How much does it really cost to keep Maryland moving? The state’s six-year transportation capital budget, also known as the Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP), provides a price tag on anticipated transportation improvements. The CTP establishes funding priorities for everything from highways and bridges to airports, ports, WMATA, commuter rail and public transit.

On September 2, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) released the draft FY 26–31 CTP, a comprehensive blueprint guiding $21.5 billion in transportation investments across the state. Although it will not be finalized until approved by the Maryland General Assembly in early 2026, the draft provides a comprehensive outlook on Maryland’s financial commitment and vision for its future transportation system. 

The 525-page plan outlines where funding comes from and which transportation modes, projects and programs the funding supports. The CTP also provides a geographic breakdown of which communities will benefit from the proposed investments.  Several questions remain unanswered—namely the evolving nature of the Key Bridge rebuild and financial uncertainty surrounding Baltimore’s Red Line. However, the plan outlines a path forward for several key priorities and improvements and signals a more optimistic outlook for the state, its residents and their multimodal access to opportunity than in recent years.

Diving Deeper: Maryland’s FY 2026-2031 Draft CTP  

Throughout the plan, it is clear that Maryland’s transportation systems are guided by three key priorities:

Maryland needs increased investment to significantly advance these priorities. Last year’s CTP revealed a $1.3 billion funding gap over six years, which resulted in cuts across all MDOT modal administrations. The FY 26–31 Draft CTP, however, marks a shift by increasing funding over last year’s budget. This growth is largely due to Gov. Wes Moore’s leadership and an additional $400 million in revenue authorized during the most recent General Assembly session. This increase continues a trend of modest but consistent growth in transportation funding over the past five CTP cycles, as outlined below.

What’s In: 

What’s Out:  

FY28’s Looming Funding Cliff  

While not an immediate concern for this year, the draft CTP presents a sobering outlook for Highway User Revenues (HUR) – the funds allocated to local jurisdictions responsible for maintaining more than 80 percent of Maryland’s road miles. According to the draft CTP, HUR funding is projected to decline by nearly $110 million in FY28. These funds are critical for local governments to support activities such as resurfacing, bridge repairs and safety improvements. The impact will be especially significant in Baltimore City, where the vast majority of roads are locally maintained. A reduction of this magnitude threatens to degrade road conditions, which in turn can hinder access to opportunity, disrupt bus operations and performance and compromise overall roadway safety. 

Community Input  

Each year following the release of the draft CTP in September, MDOT officials visit each Maryland county and Baltimore City to present the department’s draft budget and hear input from local officials, legislators, and stakeholders. This process, commonly known as the CTP Tour, kicked off in September and was recently wrapped up in early November. 

This September, Baltimore City officials, legislators, and advocates gathered at Baltimore City Hall for Baltimore City’s CTP Tour meeting. The well-attended event featured testimony from many in attendance, including Baltimore’s Transit Future coalition. Echoing the priorities and concerns of others who testified, we applauded MDOT for the stability of this year’s CTP compared to previous years but called for increased investments in transit expansion projects – like the BMORE Bus Plan and the Red Line – which are not funded in this year’s CTP.   

Next Steps and Opportunity for Engagement 

At the start of the Maryland legislative session, which runs from January 14 through April 13, MDOT will publish the final CTP for public review. The MDOT secretary will present the final CTP in budget hearings to the General Assembly, where members of the public can provide written or oral testimony. The legislature will then vote to adopt the final CTP, determining how billions in state transportation investments will be allocated over the coming years.

For Greater Washington Partnership and its partners across the regional business community, this process represents a critical opportunity to advocate for investments that strengthen regional connectivity, support economic competitiveness, and advance shared priorities in transit, infrastructure and inclusive growth. Ensuring that the final CTP reflects the needs of the broader region will be key to fostering long-term economic vitality and equitable access to opportunity.