Annapolis Transportation Committee Meeting: May 13, 2026

The Transportation Committee of the Annapolis City Council met on May 13, 2026, at 4:07 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered a range of transportation topics including a proposed electric ferry, micromobility management software, pedestrian and cycling safety, parking updates, and transportation department initiatives. Public testimony was heard, and several presentations and updates were provided by city staff and contractors.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was adopted as amended to add "Comments by the General Public" (moved by Alderman Savidge, seconded, carried on voice vote).
• The minutes of the April 8, 2026 regular meeting were approved (moved by Alderman Savidge, seconded, carried on voice vote).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gavin Buckley (6 Stewart Ave, Annapolis) testified in strong support of the electric ferry project, funded by a $3 million federal grant. He described the ferry as a way to connect Eastport's 4th Street shopping precinct to downtown, reduce car traffic, and provide an experiential mass transit option. He noted that the county executive also applied for and received a $6 million grant for a regional study. He urged the committee to make the ferry free between 5th Street and City Dock and to proceed with implementation, emphasizing that the grant money would otherwise go elsewhere. He mentioned the ferry is planned as a small, 30-passenger, hybrid-electric vessel. Committee members expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting its potential to connect underserved areas like Ward 7 (Carrs Beach) and Hawkins Cove, and to complement other transit modes.

