At its monthly meeting on July 17, members of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved a total of 12 transportation projects in Maryland – $6.1 million from the Carbon Reduction Program and $3.8 million from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP).
Six projects are receiving funding from the Carbon Reduction Program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides funds for projects aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from on-road transportation sources. The selected projects are consistent with one or more of TPB’s priority strategies to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as improving walk and bike access to high-capacity transit stations, increasing walk/bike modes of travel (such as expanding the National Capital Trail Network), and deploying a region-wide electric vehicle charging network.
The following are the Carbon Reduction Program projects approved for funding:
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail Lincoln Connector Segment - $300,000
The State Highway Administration will complete the planning and preliminary engineering for the Lincoln Connector Trail, an important segment between the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and the US 50 bridge over the Anacostia River and part of a partnership with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
MD 210 Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity - $1,280,000
The State Highway Administration will complete the final design to create a north-south bicycle and pedestrian connection along MD 210 in Prince George’s County from the Henson Creek Trail to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail, the National Harbor commercial area, the Oxon Cove Park, and other nearby destinations.
MD 190 from Brookside Drive to Little Falls Parkway - $1,200,000
The State Highway Administration will perform preliminary engineering and design for a series of bicycle and pedestrian improvements along MD190 in Montgomery County to enhance user comfort and safety, and to establish a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system.
Montgomery County Community EV Charging Network - $2,668,233
Montgomery County will purchase and install up to 17 electric vehicle charging stations at publicly owned properties as part of a county-wide strategy to accelerate electric vehicle adoption among the public and the county fleet.
City of Rockville Transportation GHG Reduction Projects (EV Design) - $324,051
The City of Rockville will complete the design and installation of up to four electric vehicle charging stations at publicly owned facilities or right-of way to help expand equitable access to charging infrastructure across the City.
City of Rockville Transportation GHG Reduction Projects (Bikeshare) - $371,200
The City of Rockville will install up to four new bikeshare stations to expand bikeshare and promote micromobility options close to the Twinbrook Metro station and nearby communities.
The TPB plays an important role by coordinating with the state departments of transportation and is responsible for selecting regional projects using portions of each state’s funding set-aside for the region and subsequently approving these funding allocations as part of its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). During the meeting, the District Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Transportation also briefed the TPB on their proposed processes to engage the TPB in project identification and selection.
In addition, the TPB approved the FY 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TA Set-Aside) projects for Maryland, totaling $3.8 million. This program funds a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, trails, safe routes to school (SRTS), community improvements, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation. The selection panel also selected projects that align with the TPB’s key regional priorities.
The following are the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program projects approved for funding:
Campus Bikeways Project: Implementation for Alumni Drive Corridor
University of Maryland, College Park, $1,764,000 (construction)
This project will convert a half-mile roadway, which intersects the Purple Line, into a multimodal transportation corridor between the northwest and southwest points of the University of Maryland campus. The new bikeway will connect not just to the Purple Line station, but to an adjacent Purple Line bike-pedestrian path which will open this fall. When the Purple Line is operational in 2027, these connected facilities will offer additional utility to a broader set of commuters who will take transit to/from campus and arrive or depart on the bike and pedestrian paths to reach other on-campus or near-campus destinations.
Magruder Branch Trail Extension & Rehabilitation Design
Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission–Montgomery County, $900,000(design)
Connecting to Damascus Town Center, this project will complete 100% design for a one-mile extension of the Magruder Branch Trail. The new trail will run north from the northern terminus of the trail at Valley Park Drive to the Damacus Town Center. The project will also provide designs for the rehabilitation of the boardwalk on the existing trail.
Olde Towne Shared Use Path
City of Gaithersburg, $451,808 (design)
Building on work previously funded through two TPB programs (Transportation Land-Use Connections and Transit Within Reach programs), this project will complete 100% designs for a shared-use path connecting the Gaithersburg’s amenity-filled downtown area—including a MARC station—to the Town of Washington Grove’s MARC station. In Washington Grove, it would link to another path (currently in design by Montgomery County) connecting to the Shady Grove Metro Station.
SRTS Brunswick School Pedestrian Corridors Sidewalk Safety Full Design and Engineering
City of Brunswick, $330,718 (design)
Recent surveys have revealed significant and alarming numbers of near-misses between cars and pedestrians on streets in Brunswick with no sidewalks. Facing a rapidly increasing population, the city’s recent comprehensive plan called for filling sidewalk gaps as an immediate need and safety concern, particularly in school areas. This project will complete 100% design for sidewalks on H Street, the highest-ranked priority corridor.
Scott-Viers Drive Shared Use Path Design
City of Rockville, $200,000 (design)
This project will complete 100% design plans for a shared-use path along the south side of Scott Drive between Wootton Parkway and Overlea Drive, and along the north side between Overlea Drive and Glenn Mill Road. The project is based on the alignment identified in a TAP funded feasibility study, selected by the TPB. That study found unsafe conditions for walking and biking along this corridor, with 14 crashes occurring between 2015 and 2023.
Monocacy Village Trail Completion
City of Frederick, $200,000 (design)
As part of a suite of projects to improve safety and connectivity for walking and biking on the eastern side of Frederick, this project will complete engineering and 100% design for a shared-use path connection from the Fredericktowne Village/Monocacy Village trail stubs to Frederick’s trail network downtown.
Four of the TAP projects are in Activity Centers—locations that will accommodate the majority of the region’s future growth—and four are in Equity Emphasis Areas—locations with high concentrations of traditionally underserved communities. Three of the projects are in proximity to high-capacity transit stations and one of these (University of Maryland) is a Transit Access Focus Area (TAFA). Four projects support the National Capital Trail Network.
The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program is part of the Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. The TPB is responsible for selecting projects in the region using portions of each state’s TA Set-Aside funding.