Maryland agency solicits public input for statewide transit plan

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has unveiled a draft of its new Statewide Transit Plan that will serve as a comprehensive, connected transit roadmap for the next 50 years.

MDOT MTA is accepting public comments on the plan until Feb. 18. The final plan is expected to be released this summer.

"We are working to bring Maryland the best transit system in the nation. The Statewide Transit Plan is intended to establish the vision and benchmarks necessary to achieve that goal,” said MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold in a press release.

The key role of transit was dramatically made known due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the agency to develop that calls for enabling transit to coincide with other state goals. Those goals include increasing economic opportunities, developing smarter communities and protecting the environment.

Transit plays a critical role in promoting access to employment and neighborhoods, MDOT MTA officials added.

The plan identifies action items to be completed in the next five years, including improving fare policy, building new hubs and expanding evening and weekend service. The plan also outlines Maryland transit as being an equitable, accessible and affordable now and into the future by adopting new technology and expanding service to essential destinations.

MDOT MTA outlined plans in the draft to improve access between Maryland regions and neighboring states using significant transit connections such as the MARC-Virginia Railway Express, the Northeast Corridor and Frederick Douglass Tunnel.