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BALTIMORE, MD (Monday, May 13, 2024) – Today marks the start of Central Maryland’s 27^th annual Bike to Work Week. Events celebrating the health benefits of biking and promoting bike safety will take place across the region on or around National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 17. Riders can register for free to claim a t-shirt and enter prize drawings at BikeToWorkMD.com.

Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) coordinates Bike to Work Week with support from partner agencies around the region. Registration increased in 2022 and 2023 after a dip during the pandemic, and this year is on track to continue that momentum.

BMC Executive Director Mike Kelly hopes more riders will consider biking to work or school, to run errands, to visit the park or library, or just to have fun. Bike to Work Week, he said, can be a time to rediscover biking for recreation or exercise, as well as an option for commuting.

“Biking has so many benefits – it’s good for your health, your wallet and the environment,” Kelly said. “Whether you bike every day, or haven’t biked in years, we hope you’ll gear up with us for Bike to Work Week 2024.”

This year’s program will include more live events than ever before, with group rides, bike happy hours and classic Pit Stops, ride-up events featuring refreshments, some free bike maintenance, safety gear and other swag. Registrants can claim a free t-shirt at a Pit Stop, or any time during Bike to Work Week at a participating local bike shop.

Find more information about the Pit Stops, Pickup Spots and other programs near you at BikeToWorkMD.com.

Follow @Bike2WorkMD on Facebook, Instagram and X for updates, and tag the accounts in your pics to help spread the word! Plus, tell your family, friends and co-workers so they can claim a free t-shirt. Registrants will be eligible to win a $100 gift card for participating bike shops.

Bike to Work Central Maryland is supported by the generous sponsorship of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, Downtown Columbia Partnership, Clean Air Partners, Anne Arundel County Commuter Crew, Go Howard, GoSmart Maryland, Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, Harford County Public Library, the Maryland Department of Transportation, BikeHoCo, Black People Ride Bikes, Columbia Association and Spin.

MEDIA ADVISORY – LOCATIONS BY JURISDICTION

Pit Stops in Anne Arundel County include:

• Anne Arundel County Commuter Crew is hosting a Pit Stop at Annapolis City Dock on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9 AM.
• State Highway Administration is hosting a Pit Stop at its Hanover complex on Friday, May 17 from 8 AM to 12 PM.

Pit Stops in Baltimore City include:

• Joe’s Bike Shop and Abbey Burger Bistro are hosting a Pit Stop Happy Hour at Abbey Burger Mt. Washington on Thursday, May 16 from 5 to 7 PM.
• State Highway Administration is hosting a Pit Stop at Guilford Avenue & Monument Street on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9 AM.
• Baltimore City Department of Transportation is hosting a Pit Stop at War Memorial Plaza on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9:30 AM, including press remarks at 9 AM.
• Bikemore is hosting a Pit Stop at 2209 Maryland Avenue on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9:30 AM.
• The Charm City Circulator is hosting a Pit Stop at the National Aquarium Orange Route stop on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9:30 AM.
• Joe’s Bike Shop is hosting a Pit Stop at its Mt. Washington location at 5814 Falls Road on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 10 AM.
• The Enoch Pratt Free Library is hosting a Pit Stop outside Central Branch on Friday, May 17 from 8 to 10 AM.
• Joe’s Bike Shop and Kooper’s Tavern are hosting a Pit Stop Happy Hour at Kooper’s Tavern on Friday, May 17 from 5 to 7 PM.

Pit Stops in Baltimore County include:

• Catonsville Rails to Trails and GoSmart Maryland are hosting a Pit Stop at Catonsville Santa’s House on Friday, May 17 from 6 to 9 AM.
• Baltimore County and GoSmart Maryland are hosting a Pit Stop at the Towson Historic Courthouse on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9 AM.
• University of Maryland Baltimore County and GoSmart Maryland are hosting a Pit Stop at Ocha Mocha Café on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9 AM.
• Baynesville Bicycle Shop is hosting a Pit Stop and group ride at 1703 East Joppa Road on Sunday, May 19 from 4 to 6 PM.

