At its July meeting, the TPB approved projects in Maryland and the District of Columbia to receive funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program. The board also approved the projects, inputs, and scope of work for the 2021 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and updates to Visualize 2045 to begin the air quality conformity analysis. Also, at the July meeting the board discussed and ultimately approved Maryland Department of Transportation’s request for a TIP amendment for the Nice Bridge replacement. The board also approved a comment letter on the Bus Transformation Project’s draft recommendations and declared September 21, 22, and 23 as Car Free Days in the metropolitan Washington region.
Seven projects in MD and DC approved for federal funding
The TPB approved seven projects in MD and DC for $1,217,150 in funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program. The TAP program provides funding to transportation projects other than traditional highway construction, including bicycle, pedestrian, trail, and Safe Routes to School projects.
Learn more about each project and how they further regional priorities.
Get the full presentations for the DC and MD allocations.
Listen to the presentation and board vote.
The 2021 TIP and updates to Visualize 2045
The TIP is a regional program for distributing funding for transportation projects over the next four years. It contains over 300 projects and more than $15 billion in funding and is updated every two years. Each time the plan or the TIP is updated an air quality conformity analysis is required.
At the meeting, the board approved the new projects that will be going into the air quality analysis for the TIP and the updates for Visualize 2045 and the work scope for the analysis.
Learn more about the 2021 TIP and updates to Visualize 2045.
Listen to the presentation and board questions.
The TPB approved a TIP amendment for MDOT’s Nice-Middleton Bridge project
The TPB approved an amendment to its FY 2019-2024 TIP to include the balance funding for the Governor Harry W. Nice/Senator Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridge replacement project. With the approval, Maryland will now be able to pursue a federal loan guarantee to help finance this $769M infrastructure project while it continues to work on the design for the new bridge.
The TPB has supported Maryland's efforts to accelerate and accomplish the replacement and upgrade of this vital link in the region's transportation infrastructure. The board has also highlighted important bicycle and pedestrian safety elements that it prefers to be part of the design. Last fall, the TPB sent a letter to Maryland asking that the state consider only designs that include a barrier-separated facility for bicyclists and pedestrians on the new bridge.
In May, the board deferred action on an amendment to the TIP that would update funding information for the Nice Bridge replacement in Maryland. TPB members were concerned about not knowing how safety accommodations for people biking and walking across the bridge would be made in the final design.
MDOT requested the amendment to add funding to the project information which would provide the balance funding needed to construct the replacement bridge. At the June meeting, MDOT and MDTA clarified some of the details about the bridge’s location and the design options that are available. At the July meeting the board approved the amendment.
Maryland officials have said they have sought alternative design proposals and cost estimates for two designs for the bridge-one with a barrier-separated facility for bicyclists and pedestrians and one without it.
During the board discussion some board members expressed frustration with MDOT’s process and said that they thought it is important to request designs that include a protected bike lane as opposed to two designs, one with the protected lane and one with a shared lane.
Maryland committed to come back to the TPB in December, when it expects to have reviewed alternative design proposals, to report on how the TPB's preference for a barrier separated facility has been addressed in the design.
Ultimately the board approved the amendment so that MDOT can apply for the funding.
The project has been in the TPB's long-range plan 2010 and is now anticipated to be complete in 2023.
Listen to the board discussion and vote.
Comment letter on the Bus Transformation Project draft strategies
At its June meeting, Rich Davey from the Bus Transformation Project presented the project’s draft strategies to the board. The strategies are grouped in five categories. First is having a customer-focus, this means making it easy and convenient for riders to use the bus. Second is making buses a priority on major roads throughout the region. Third is making it as convenient and reliable as possible. Four is looking into local and regional responsibilities. Finally, five is seeing where there may be opportunities to streamline back office functions to reduce costs and improve service.
At the June meeting board members expressed interest in sending a comment letter to WMATA on these draft strategies. Prior to the July meeting a draft letter was circulated amongst the board for approval in July. The letter focused on strategies that have regional consensus.
The letter focused on the first three strategies since they closely align with the TPB’s Vision and specifically the Aspirational Initiatives to Expand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Regionwide, Move More People on Metrorail, and Provide More Telecommuting and Other Options for Commuting. The letter noted that many recommendations in the first three strategies have the potential to enhance efficiency, convenience, affordability, and attractiveness of bus travel in the region.
During the board discussion, board member Evan Glass noted that there were many comments and concerns from local jurisdictions and from the public about strategy 4 which would change how bus service is allocated and how local jurisdictions would finance the system. Glass asked to amend the letter to reflect these concerns.
Board members also included language commenting on strategy 6 which includes publishing an annual bus performance scorecard as an activity that the TPB’s Regional Public Transportation Subcommittee could include in it’s annual report.
Read the final draft of the letter.
Learn more about the Bus Transformation Project’s draft strategies.
Listen to the board discussion.
Other items
Car Free Days: The board set September 21,22, and 23 as Car Free Day for the region. The event invites people to try other forms of transportation like walking, biking, transit, and teleworking for a day. People are encouraged to take the pledge to go car free (or car lite) at carfreemetrodc.org.
Citizens Advisory Committee: The CAC met on June 12. CAC Chair Robert Jackson reported that the committee discussed how it could be better informed and prepared to be ambassadors for the aspirational initiatives from Visualize 2045. CAC members expressed interest in training to learn more about the initiatives so they can speak about them in their communities and to their elected officials. The committee also received briefings on the safety discussions at the TPB and the Regional Travel Survey. Read the full CAC report. Listen to the CAC report.