Transportation and Public Works Archives

Anne Arundel Lifts Sewer Moratorium After Capacity Agreement

County Executive Steuart Pittman this week lifted the sewer capacity moratorium for the Baltimore City Sewer Service Area. The decision allows projects already in the development pipeline and ready to receive sewer allocations from the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works (DPW) to move forward. Three projects currently qualify for allocations. Anne Arundel County imposed the moratorium in March after peak wastewater flows exceeded limits established under agreements governing the shared regional sewer system.…

Comments Off

June 4, 2026

County News / Feature / Policy Deep Dive / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works

Deep Dive: Why Maryland’s Gas Tax Changes Every Year

Maryland drivers will pay slightly more in State gas taxes beginning July 1, but the annual adjustment reflects a much more considerable challenge facing Maryland’s transportation system. The Office of the Maryland Comptroller announced this week that the State gasoline tax will increase from 46.0 cents per gallon to 46.6 cents per gallon. The change amounts to six-tenths of one cent per gallon, or about six cents on a 10-gallon fill-up. While the increase itself…

Comments Off

June 3, 2026

Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works

Data Center Growth Gets New Guardrails in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s new data center standards may offer Maryland a useful model for balancing multiple goals. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is adding new guardrails around data center development as states confront the fast-growing demand for AI infrastructure. The state's new standards aim to balance economic development with concerns over energy costs, grid reliability, water use, environmental impacts, workforce needs, and local community input. Developers seeking state support would be expected to show how their projects address…

Comments Off

June 2, 2026

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works

HUD Publishes Housing Development Best Practices

The Department of Housing and Community Development released best practices for state and local governments to further housing growth. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction Report, a series of regulatory actions for state and local governments to increase efficiency and ease regulatory barriers to housing construction and affordability. “HUD is encouraging our state and local partners to take inventory of their regulations and…

Comments Off

June 1, 2026

County News / Health and Human Services / Transportation and Public Works

Frederick County Expands Accessible Transit Options

Frederick County is expanding mobility options for older adults and residents with disabilities through a new same-day assisted rideshare partnership designed to supplement traditional paratransit services. Since May 26, eligible riders enrolled in the County’s Taxi Access Program (TAP) are able to request “Companion Rides,” an assisted transportation service operated through a partnership between Transit Services of Frederick County, MJM Transportation, and rideshare provider Onward. The program introduces same-day ride scheduling for eligible residents and provides…

Comments Off

May 28, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Feature / Planning and Zoning / Risk Management / Transportation and Public Works

The Briefing Room Ep 3: Where Our Power Comes From

In Episode 3 of The Briefing Room, Maryland’s energy picture comes into sharper focus. Host Dom Butchko is joined by Public Service Commission Chair Kumar Barve to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the state: where does our power actually come from? Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

Comments Off

May 26, 2026

Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works

Data Centers Will Continue to Drive High Energy Demand

A new federal report projects data centers are likely to drive high energy demand well into the 2050s. A new federal energy outlook underscores that data centers are becoming a major force in electricity planning. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), server-related energy use could account for as much as one-third of all commercial building electricity consumption by 2050 under a high-demand scenario. That grow is being driven in large part by artificial…

Comments Off

May 26, 2026

Environment / Transportation and Public Works

EPA Puts Forward New Federal PFAS Mitigation Strategy

The EPA has recently put forward a new federal PFAS mitigation strategy, which focuses on tackling PFAS across its full lifecycle. Last week, leadership from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new federal strategy to address PFAS contamination nationwide. The effort focuses on the full PFAS lifecycle and is backed by nearly $1 billion in new funding for states to address PFAS in…

Comments Off

May 26, 2026

County Budgets / News You Can Use / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

New Report Confirms What Counties Already Know: The Next Infrastructure Problem Is Already Here

A new national report suggests local governments may face another long-term fiscal challenge that rarely appears in budget headlines: the growing cost of replacing aging public assets already in service. A recent analysis from Merritt Research Services estimates that US cities carry more than $1 trillion in infrastructure and capital asset obligations tied to aging roads, buildings, equipment, and other public assets. The report attempts to measure the replacement cost of assets that continue operating…

Comments Off

May 26, 2026

Energy / Environment / Transportation and Public Works

Emergency Order Highlights Grid Pressure From Data Center Growth

DoE emergency order allowing PJM to curtail power use at data centers underscores concerns over grid reliability in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. The PJM received emergency approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to temporarily reduce power use at data centers and other large energy users with backup generation during a stretch of hot weather across the Mid-Atlantic. The request came as the grid operator faced higher demand, planned spring maintenance outages, and tighter-than-usual reserve…

Comments Off

May 20, 2026