March 6, 2026
Hon. Shelly Hettleman, Chair
Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee
Senate Budget and Taxation Committee
Miller Senate Building, Schweinhaut Room, 4th Floor
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
RE: SHA 2027 Budget
Dear Chair Hettleman and members of the subcommittee:
Please accept this testimony on behalf of 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 work extensively in suburban Maryland, focused on Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
We recognize that Maryland faces severe budgetary challenges. Given this, we cannot continue business as usual. Instead we must focus on more efficient patterns of growth and development. The current challenge is an opportunity to redirect SHA’s investments to ensure we are maintaining our roadways, sidewalks, bike lanes and trails, and using limited funds to enhance the safety, accessibility and equity of our state highway network. The budget should ensure that SHA investments are advancing Maryland’s approved goals to achieve zero traffic deaths, complete streets, reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions.
Complete Streets Program & Pedestrian Safety Action Plans: We commend SHA’s Complete Streets Program and increased funding to implement this program. We are closely tracking several of the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan projects. Given that the great majority of fatal crashes occur on state roads, this program, and the significant amount of funding committed to it, couldn’t be too soon. This effort will pay off for the state as multimodal investments and safety enhancements foster more economic activity and less cost from injury and fatal crashes.
We note that the proposed safety improvements for MD 214 – Central Avenue along the Blue Line Metro corridor in Prince George’s County is currently underway. We greatly appreciate the many safety interventions proposed in the draft plan, but ask that SHA look again at the fundamental problem of the very high speeds generated on this 6-lane road next to Metro stations. We must do more to make it safe, and even pleasant, to walk to these Metro stations and other destinations in this community. We ask that SHA reconsider 6 to 4 lane conversions, off-peak on-street parking, and similar measures to narrow the travelway, and slow the high speed traffic that has led to the deaths of 8 people in a recent five-year time period.
Bus lanes: We commend SHA’s support for bus priority lanes in Montgomery County on MD 97, Georgia Ave., the planned temporary lanes on MD 355 – Rockville Pike for the summer WMATA Red Line shutdown, and in Prince George’s County on MD 458, Silver Hill Road (proposed). We ask that SHA continue to collaborate with WMATA and local governments to plan and execute more bus priority measures so that we can deliver higher-quality bus service at a lower cost.
Appreciation for MDOT work on I-495 Southside VDOT study, next steps needed: We wish to acknowledge the recent decision at the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) that sent VDOT’s I-495 Southside Express Lanes proposal back to the drawing board. Going forward, we ask MDOT to proactively study alternatives to VDOT’s highway expansion proposal in the I-495 southside corridor.
Responsible SHA spending – supportive bills this session: Several bills that the General Assembly is currently considering would further make SHA’s decisionmaking and investments more effective in meeting state goals.
Transportation Investment Priorities Act (HB 230 / SB 62, Admin. bill) – Reforms the Chapter 30 process to create a more data-driven, transparent and cost-effective way to fund projects while ensuring they address state goals, like equitable job access and multimodal choices.
Maryland Transit & Housing Opportunity Act (HB 894 /SB 389, Admin. bill) – Removes barriers to providing transit-oriented new homes and businesses near Metro, Purple Line, MARC Penn Line, and Baltimore area light rail and subway stations, increasing ridership and helping to fund Maryland transit.
Transportation & Climate Alignment Act (HB 437 / SB 59) – The bill passed the MD House in the last two sessions. The “TCA” would ensure transportation project plans reduce greenhouse gas pollution impacts and provide a range of affordable and sustainable mobility options to residents. Future projects will benefit by addressing potential adverse climate impacts early on in their planning process. Supported by MDOT.
Conclusion
With the good programs and our recommendations highlighted above, the Coalition for Smarter Growth believes that SHA can be a change agent committed to repairing and retrofitting our state road network, and delivering multimodal service to achieve our safety, access, and climate goals.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Cort
Policy Director