Pit Stops in Carroll County include:

• The Carroll County Department of Recreation & Parks and GoSmart Maryland are hosting a Pit Stop at Landon C. Burns Park on Friday, May 17 from 12 to 1 PM.

Pit Stops in Harford County include:

• The Harford County Public Library and Harford Transit LINK are hosting a Pit Stop at the Harford County Government Administration Building at 220 South Main Street in Bel Air on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 8:30 AM.

Pit Stops in Howard County include:

• The Howard County Office of Transportation and Downtown Columbia Partnership are hosting a Pit Stop at Color Burst Park on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9 AM.

To learn more about this year's Pit Stops and Pickup Spots, visit BikeToWorkMD.com/Pickup-Locations, or view this interactive map:

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Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality. As the Baltimore region’s council of governments, BMC hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.

BMC operates its programs and services without regard to race, color or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable laws. BMC offers interpretation services, including language translation services and signage for the hearing impaired, at public meetings upon request with seven days advance notice. BMC will not exclude persons based on age, religion, or disability. For assistance, contact the Public Involvement Coordinator, comments@baltometro.org, or call 410-732-0500. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-735-2258 to initiate a TTY call through Maryland Relay. Usarios de Relay MD marquen 7-1-1. Si se necesita información de Título VI en español, llame al 410-732-0500. 

Leer en español.

BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, April 5, 2024) – Registration for Central Maryland’s 27^th annual Bike to Work Week, which will run May 13-19, 2024, is now open at BikeToWorkMD.com. Riders of all levels can register for free to claim free t-shirts and other prizes.

A program of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Bike to Work Central Maryland promotes the benefits of biking, raises bike safety awareness and builds community among cyclists around the Baltimore region. Participants aren’t limited to those who get to work on two wheels – anyone who bikes anywhere can join the fun.

Supported by sponsors and local partners, this year’s program contains more events than ever, including group rides, bike social happy hours and commuter ‘Pit Stops’ throughout Bike to Work Week, with many falling on National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17. Pit Stops will feature refreshments, gear and swag, safety and maintenance checks for beginners, experts and everyone in between.

Free t-shirts will be available to registered participants at bike shops and other pick-up locations throughout the region (supply limited). To register, learn more and find local events and pick-up spots, visit BikeToWorkMD.com.

Follow @Bike2WorkMD on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates. Share you own biking clips, and tell your family, friends and co-workers. Claim your free t-shirts and ride out together. The more the merrier!

Bike to Work Central Maryland is supported by the generous sponsorship of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, Downtown Columbia Partnership, Clean Air Partners, Anne Arundel County Commuter Crew, Go Howard, GoSmart Maryland, Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, Harford County Public Library, the Maryland Department of Transportation, BikeHoCo, Black People Ride Bikes, Columbia Association and Spin.

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Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality. As the Baltimore region’s council of governments, BMC hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.

BMC operates its programs and services without regard to race, color or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable laws. BMC offers interpretation services, including language translation services and signage for the hearing impaired, at public meetings upon request with seven days advance notice. BMC will not exclude persons based on age, religion, or disability. For assistance, contact the Public Involvement Coordinator, comments@baltometro.org, or call 410-732-0500. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-735-2258 to initiate a TTY call through Maryland Relay. Usarios de Relay MD marquen 7-1-1. Si se necesita información de Título VI en español, llame al 410-732-0500. 

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Thank you for reading BMC Quarterly, a brief overview of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council’s activities and initiatives to keep you in the loop.

It has already been a busy year at BMC. We recently hosted the first meeting of the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission, which will seek to provide long-overdue oversight and advocacy for greater Baltimore’s public transit system. We welcomed a new Board of Directors Chair in Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jim Moran, and new Vice Chair in Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. We are working on several transportation planning projects and preparing to roll out more. And speaking of rolling out, our annual Bike to Work Central Maryland program is set for the week of May 13.

