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DENTON – The Caroline County Commissioners and state transportation officials agreed that safety is the top priority at their annual meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the Health and Public Services Building.
Paying for that priority in a tight economic environment, while big projects on the western shore and climate change priorities are allocated major funding, led to some pointed exchanges between members of the Eastern Shore delegation and the six transportation officials in the meeting that lasted almost an hour.
On Sept. 3, the Maryland Department of Transportation released its Draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) for Fiscal Years 2025 to 2030, “outlining an $18.9 billion balanced plan that makes strategic investments to further the safety of the State's transportation system and maintain operations,” according to a Maryland Department of Transportation press release.
The draft CTP allocates over $23 million to “minor projects” in Caroline County, which includes “mill and resurfacing at various locations” to the tune of nearly $17.4 million.
The department “continues to face slow economic growth, which places downward pressure on transportation revenues, alongside increased costs for materials and labor,” the release stated. “As a result, the Department's six-year capital program will decrease by $1.3 billion relative to the Final Consolidated Transportation Program for Fiscal Years 2024-2029.”
“We were able to bring back the Highway User Revenue for local municipalities in the counties,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. However, the program faces “headwinds.”
Those headwinds are inflation and the increasing cost of products and labor,” he said. “The bigger issue for us is some of the projected revenues have not hit what we thought they would do.”
“Again, we're projecting out five years into the future, but it's done in a very methodical way, and our motor fuel tax is the one that is of the most concern. We're basically missing the mark here by roughly $350 million.”
“Despite significant budgetary challenges, the Maryland Department of Transportation continues to prioritize the safety of all who use our transportation system and make investments in projects that will help grow our economy," Wiedefeld stated in the Sept. 3 press release.
In addition to Wiedefeld, officials attending the meeting in Denton included State Highway Administrator William Pines, Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer, Maryland Transit Administration Local Transit Support Director Travis Johnston, Maryland Transportation Authority Director of Planning and Program Development Melissa Williams, and Maryland Aviation Administration Regional Aviation Director Ashish Solanki.
Pines highlighted projects in Caroline County, one of which was completed in September: the $3 million Harmony Road superstructure bridge replacement over Mill Creek at Williston.
Already completed for fall was the county’s priority 3-color traffic light conversion at State Routes 313 and 317 in Oil City, Pines said.
He added that “construction began on the pavement widening and signalization upgrades to provide a dedicated left-turn lane from MD 328 to MD 404. This $2.1 million project is anticipated to be completed near the end of 2025.”
“We've also started a pipe replacement on MD 328 near Blough’s Seafood (and) Saulsbury Road,” Pines said.
The second public meeting for the Maryland 404 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study “was well attended, and we received significant feedback,” Pines said. “We anticipate the study to be completed by the end of the year. Once finished, SHA will work with the county to identify potential breakout projects.”
Adkins Arboretum will receive a $179,150 grant from the Recreational Trails Program to replace the bridge deck, create a new trail, improve accessibility and perform trail maintenance as part of the Arboretum’s “over the creeks and through the woods” project.
Pines noted the completion of multiple resurfacing and roadway improvement projects across the region, including on sections of State Routes 392, 355 and 336 in Caroline.
According to the Sept. 3 press release, topping the list of "important investments in the nearly $19 billion” CTP program is “protecting Highway User Revenues and Locally Operated Transit Systems grants.”
Johnston commended the three County Commissioners and staff, as well as Andy Hollis, executive director of Delmarva Community Transit, for “ongoing conversations and coordination.”
“Locally operated transit systems are critical partners in providing transit throughout the state,” Johnston said. “Overall, we invest in transit in Caroline County by providing $1 million in operating and capital grants to support local transit operations provided by Delmarva Community Transit.” The grants fund “continued preventative maintenance, as well as one new small bus.”
Commission Vice President Larry Porter asked about Highway User Revenues and whether there was a plan in the works about making up the funding difference with electric vehicles.
In a July 23 letter to Wiedefeld, the Commissioners provided updated transportation priorities and safety concerns:
Priority A includes completing safety improvements, beginning with the turn lanes on State Route 328 and River Road and adjusting the traffic light timing, as well as reducing the speed to 35 mph on 328 between 404 and Business 404/Meeting House Road.
Priority B urges the dualization of 404 from Harmony Road to Route 16 East.
Priorities C and D concern beach traffic on the non-dualized section of 404, with requests for “Remain on 404” signs to discourage the use of local roads, and “No Return to 404” signs at Mitchell and Hignutt roads.
Priority E addresses finalizing the repaving of Route 16/Harmony Road.
Members of the Delegation and the Commissioners weighed in on their concerns at the meeting.
Regarding Priority B, Porter stressed, “It is something that is crucial to this area.”
He acknowledged the presence of Marie and Dan Freeman of Denton, whose toddler daughter Brianna was killed on 404 before it was dualized and for whom the 25-mile Maryland section of the highway is named. Marie Freeman has been a well-known advocate for its dualization. Only three miles of the highway remain to be dualized.
“As an old volunteer fireman, I can tell you people are going faster and wanting to get where they're going quicker all the time,” Porter said. “There have been some horrific accidents out there over the years. We all drive that road a lot.”
Del. Tom Hutchinson (R-37B-Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot & Wicomico) also stressed the need to prioritize the dualization project and took issue with funding the Red Line at the expense of dualizing 404.”
“I continue to hear you say that safety is the number one priority, and yet the dualization of 404 continues to fall,” Hutchinson said. “I talk to volunteer firemen in Caroline County (and hear) horrific stories of pulling bodies out of cars on 404. I couldn't think of anything that is more about safety. I don't see the Red Line as a safety issue. We need to work on getting 404 dualized.”
Del. Jeff Ghrist (R-36-Kent, Queen Anne's, Cecil, Caroline) urged consideration of road resurfacing needs and of county commuters who cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge daily.
Breeding asked whether SHA is examining more durable asphalt mixtures to extend the longevity of the paving material. Pines said SHA is seeking federal grant money for more climate-friendly mix designs.
Del. Steve Arentz (R-36, Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's) requested attention to policies concerning electronic bikes on state park trails. Some trails forbid e-bikes, which can reach excessive speeds.
Sen. Steve Hershey (R-36-Kent, Queen Anne's, Cecil, Caroline), who did not attend the Oct. 22 meeting, responded Sept. 3 on behalf of the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus to the draft CTP’s report the same day.
“Once again, it’s disappointing to see that the Governor and Department of Transportation can’t figure out how to maintain and operate the state’s transportation system without having to make severe cuts to the construction and maintenance of the state’s roads and highways network,” Hershey stated in the Sept. 3 press release. “Did they not get the message the Democrat-led General Assembly just hiked the vehicle registration fees for all Maryland motorists?”
“Instead of maintaining our roads, the Governor sets forth priorities to advance EV charging infrastructure, move forward with carbon reduction projects, and add sidewalks along Rt. 50, then touts development spending on the still-to-be-finalized FBI Headquarters and the transportation-trust-fund-siphoning Red Line,” the release stated. “If this state is truly in a transportation funding crisis, then these misguided priorities can all be pushed off to another day.”
“In times of significant budgetary challenges, the priorities need to focus on the mode of transportation that makes the greatest impact to our economy and moves the vast percentage of Marylanders throughout the state … our network of roads and highways,” Hershey stated.
Following the tour, the Maryland Department of Transportation will finalize the draft CTP and submit the final fiscal years 2025-2030 CTP to the legislature in January for consideration during the 2025 General Assembly session.
