Charles County Commissioners Meet with MDOT for Annual CTP Tour – September 29, 2026

On September 29, 2026, the Charles County Board of Commissioners convened with Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Katie Thompson and agency leaders for the annual Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) tour. The meeting focused on transportation priorities, the six-year capital budget ($21.9 billion), and project updates for Charles County. Key topics included Southern Maryland Rapid Transit (SMRT), safety improvements, maintenance concerns, and state budget constraints.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mayor Janine James of La Plata thanked MDOT for responsiveness and highlighted the partnership on the MD6 safety project. She praised state staff for their customer service.
• Town Manager Chuck Stevens reiterated the town's two priorities: the MD6 pedestrian safety project and access management for the Southwest Quadrant along US 301. He noted the La Plata Bikeways Phase II grant ($200,000 from the Kim Lamphier Bikeways program) and anticipated construction starting in spring 2027.
• Mr. Hodge (advocate for SMRT) delivered a passionate statement emphasizing the 39‑year history of the SMRT effort. He stressed that the project must remain focused on light rail as mandated by state law (§7‑713) and criticized the ongoing PEL study for what he described as a lack of urgency and excessive spending on consultants. He called on the Secretary to ensure the state match ($15 million) appears in the CTP and to reject any shift toward bus rapid transit. He cited that 24,000–28,000 single‑occupancy trips would be removed daily and that the corridor has one of the most expensive commutes in the United States.

Opening Remarks and Commissioner Positions

• Commissioner President Reuben Collins opened the meeting, welcoming MDOT and emphasizing SMRT as the county’s top priority. He noted that $15 million in federal earmarks had been secured and that the state is required by §7‑713 to provide matching funds. He requested restoration of the former W19 bus connection and continued MTA commuter bus service.
• Commissioner Thomas Coates raised constituent concerns about lane striping and crosswalk visibility, thanked SHA for a new traffic signal at St. David Drive/St. Luke, and asked about commuter bus service on the western (MD 210) side. He also inquired about a possible funding diversion for SMRT and requested clarity that no such diversion was planned.
• Commissioner Gilbert Bowling thanked MDOT for reduced congestion on the Nice Middleton Bridge and emphasized the importance of aesthetics (mowing, litter, pavement) on rural roads, particularly US 301, MD 234, and MD 257. He called for collaboration on maintenance contracts.
• Commissioner Patterson (online) urged continued opposition to the proposed I‑495 South Side toll lane expansion and asked about ferry transportation. Secretary Thompson responded that no ferry projects are in the CTP but MDOT is open to supporting county-led initiatives.
• Commissioner Collins (additional) echoed concerns about litter and mowing, specifically at the US 301/Leonardtown Road stormwater pond and the MD 210 corridor.

MDOT Presentations and Discussion

• Secretary Katie Thompson outlined the three pillars of the CTP: safety, asset maintenance, and doing more with existing assets. She acknowledged budget constraints but committed to partnership and transparency.
• State Highway Administrator Will Pines reported on projects: MD6 safety improvements (construction spring 2027), MD 225 bridge replacement (opened to traffic late 2026), US 301 pedestrian safety study, and Smallwood Drive crosswalks (completing end of 2026). He also announced the La Plata Bikeways grant.
• District Engineer Kimberly Tran highlighted the working relationship with county staff and the maintenance shop in La Plata.
• MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gardner noted a decrease in crash rates on the new Nice Middleton Bridge and indicated a proposed toll increase in the next 12–14 months to address inflation (first increase in over a decade).
• MTA Administrator Tony Bridges reported 67 million passenger trips systemwide and support for Charles County’s local transit with $5.4 million in grants for buses and maintenance. He confirmed a new weekday round trip on the MTA 650 bus from Waldorf.
• MVA Deputy Administrator Nikki Charlson announced average wait times under 5 minutes, 3 million MyMVA accounts, 13 road fatalities in Charles County year‑to‑date (down from 22 in 2025), and over $63,000 in highway safety grants for the county.
• MAA Acting Director Sean Hammer described the $841 million capital program and support for Maryland Airport, noting that the airport needs to complete its master plan and some projects are ineligible for state funding.

County Staff Comments

• Jason Groth, Director of Planning and Growth Management reiterated that SMRT remains the county’s top priority. He urged staying the course on the PEL/NEPA process, focusing on fixed‑guideway alternatives as required by law, and including the full $30 million (federal plus state match) in the CTP. He also advocated for continued funding for traffic signals and commuter bus enhancements as low‑cost, high‑impact improvements.
• Martin Harris, Director of Public Works thanked MDOT for collaboration on maintenance (mowing, litter, snow removal) and praised the partnership. He noted the county shares the challenge of litter costs and appreciates MDOT’s communication about Operation Clean Sweep.

Key Outcomes and Next Steps

• No formal votes were taken. The meeting was a presentation and discussion to inform the six‑year CTP.
• Secretary Thompson committed to maintaining a collaborative relationship and “finding the path to yes” on Charles County priorities, especially SMRT.
• Commissioners secured commitments to: follow up on specific striping and crosswalk locations (Commissioner Coates); explore collaborations on mowing contracts and beautification (Commissioner Bowling); and keep the county informed about the I‑495 toll lane proposal and ferry discussions (Commissioner Patterson).
• MDOT officials agreed to provide additional information on crosswalk improvement totals (over 2,500 statewide) and to continue the US 301 pedestrian safety action plan.
• The county and MDOT will hold further meetings on the US 301 corridor vision (especially south of MD 6) and on the La Plata Bikeways project.
• The SMRT PEL study is expected to be completed by early 2027, leading into the NEPA process. State matching funds remain a critical issue; Commissioner Collins and staff stressed the requirement under §7‑713.