With all this and more, it’s a packed issue of BMC Quarterly, and it’s looking likely to be a packed year of programs for our agency. As always, I’m proud of the work we do, and our amazing staff who make it happen. I hope you’ll read on to find out more about what we’re up to, and that you won’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or comments about our agency’s activities. We would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Mike Kelly
Executive Director
Baltimore Metropolitan Council

TOP STORY

Baltimore Regional Transit Commission

We were honored to host the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission (BRTC) for its inaugural meeting on Friday, February 2.

Created by the Maryland General Assembly in the 2023 legislative session, the Commission will work to identify and prioritize local and regional transit needs, and begin laying the groundwork for a new future of transit governance in the region. The Commission will engage state partners at the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), as well as Locally-Operated Transit Systems and transportation planning professionals, to pursue an ambitious vision of oversight and advocacy.

The Commissioners, appointed by Governor Wes Moore, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr., Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, represent transit riders, employers, industry experts and others with a stake in improving greater Baltimore’s transit networks. BRTC members elected Baltimore attorney Jon Laria as Chair.

In their first meeting, Commissioners heard from MTA Administrator Holly Arnold and deputies, as well as our staff supporting the work of the BRTC, to learn more about the challenges facing transit in the Baltimore region, and the work underway to overcome those challenges. In future meetings, the Commission will begin to develop a forward-looking work plan.

The next BRTC meeting is set for Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. Members of the public are welcome to join virtually or in-person.

IN OTHER NEWS

GoSmart Maryland Commuter Resource

We recently launched launched GoSmart Maryland, a new platform providing residents of Baltimore and Carroll counties with easy access to information on carpool and transit options, as well as programs that offer car-poolers, cyclists and transit riders a free ride home in an emergency and financial incentives for ditching cars.

GoSmart Maryland offers a free service to help businesses provide free and low-cost transportation benefits that help employers and employees save money, reduce stress and benefit the environment. GoSmart Maryland can help businesses find programs that help recruit and retain top talent, achieve sustainability goals, save on payroll taxes and secure free benefits for workers. Free programs include employees pre-tax benefits, employ subsidies and the guaranteed ride home benefit.

Learn more at gosmartmd.com.

Regional Bulk Purchasing Contract Database

The Baltimore Regional Cooperative Purchasing Committee (BRCPC) opened up a database of regional contracts, making details about the group’s high-volume purchasing of commodities and services accessible to the public.

We convene and staff the BRPCP, which provides a forum for state and local governments, public schools, community colleges, nonprofits and other agencies to buy in bulk, leveraging their collective purchasing power to secure better rates and save millions on expenditures such as energy, vehicles, office furniture, software and services like daycare. Many BRPCP members are public agencies, and money saved on these bulk contracts frees up funding for services.

The database will serve as a resource for connecting bidding opportunities and vendors. Learn more at baltometro.org/brcpc-database-launch.

Also, don't miss the Maryland Public Safety and Emergency Communication Product Expo on Wednesday, March 27 at the BWI Marriott. Emergency managers, safety officials and communications staff from around the state can take this opportunity to connect with suppliers showcasing the latest in safety and communications technology and services. Click here to learn more and register.

BOARD UPDATE

Our Board of Directors named Queen Anne’s County Commissioner James J. Moran as the 2024 Chair at its most recent meeting on Friday, January 26. Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman will serve as Vice Chair. We also recently welcomed Mark Anthony Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Greater Baltimore Committee, appointed by Governor Wes Moore to represent the region's private development sector.

“The Baltimore Metropolitan Council does important work in all our jurisdictions,” said Moran, the Board's longest-serving member. “I’m looking forward to moving us forward.”

Our thanks to Moran and Pittman, as well as to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, our 2023 Chair, and all our board members. Our next Board of Directors meeting is set for Friday, April 19 at 9 a.m. and will be a joint meeting with the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board. Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually or in-person.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Transportation Planning Budget (UPWP)

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is drafting a transportation planning budget for the upcoming fiscal year, proposing $10.6 million for a range of studies, plans and projects. If BRTB members and federal regulators approve the budget, formally titled the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), we will start this work when the fiscal year begins on July 1.

