September 25, 2026

Hon. Aisha N. Braveboy, County Executive, and Hon. Krystal Oriadha, Prince George’s County Council Chair

Wayne K. Curry Administration Building, 1301 McCormick Drive, Largo MD

RE: Transportation priorities in the Maryland Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) FY 2027 – FY 2032, for Prince George’s County 

Dear County Executive Braveboy and County Council Chair Oriadha:

The Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) advocates for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all. We also support and work closely with RISE Prince George’s, a group of county residents and allies advocating for policies and practices that build shared, sustainable prosperity in Prince George’s County by creating safe, walkable, inclusive and transit-oriented communities. The following letter reflects the views of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.

Recommendations for Prince George’s and the Maryland CTP:

1. Support  continued commitment to WMATA and local transit operations in the FY27-32 Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP):  We commend Maryland for continued funding of WMATA, the Purple Line, and Prince George’s County’s locally operated transit system (The Bus). We also recognize the additional capital funding needs of WMATA starting in FY28 that were identified in the DMVMoves Plan endorsed by Prince George’s County. Maryland will need to allocate an additional $150 million per year to support state of good repair and system modernization. We ask the county to work with its legislative delegation and MDOT to develop a funding solution for DMVMoves. 
2. Support continued Complete Streets investments: We commend the state’s robust and needed investment in Complete Streets and Pedestrian Safety Action Plans. These are especially important for Prince George’s, given its disproportionate share of fatal traffic crashes in the state. These investments are essential to get the most out of the state’s infrastructure to ensure safe travel and economic activity. We support the $66.6 million six-year allocation to implement design and construction of PSAP projects. We support moving forward with $21 million for the MD 410 (East-West Hwy) corridor near the Hyattsville Crossing Metro station to improve safety, including the elimination of channelized right-turn lanes, sidewalk construction, pedestrian refuge areas and curb extensions. We are actively working to make the most of the MD 214 (Central Avenue) PSAP and eager to see significant walk, bike and traffic safety improvements along the Central Ave./Blue Line Metro corridor. We also support the creation of a shared-use path to be coordinated with the county’s Central Ave. Connector Trail project. The MD 201 PSAP is an important investment to not only address safety along the corridor but to ensure better access to the new Riverdale Purple Line Station. CSG also appreciates the inclusion of the MD 414/St Barnabas Rd complete streets project in the CTP.
3. Ensure adequate analysis of alternatives and engagement for VDOT’s 495 Southside Express Lanes project before it can go in the region’s long-range transportation plan: The Virginia Department of Transportation is presenting a revised preferred alternative to local jurisdictions. The new Express Lanes concept does a better job protecting the future option to build Metrorail across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge; however, it leaves a number of concerns and questions unanswered. These include traffic impacts at the new bottleneck in Prince George’s where the Express Lanes end and impacts of greater traffic volumes on local roads like MD 210. We are glad to see that VDOT is committing to mitigate traffic impacts on local roads as part of the project, but local communities need this information in advance of commenting on the project. Likewise, many local residents and officials asked VDOT to consider other alternatives like near-term bus lanes and an expanded Travel Demand Management program for the corridor. Prince George’s County and MDOT should ask VDOT to conduct and share analysis of project traffic impacts on local roads with local jurisdictions and MDOT before VDOT takes the project to the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.
4. Use the current pause on the Medical Center Drive interchange expansion to pursue better approaches for Downtown Largo and Central Avenue corridor connectivity:  We urge the county to work with the state to fully reconsider this problematic roadway capacity expansion project which is programmed for $12 million for engineering, right of way and utilities over the next six years. The proposed designs for an expanded Medical Center Drive and I-495 Interchange undermine nearby transit-oriented development plans and would do little to improve already poor pedestrian access. There are better solutions to support the growth of Downtown Largo and the revitalization of the stadium site. We ask that the county work with the state to make the construction of the Central Avenue Connector Trail and the trail’s Capital Beltway bridge connecting Largo to Morgan Boulevard Metro station a near-term priority. We commend the ongoing PSAP efforts for MD 214. We ask for the redesign for pedestrian safety and access be extended to Downtown Largo. These are important parts of the solution for greater access and connectivity. 
5. Reconsider the pipeline of unfunded highway capacity expansion projects: Prince George’s and the State of Maryland cannot afford to keep investing in ever bigger roads and intersections that chase spread-out development while neglecting enhanced transit, walk and bicycle facilities, and safer, better connected streets for existing communities. Induced demand also means that these projects generate more traffic and car-dependent development over time – making the situation worse in the long-term. The draft CTP has a number of road widening projects for Prince George’s with no funding on the horizon. The county should use this opportunity to reconsider them and pursue less costly alternatives: safety and operational interventions, improved commuter transit service, bus priority and BRT, and travel demand management programs. We ask Prince George’s and SHA to remove these road capacity projects from the CTP while considering alternative approaches: MD 5 (Branch Ave.) capacity expansions, US 50 capacity expansion study, MD 450 widening, and MD 197 widening. These funded (or partly funded) projects should also be reconsidered: MD 210 grade-separated interchanges, and MD 4 (Pennsylvania Ave.) new interchanges near Westphalia.
6. Support TOD investments at Bowie State University MARC and further planning around Seabrook MARC station – we commend MDOT for advancing the TOD joint development site at Bowie State University MARC station with the selection of a developer. We look forward to its completion. WSTC is studying TOD potential at the Seabrook MARC station, and ask the county to support follow-up initiatives for future TOD in coordination with MDOT. 
7. Support MDOT process to improve Chapter 30 project prioritization – CSG is glad to see MDOT’s pilot for a clearer process that helps Maryland communities like Prince George’s get good projects implemented while addressing state priorities like safety, sustainability, and giving residents travel options beyond driving. We were pleased to see Prince George’s also support last year’s legislation by MDOT to improve the Chapter 30 process. 

Again, we appreciate the priority that MDOT has made to transit and complete streets. We urge the county and MDOT to work to revise roadway capacity expansion projects to address safety, create cost-effective multimodal travel environments, and avoid endless cycles of expanded capacity. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

Cheryl Cort, DC & Prince George’s Policy Director

Bill Pugh, Transportation & Climate Policy Director