TRIP, a nonprofit research organization sponsored by the construction industry, insurance companies and unions, recently provided a ranking for Maryland’s top transportation projects.  The group’s top three priorities are listed below.  Other projects on the 40 item list can be found in the article.

The state’s top priority should be spending $5.8 billion to widen the Capital Beltway, from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the American Legion Bridge, the report said. The beltway would gain extra rush-hour capacity by adding high-occupancy toll lanes and reversible lanes. Virginia is widening its portion of the beltway by two lanes in each direction.

The No. 2 project is replacing the two-lane Governor Harry W. Nice Bridge, which carries U.S. 301 over the Potomac River in Charles County, with an $885 million, four-lane span.

At No. 3 overall is a $1.2 billion plan to widen the Baltimore Beltway and replace a number of bridges. The region’s most expensive project is the $2.2 billion to build the Red Line between Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Woodlawn. The light rail is ranked No. 7.