Funding items in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 include:

• Conducting a Transportation Needs Assessment to identify needs and challenges for users of the region’s transportation system, with a focus on vulnerable populations,
• Continuing the Transportation and Land Use Connection grant program, which quickly unlocks resources to help local jurisdictions improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities,
• Expanding the Look Alive road safety outreach campaign to reach more people who drive, bike and walk in the region through more creative and engaging methods,
• Planning a shared-use path connecting the Patapsco Light Rail Station to Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood, advancing another piece of the Patapsco Regional Greenway,
• Drafting the region’s next short-range transportation plan (with a five-year horizon) and laying the groundwork for the next long-range plan (with a twenty-year horizon).

These are just some of the items proposed. New tasks are described in the draft document, which is available for review online. A public comment period closes on March 11. Learn more and weigh in at publicinput.com/BRTBbudget.

Patapsco Regional Greenway: Stoney Run

We are developing plans for a four-mile shared-use trail connecting Elkridge Main Street to the BWI Trail at Stoney Run Road. The trail will be part of the Patapsco Regional Greenway (PRG), an envisioned 40-mile trail network from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to Sykesville in Carroll County. The trail will link with another PRG segment we helped design from Elkridge to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, expanding connections for bicyclists, pedestrians and other users.

We are working with Anne Arundel County, Howard County and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the plans. An initial public comment period will close on February 16, 2024, and included a meeting at the Howard County Library Elkridge Branch on February 6. Learn more and share your thoughts at publicinput.com/prg.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT PLANNING

We recently received a $1 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, which will help us collaborate with local and state partners to create climate action plans for our region. These include a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) due next month, and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) due in the summer of 2025.

The PCAP will include a greenhouse gas inventory, a list of priority emission reduction measures and an analysis of potential benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities. The CCAP will build on the PCAP with a more extensive look at the inventory, reduction measures and other analyses. These planning efforts seek to help our region bring down greenhouse gas emissions and make our communities less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Click here to learn more about our CPRG planning and how to get involved.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendar! Bike to Work Week 2024 will run Monday, May 13 through Sunday, May 19. Registration will open soon, and registrants can collect free Bike to Work t-shirts at participating locations (supply limited). Subscribe for updates via biketoworkmd.com.

Thanks for reading this edition of BMC Quarterly. Click here to subscribe to future editions.

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Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality. As the Baltimore region’s council of governments, BMC hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.

BALTIMORE, MD­­ (Thursday, February 8, 2024) – The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) Board of Directors named Queen Anne’s County Commissioner James J. Moran as the 2024 Chair at a meeting on Friday, January 26. Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman will serve as Vice Chair, a role Moran held in 2023.

“The Baltimore Metropolitan Council does important work in all our jurisdictions,” said Commissioner Moran, noting that he is the longest-serving member of the Board of Directors. “I’m looking forward to moving us forward.”

County Executive Pittman moved to nominate Commissioner Moran to serve as chair, seconded by Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Moran thanked Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the outgoing chair, for his service on behalf of the region.

Commissioner Moran was elected to the Queen Anne’s County Board of Commissioners in November 2014 after being appointed to a vacant seat in December 2013. He was re-elected in 2018, and again in 2022. He served as president of the Board of Commissioners for the 2017-2018 term.

A military veteran who joined the U.S. Marine Corps 35 years to the day after his father, Commissioner Moran attended Anne Arundel Community College and worked in the concrete construction industry. In 1987, he started his own construction business, which became Increte of Maryland, Inc. in 1991. He then started another business in 2007, Mid-Atlantic Pigments LLC, which supplies color used in concrete construction.

County Executive Pittman was elected Anne Arundel County Executive in 2018, and re-elected in 2022. Raised on a farm in Anne Arundel County, he took over the farm’s hay production and became a nationally recognized horse trainer. He has more than three decades of experience managing nonprofits and small businesses, and has always been a dedicated community organizer, centering compassion in his work with people and animals.

