Transportation Planning Process

MDOT prepares several long-term planning documents that are used to determine transportation investment priorities. These include the six-year Consolidated Transportation Program, updated annually, and the 20-year Maryland Transportation Plan, revised every five years. MDOT uses these plans to develop annual operating and capital budget requests for the General Assembly's consideration. The planning approach is bottom-up, in that local jurisdictions submit priority project lists to MDOT. The state has a consolidated funding mechanism for all modes, so MDOT and the governor must weigh the demands of all projects in all modes. Final project selection is by the governor, who approves the capital program before submitting it to the General Assembly for approval. Funding is provided at the program level in the budget; project-specific detail, however, is provided in the capital plan.

Legislative Role in Transportation Planning

The General Assembly has responsibility in the planning process to approve the capital program and the funding provided for in the budget. The General Assembly can reduce but not add funding for specific projects in the governor's budget. The General Assembly can add expenditures through a supplementary appropriations bill if matched with new revenues. The General Assembly also can require expenditures in the executive budget for a subsequent fiscal year. The General Assembly also has passed legislation that affects project prioritization (e.g., 2010 Md. Laws, Chap. 725).