Discussion Items

• ID-75-26: Blue Mobility Manager Discussion — Anna Ward (Blue Systems | Smart Mobility Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships) presented the Blue Mobility Manager platform, a cloud-based data oversight and management tool for shared micromobility programs. She clarified that Blue Systems is not an operator but provides software to monitor fleet distribution, usage trends, parking compliance, and generate reports. The platform can ingest data from multiple modes (scooters, bikes, delivery robots, autonomous vehicles). She also described optional modules: a Parking Bay Manager (to guide riders to designated parking areas) and a Smart Patrol app (for in-field enforcement). The committee noted that the city has issued an RFP for a micromobility operator, and Blue Systems typically approaches cities after operator selection. A live demo of the platform was shown for West Hollywood, CA, displaying real-time fleet data, trip heat maps, and compliance reporting. No contract exists with the city yet.
• ID-56-26: Pedestrian & Cycling Safety Coordinator Update — Bike, Pedestrian, and Micro-Mobility Coordinator Rowel reported on the following:
  • Bike to Work Week: Events on May 15, 2026 (8:00 AM at City Dock), with meetups at Taylor Avenue and the Poplar Trail. Over 200 registered participants were noted. The celebration includes a group ride, community speakers, bicycle safety checks, and giveaways.
  • Micromobility RFP: The city is seeking a turnkey full-service provider for shared bikes and scooters. The RFP includes requirements for data dashboards, safety technologies, rider verification, and fleet monitoring. Evaluation and interviews are underway. Anne Arundel County is also releasing a similar RFP, aiming for alignment. The goal is to have the program operational before peak summer usage (May–August).
  • Safety Workshops: Beginning in June, workshops will be held in communities like Robinwood, focusing on rules of the road for biking and scooters. They will be held in partnership with Bike AAA, Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and local advocate Mr. Fixit.
  • Bike Master Plan RFP: A significant portion of coordinator Rowel's time is dedicated to updating the city's bike master plan, including working on trail easements and partnerships with Anne Arundel County and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.
  • Planned Symposium: The previously discussed transportation symposium is being reworked to include broader topics like sustainability and electric vehicles, with a target date in fall 2026.
• ID-119-26: Premium Parking Update (Hillman Garage) — Jason Prola (Market President, Premium Parking) and Meghan Murray (Account Manager) presented the April update for the concession area:
  • Elevators and EV Chargers: No preexisting issues; one ABM level-3 charging cable is on order. Elevators have been reliable.
  • Mystery Shop Score: 96.4% (lost points for not having gates at entrance, which is intentional).
  • Golden Pass Pilot Program: Extended for 90 days (June–August 2026) for residents and non-residents aged 55+. Cost: $20/month for up to 2 hours/day parking at Hillman Garage, Maryland Avenue garage, or Main Street. Registration available online, by phone, or in person at City Hall (9 AM–12 PM). Already 86 people expressed interest, surpassing the previous pilot's sign-ups. The program aims to reduce friction for seniors.
  • Parking Occupancy: March occupancy was similar to February; April saw increased usage with warmer weather, especially Thursday through Saturday.
  • Promo Code Usage: 1,109 uses in April at Hillman Garage, totaling $7,460, with 98% by residents.
  • Drive-in/Drive-out Timeline: Director Moore stated that negotiations have started, but final data from Medco/Boyd Waterson is still pending. He expects the data to be delivered within a month, with negotiations completing shortly thereafter.
  • Parking Enforcement: Mr. Prola noted that most ticket issues are due to user error (e.g., wrong app, overstay). The system works as intended, and appeals are handled individually. He encouraged anyone who receives a ticket in error to appeal.
• ID-113-26: SP+ (Metropolis) Parking Update — Jason Kinne (Operations Manager, Metropolis) and Jon Kemp (Senior Operations Manager, Metropolis) presented occupancy and length-of-stay data for Gots Court, Park Place, and Knighton garages. Highlights:
  • Employee Validation Program: More than 2,500 uses in April. No registration required for employees; employers (managers) control the validation code to provide discounted parking ($5 at Gots Court, $3 at Park Place, after 12 PM, must exit before 6 AM the next day). Director Moore noted that earlier entry times could be negotiated through the city administration.
  • New Customer Service Feedback: 1,300 survey responses in April, with an overall score of 90%+. Pricing was the most common area for improvement.
  • Residential 2-Hour Program: 96 automated uses (plate-based) noted, with usage picking up seasonally.
  • New Members: A significant number of first-time parkers in April.
• ID-11-26: Transportation Department Update — Director Marcus Moore reported:
  • Electric Charging Infrastructure: A $7.3 million CIP-funded project at the city's transit facility is complete (underground infrastructure, 4 level-3 fast chargers for city buses). Awaiting BGE energization and planning/zoning permits. Ribbon-cutting anticipated early June 2026.
  • Electric Vehicles: Two small fully electric cutaway buses (8-seaters) are expected to arrive December 2026/January 2027 (delayed due to supply chain).
  • GEM Cart Ridership: The City Dock circulator (Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM–5:30 PM) has about 100 riders per day. The Calvert Street route (connecting Maryland Avenue, State Circle, St. John Street) has just under 90 riders per day. Both are six-week pilots.
  • Parking Fee/Fine Proposal: To address a request for free Sunday parking, the city is proposing adding one extra free hour on Sundays to the Larkin Street lot (42 spaces) rather than all four garages, which would cost six figures in lost revenue. If approved, this would take effect July 1, 2026.
  • Blue Route/Redevelopment: Discussed as part of long-term transit planning from the 2019 TDP. Initial focus on a limited route connecting to Annapolis High School, Riva Road, and the swim center, with future expansion to Carrs Beach. Director Moore emphasized the need for further study and county partnership.
  • Wayfinding: The city is working on improved signage to guide drivers to garages and within garages (especially Park Place, with 1,140 spaces and underground levels).

Key Outcomes

• Public Testimony: The committee received testimony in strong support of the electric ferry project. The project will be further discussed at the Environmental Matters Committee meeting on May 14, 2026.
• Blue Systems: No contract was established; the presentation served as an informational overview of available software for managing shared micromobility programs. A demo was provided but not formally adopted.
• Micromobility RFP: Evaluation and interviews are ongoing. The goal is to select a provider before peak summer usage (May–August 2026). Anne Arundel County is releasing a similar RFP to align systems.
• Golden Pass Pilot: Extended for 90 days (June–August 2026). Registration details were shared. Future codification into a permanent program is under consideration.
• Drive-in/Drive-out: Negotiations have started, with final data expected within a month. Implementation timeline remains uncertain.
• Sunday Parking Proposal: The committee will consider legislation to add one extra free hour on Sundays to the Larkin Street lot, effective July 1, 2026. The current proposal does not expand free Sunday parking to the four garages.
• Meeting Adjourned: 5:54 PM.