“This organization is very important to Anne Arundel County, the city and all the other counties in the region,” County Executive Pittman said of BMC. “I’m looking forward to working together.”

BMC Executive Director Mike Kelly thanked Commissioner Moran and County Executive Pittman, who will lead BMC through a period of growth. BMC is gearing up to spearhead significant initiatives like a survey of public opinion on housing and transportation issues and the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission, which will give local jurisdictions greater voice in managing local transit.

“We’re building on our momentum and working toward more prosperous and livable communities across our region,” Kelly said. “My thanks to our board for continuing to support that mission.”

BMC’s Board of Directors includes elected executives from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard and Queen Anne’s Counties, as well as representatives of the state legislature and private sector. It will next meet again on Friday, April 19, 2024.

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Baltimore Metropolitan Council provides a regional forum for members, state and local partners to identify mutual interests and collaborate on strategies, plans and programs that help improve economic vitality and quality of life for all.

BMC operates its programs and services without regard to race, color or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable laws. Appropriate services can be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities or those in need of language assistance who submit a request at least seven days prior to a meeting. Call 410- 732-0500. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-735-2258 to initiate a TTY call through Maryland Relay. Si se necesita información de Título VI en español, llame al 410-732-0500.

BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, December 14) – The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC), the Baltimore region’s council of governments and metropolitan planning organization, released its 2023 Annual Report. The report includes the agency’s audited financial statements and a peek at the agency’s work in the previous fiscal year.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, chair of BMC’s Board of Directors, said that the agency’s planning work will help communities across the region realize a vision for a safer, more resilient and more connected future.

“Our efforts lay the groundwork for realizing that vision in the years to come,” said County Executive Ball. “Through our collective efforts, we seek to help our region invest in and capitalize on outcomes that boost quality of life for all.”

For the first time, BMC released an interactive digital version of the annual report, featuring embedded content and links to learn more about the agency’s work.

Highlights in BMC’s 2023 Annual Report include:

• Developing the Resilience 2050 long-range transportation plan, which anticipates $70 billion of major capital investments to the region’s transportation system in the coming decades, and boosts projects centering safety and transit access.
• Preparing for the new Baltimore Regional Transit Commission, which was recommended by BMC’s Regional Transit Governance & Funding Workgroup and will be a significant step toward giving the Baltimore region a voice in the future of our transit system.
• Pursuing regional transportation priorities through initiatives like the Transportation & Land Use Connections grant program, which quickly unlocks resources to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and the Patapsco Regional Greenway, an envisioned 40-mile trail network connecting Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to Sykesville in Carroll County.
• Releasing a Climate Change Resource Guide and toolkit for planners in local jurisdictions with information, insight and next steps to help communities across the region best prepare for the effects of climate change with the available resources.
• Saving consumers $74 million on electricity compared to standard rates through the bulk purchasing Energy Board, which includes county and city governments, public schools and communities colleges and nonprofits.
• Building on the impact of ongoing programs such as Chesapeake Connect, which brings together leaders from across greater Baltimore to connect, reflect and learn from peer regions, and Bike to Work Central Maryland, which has rebounded strongly with a return to in-person participation.

BMC Executive Director Mike Kelly thanked the agency’s board members and staff, as well as partners in agencies, organizations and businesses throughout the region.

“We’re grateful to work with talented public servants dedicated to supporting the health and advancement of our communities,” Kelly said. “We are hard at work to advance the shared goals of our region.”

Learn more in the full 2023 Annual Report. You can also sign up for BMC newsletters, and follow the agency on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.

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Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve quality of life and economic vitality. As the Baltimore region’s council of governments, BMC hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.

BMC operates its programs and services without regard to race, color or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable laws. Appropriate services can be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities or those in need of language assistance who submit a request at least seven days prior to a meeting. Call 410- 732-0500. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-735-2258 to initiate a TTY call through Maryland Relay. Si se necesita información de Título VI en español, llame al 410-732-0500.