SOLOMONS, Md. — The Calvert-St. Mary’s Metropolitan Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee and Council will hold consecutive public meetings Nov. 17, 2025, to review proposed amendments to the fiscal year 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program, focusing on funding shifts and project expansions in Southern Maryland’s growing corridors.
The Technical Advisory Committee convenes at 10 a.m., followed by the Council at 11 a.m., both at the Calvert Marine Museum’s Waterfront Lounge, 14200 Solomons Island Road South. Discussions center on three key items: adjustments to the Areawide Congestion Management Project, which incorporates a funding reallocation and a new implementation phase; revisions to the MD 5 Great Mills Study Project, involving increased allocations and altered funding sources; and an updated Public Participation Plan that extends notice periods and enhances document clarity.
These amendments, requested by the Maryland State Highway Administration, ensure compliance with federal transportation mandates under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, which requires metropolitan planning organizations to prioritize projects through fiscally constrained programs. The TIP outlines federally funded initiatives over four years, drawing from sources like the Highway Trust Fund and state bonds to address infrastructure needs in the MPO’s jurisdiction — southern Calvert County below Maryland Route 2-4 and eastern St. Mary’s County from Hollywood to St. Mary’s City.
The Areawide Congestion Management Project targets traffic bottlenecks across the region, where daily volumes on routes like MD 4 and MD 5 exceed 40,000 vehicles in peak areas near Prince Frederick and Lexington Park. This amendment shifts federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds to support a new phase emphasizing intelligent transportation systems, such as real-time traffic signals and variable message signs, aimed at reducing delays by up to 15 percent in high-density zones. Such measures align with Maryland’s broader efforts to curb emissions in non-attainment areas, where Southern Maryland’s ozone levels occasionally surpass federal thresholds.
For the MD 5 Great Mills Study Project, the changes boost funding by reallocating $2.5 million in state aid for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, alongside federal highway dollars. The initiative encompasses roadway widening from two to four lanes over 3.5 miles, intersection upgrades at sites like Great Mills Road and Three Notch Street, and a bridge replacement spanning St. Mary’s River. These enhancements address safety concerns, including a 20 percent rise in crashes along the corridor from 2020 to 2024, driven by commuter traffic from Naval Air Station Patuxent River and residential expansion.
The Public Participation Plan Update streamlines outreach by extending comment windows from 15 to 21 days for major actions and simplifying language in MPO materials, fostering broader input from residents in underserved areas like Lusby or Callaway. Federal guidelines under 23 U.S.C. Section 134 mandate such plans to guarantee equitable access, particularly for low-income and minority communities comprising 25 percent of the MPO’s 120,000 residents.
Meetings accommodate in-person attendance at the museum, a venue chosen for its central location along the Patuxent River, or virtual participation via Zoom. For the 10 a.m. session, use Meeting ID 881 5571 1494, with a link at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88155711494#success and call-in at 301-715-8592. The 11 a.m. gathering employs Meeting ID 430 427 6617, accessible via https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4304276617?omn=83110085666, using the same phone line. Agendas appear at www.calvert-stmarysmpo.com.
Public input shapes recommendations, with decisions based exclusively on testimony and evidence presented. Written submissions due by Nov. 14, 2025, go to C-SMMPO, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650, or Karly.Maltby@stmaryscountymd.gov. Late materials enter the record post-hearing but influence no votes. Electronic documents requestable from Maltby at 301-475-4200, extension 1507, or the website. Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations require 72-hour notice via email or phone.
The C-SMMPO, formed in 1993 and redesignated in 2013, coordinates planning across two counties to secure $150 million annually in federal aid, preventing urban sprawl while supporting rural connectivity. In Southern Maryland, where population grew 12 percent from 2010 to 2020, transportation strains emerge from reliance on personal vehicles — 85 percent of commutes — amid limited rail or bus options. The MPO’s long-range plan, Moving Forward 2050, projects $2 billion in needs by midcentury, prioritizing safety on MD 235 and transit links to employment hubs like Pax River, which employs 20,000.
Recent state investments underscore these priorities. The Maryland Department of Transportation’s draft Consolidated Transportation Program for 2026-2031 allocates $32.5 million for MD 231 safety upgrades in Calvert, including barriers and signals, while advancing pedestrian crossings on U.S. 301 in Charles County. Locally, the MPO collaborates with transit authorities on the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project, a $30 million bus rapid line connecting Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s by 2030, reducing commute times from 45 to 25 minutes.
These Nov. 17 sessions follow a pattern of amendments; the FY 2025-2028 TIP already incorporated National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure modifications in September 2025, adding charging stations along MD 4. Public hearings ensure transparency, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, allowing stakeholders — from environmental groups monitoring Patuxent wetlands to business owners in Solomons — to weigh in on air quality and equity impacts.
For broader context, the MPO’s technical committee comprises planners from Calvert and St. Mary’s departments, plus Maryland Transit Administration representatives, while the policy council includes elected officials like Calvert Commissioner President Kelly McConkey and St. Mary’s Commissioner Eric Colvin. Their work integrates with county plans, such as St. Mary’s 2023 Strategic Roadway Safety Plan targeting zero fatalities by 2025 through data-driven interventions.
Residents preparing comments might review the full TIP at the MPO site, where fiscal constraint tables detail $500 million in programmed projects, from resurfacing 50 miles of local roads to bike lane additions in Hollywood. Virtual access eases participation for those in remote areas like Tall Timbers, where bridge closures occasionally isolate communities.
As Southern Maryland balances naval legacies with suburban influxes, these amendments reinforce adaptive planning. The hearings, mandated by Title 23 of the U.S. Code, close the public record Nov. 17, with council adoption possible by December to align with state fiscal cycles.
