 of which carry over from last year and 5 were in previous TIPs, but did not appear last year for various reasons.
Scroll to see highlights of the 2025-2028 TIP projects
Map legend can be expanded in lower left
MDOT MTA proposes funding for the Red Line project which will provide an east-west, high frequency, high-capacity transit line for the Baltimore region. This project is an investment in communities' access to jobs, education services, and opportunities.
The Odenton MARC TOD is a $55 million dollar investment by Anne Arundel County. This project will replace current surface parking with a vertical parking garage which will free up land in support of Transit Oriented Development in the Odenton MARC station area. This project is the first phase of a multi-phase development approach for the TOD development.
Baltimore City added two projects aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. The 2022 and 2023 Pedestrian & Roadway Safety Improvements will develop a variety of safety improvements at over 50 intersections citywide.
Baltimore and Carroll Counties combined have 17 bridge repair or bridge replacementprojects. These projects will provide much needed upgrades to some of the areas aging bridge structures.
TheAberdeen Transit Oriented Development Station Squareproject in Harford County has received multiple federal grants to provide ADA improvements and better access to the Harford Transit LINK and MTA bus services.
Howard County continues progress on a $25 million project on Snowden River Parkway from Broken Land Parkway to Oakland Mills Road which adds a third lane along Snowden River Parkway in each direction and will provide new 10-foot shared-use paths in an effort to increase transportation alternatives to public transit.
MDOT SHA is dedicating $51 million for information technology and geometric improvements along I-97 from US 50 to MD 32. This project will improve safety and relieve congestion.
The Maryland Port Administration continues construction on the Howard Street Tunnel. Construction of this $565 million project is expected to be complete in 2027.
The Maryland Transportation Authority continues construction on the I-95 Express Toll Lanes between White Marsh and Bel Air. This $1.1 billion project is expected to be completed in 2027.
TIP Projects by Category
This map shows TIP project locations along with Environmental Justice (EJ) areas. These areas have a higher concentration of low-income or minority populations compared to the regional averages. The aim of EJ analysis is to ensure that transportation project benefits and impacts are shared equitably among all communities.
Note that most transit projects in the TIP are regional in nature, so these projects are not included on the map. This includes items such as transit vehicle replacement and repair, preventive maintenance, and infrastructure improvements.
This interactive TIP map allows you to see where projects are located. Click on the symbols to view more information about each project. Detailed information is available for all projects in the full TIP report, including those not shown on the map.
Map of 2025-2028 TIP Projects
Air Quality Assessment
The Baltimore region does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, a criteria pollutant, and so must review its transportation plans and programs to ensure conformity with the State Air Quality Implementation Plan.
Ozone is caused by a chemical reaction between sunlight and the emissions released from cars and trucks, including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). High levels of ground level ozone contribute to unhealthy air, a significant public health concern.
The Air Quality Assessmentdocument details a comprehensive analysis of Baltimore region mobile source emissions as a result of implementing the new draft 2025-2028 TIP and the region’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Resilience 2050 (previously adopted in July 2023).
A Baltimore Light Rail train is shown heading towards the left of the picture.
Highlights of the document include:
Working with the Maryland Department of the Environment a model (called the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) 3) was used to analyze the amount of mobile source emissions generated from vehicle travel associated with the implementation of the projects in the draft 2025-2028 TIP and Resilience 2050 LRTP. The MOVES model was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A Baltimore Light Rail train is shown heading towards the left of the picture.
Adopted forecasts for population, housing and employment in the Baltimore region were used for this conformity analysis.
Two bikers that are moving away from the camera are shown riding in a protected bike lane on the right side of the picture. The left side has cars heading towards the camera.
The report addresses mobile source emissions of VOC and NOx, which are precursors of ground-level ozone emissions.
Current data about the types and purpose of vehicles, fuel data and meteorological data were also used as input into the analysis.
Projected mobile source emissions for the draft 2025-2028 TIP and Resilience 2050 are well below the motor vehicle emission budgets set in the State Implementation Plan.
Finding:
Implementing the projects in the draft TIP will not cause new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards.
A picture of branches of a cherry blossom tree with white flowers against a background of blue sky.
Why is an air quality analysis needed?
The Baltimore region is a “moderate” nonattainment area for the ground-level ozone standard set in 2015. This means that levels of ozone pollution in the air are slightly higher than the federally allowable amount of 70 parts per billion (ppb).
The air quality analysis evaluates whether the transportation projects in a region’s TIP and LRTP would slow the progress of that region attaining the air quality standard.
Emissions Test Results
The results of the emissions analysis as shown in the tables below, demonstrate that emissions from implementing the projects in the draft 2025-2028 TIP and Resilience 2050 are below levels necessary to demonstrate conformity to the 1997 8-hour ozone standard, the 2008 8-hour ozone standard and the 2015 8-hour ozone standard.
Average summer weekday emissions of VOCs and NOx resulting from the region’s transportation network in 2023, 2025, 2035, 2045 and 2050 are below the approved State Implementation Plan budgets.
Now that you’ve had a chance to look over the project materials and air quality report, we’d love to know what you think!
Those interested in learning more about the draft 2025-2028 TIP and Air Quality Assessment may do so during our two virtual public meetings on Monday, June 10 at 12:00 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. EST via Zoom.
Public comments are welcome from Thursday, May 16 through Monday, June 17, 2024.
The BRTB will vote on these documents (TIP and Air Quality) on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
