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vehicles are a major source of air pollution, reducing vehicle miles of
travel helps us meet the clean air standards in the Clean Air Act. In
polluted areas, how much a transportation project can contribute toward
cleaning the air plays a major role in whether it will be chosen to
receive Federal funds. In the Baltimore, Washington and Wilmington
metropolitan areas, MDOT and the regional planning organizations have
incorporated a review of air quality impacts into the transportation
planning process.
The role of the MTP is at the beginning of the process, shaping the
priorities and philosophy of the Department. The following steps
summarize the long process a project will go through as it moves from
conception to construction. Many parts of the process happen
simultaneously, and some parts, particularly project development, can
take many years to complete.
Establish Policy Guidelines.
Policy guidelines are established in various plans and laws, including:
at the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland
Transportation Plan and the functional and strategic plans of the
modal administrations and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority;
at the local level, the comprehensive plans of the local jurisdictions
and their transportation investment priorities;
Maryland's Growth Policy established in the Economic Growth, Resource
Protection and Planning Act of 1992;
Consistency with the Smart Growth Areas Act of 1997, and;
at the regional level, the long-range plans of the metropolitan
planning organizations which contain projects that have been screened
for feasibility, affordability and consistency with the region's air
quality clean air plans.
Select Projects for Study.
Consistent with these plans, projects are selected for study. Ideas for
projects can come from many sources, including:
Priorities established by working in close cooperation with local
jurisdictions, other state agencies, and the public;
Needs inventories;
Technical needs identified through regular analysis of system
components such as congestion, bridges, pavements, and safety issues;
Transportation enhancements such as landscaping, trail construction,
or historic preservation; or
Projects required to meet air quality goals such as park and ride
lots, sidewalks around transit stations and ridesharing incentive
programs.
As a matter of policy, projects that address maintenance or structural
deficiencies, called "system preservation," are the highest priority for
funding.
Assemble Projects in Capital Program.
Projects proposed for funding are assembled in a draft Consolidated
Transportation Program (CTP) through the following process:
MDOT, working with local and State elected officials, identifies their
priorities and projects for inclusion in the draft CTP.
Each fall the Department presents the draft to each of the counties
during the Secretary's Annual Tour.
Based on input received at the meetings, the CTP is revised and
submitted first to the Governor and then to the General Assembly.
During its winter session, the General Assembly approves the first
year of the program as part of the State's budget.
In the summer, projects in areas with poor air quality are tested for
consistency with the State's clean air plan by the metropolitan
planning organizations. If these projects pass this test, they are
incorporated by reference into the CTP that is then submitted to
Federal officials for approval.
In October, Federal agencies approve the program and Federal funds
become available.
Project Development.
Once projects are put into the capital program, more detailed planning
can proceed. "System preservation" projects, because they typically
involve improvements to existing facilities, have a simpler planning
process and can often be implemented quickly. On the other hand, major
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