Transportation Outlook 2035 Financial Analysis
New! The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) has released the final version of Transportation Outlook 2035, the long-range transportation plan for the Baltimore region. |  |
In choosing projects to be included in Transportation Outlook 2035, the BRTB considered a wide range of scenarios–from doing nothing to doing everything. Ideally, the region would want to keep all roads, bridges, and buses in good condition, eliminate all congestion, and build a transit system everyone would love to ride.
Unfortunately, this scenario costs more than the available resources. Somewhere in the middle is a balanced approach to addressing road and transit needs, regional and local priorities. The projects listed in this draft plan are a carefully selected mix that takes into account the level of resources that can reasonably be expected to be available. This includes both the capital costs, for expansion of the regional transportation system, as well as the costs to operate and maintain the system.
Overall
The total amount of funding available through the year 2035 was assessed at approximately $33.4 billion dollars, in constant 2007 dollars. This amount covers three areas:
- Operations - $17.9B (54%)
- Preservation - $6.8B (20%)
- Expansion - $8.7B (26%)
 | Expansion $8.7 Billion has been set aside for Expansion Projects. These projects fall under five categories:
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The following is a breakdown of all costs identified in the Draft Plan:
OPERATIONS $17.9 BILLION
Funding covers the day-to-day operations of the transportation system. For transit, this includes the cost of running buses and trains and, for highway it may include maintenance projects that are of a smaller scale than preservation projects (i.e., filling potholes, clearing debris, etc).
PRESERVATION $6.8 BILLION
System preservation is essential to keeping a safe and well-run transportation system. This includes activities such as resurfacing roads, repairing bridges, maintaining buses and transit tracks, etc.
EXPANSION $8.7 BILLION
This is funding for all capacity improvements. These include projects such as building a new transit line, increasing lanes on a highway, or adding a new bicycle trail.
- HIGHWAY & INTERCHANGE $6 BILLION
Projects funded include federal aid eligible highways and roadways maintained by the State Highway Administration, as well as each local jurisdiction. - TRANSIT $2.2 BILLION Transit projects in this category include a new system to be built by the Maryland Transit Administration, as well as local services such as Howard Transit or Carroll Area Transit System.
- OTHER STRATEGIES $0.5 BILLION This category includes three main areas: capital improvements, technical enhancements, and commuter assistance. Capital improvements include things like adding bicycle racks, improving access on sidewalks for people with disabilities, improving park-and-ride lots, or expanding bus service.
For more information:
Bala Akundi, bakundi@baltometro.org or 410-732-0500 x1019.
Last Updated: 12/12/2008