The US Department of Transportation recently released state-by-state factsheets outlining anticipated infrastructure funding.
Last week the US Department of Transportation released more information on infrastructure funding states can anticipate receiving. Maryland’s four-page factsheet provides estimates of both direct funding and competitive grant programs, which will soon be made available.
Highlights of Maryland’s Transit Infrastructure:
In Maryland, there are 273 bridges and over 2,201 miles of highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 5.1% in Maryland, and on average, each driver pays $637 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. . . .
Marylanders who take public transportation spend an extra 66.3% of their time commuting and non-White households are 2.7 times more likely to commute via public transportation. 22.7% of transit vehicles in the state are past useful life.
Estimated Direct Funding Coming to Maryland:
- $4.6 billion over five years for highways and bridges
- $28 million highway safety traffic programs
- $39 million over five years for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety efforts to reduce crashes
- $1.8 billion over five years for public transportation
- $63 million over five years to support the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network
- $158 million over five years for infrastructure development for airports
Competitive Grants for State & Local Governments
- Safe Streets for All ($6B, new)
- Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grants ($15B, expanded)
- Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grants ($14B, expanded)
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low and No Emission Bus Programs ($5.6B, expanded)
- FTA Buses + Bus Facilities Competitive Program ($2.0B, expanded)
- Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program ($23B, expanded)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Program ($5B, new)
- Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program ($8.7B, new)
- Port Infrastructure Development Program ($2.25B, expanded)
- 5307 Ferry Program ($150M, existing)
- Electric or Low Emitting Ferry Program ($500M, new)
- Rural Ferry Program ($2B, new)
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) competitive grants for nationally significant bridges and other bridges ($12.5B, new)
- FTA All Station Accessibility Program ($1.75B, new)
- Charging and fueling infrastructure discretionary grants (Up to $2.5B, new)
- Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program ($1B, new)
- FHWA Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects ($1.5B – Expanded)
- Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant Program ($1B, new)
- Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program ($2B, new)
According to the DOT’s estimates alone, the state can expect to receive almost $6.7 billion in direct payments. This figure does not include the extensive list of competitive grant programs that Maryland is eligible for.
All of Maryland’s 24 counties understand the high cost of underfunding transportation. Since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, local governments have been reeling from deep cuts in the local share of highway user revenues (HURs). This federal investment offers a path forward to improve many of our degrading roads and bridges while at the same time freeing up resources to restore the local share of HURs. In light of this reality, MACo has made HURs restoration a top priority during the 2022 legislative session.
Further underlining the importance of this topic, MACo has also decided to highlight where we are at in the infrastructure conversation at our upcoming winter conference. In the MACo Winter Conference session, “Go Big: Infrastructure Funding at a Crossroads,” an expert panel will discuss funding, challenges, and opportunities impacting local governments.
The 2021 MACo Winter Conference, “Time to Reboot: Tomorrow’s Tech Today,” will be held on December 8-10, 2021, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland.
Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:
