Biden Administration RAISE Grants Secured Through Local, State, and Federal Partnership
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller joined county, state, congressional, and federal leaders in Seat Pleasant to highlight the impact of recent U.S. Department of Transportation Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants awarded to Maryland.
Maryland received two grants for a combined $45 million in awards. Grant funding will create or revamp critical transportation projects that will drive significant investment across underserved communities, continuing the Moore-Miller administration’s support for initiatives that improve access, equity, safety and sustainability.
“Transportation infrastructure creates pathways for people to go from where they live to where opportunities are,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “The RAISE grants awarded to Maryland will create countless opportunities and close gaps between communities that have been historically overlooked. The projects constructed through these investments will connect seamlessly with additional transportation projects spearheaded by the Moore-Miller Administration — like the development of the Blue Line Corridor — in order to create a fully integrated, comprehensive transportation network.”
The first $25 million grant will fund multi-use paths and trail improvements to fill gaps in the Capital Trails Network. The funded projects will include seven miles of new construction, eight miles of trail rehabilitation, and safety improvements at major intersections and at-grade crossings.
Overall, these regional projects will enhance both recreational and economic opportunities in the region, provide non-motorized commuting options to the 53,000 workers that are within half a mile of the trails, and improve trail access for nearly 300,000 residents. These projects are part of the Capital Trails Coalition network, an ambitious vision to connect Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia via a 990-mile trail network.
The trails funded by this grant also are part of Blue Line Corridor vision and will bring needed trail connectivity to help make the surrounding areas more walkable and bikeable.
Additionally, a $20 million grant was awarded to the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration for the new Mondawmin Transit Hub in Baltimore City to upgrade the existing station and make multi-modal and environmental enhancements to create a modern, safe and well-connected transit hub for residents and commuters in West Baltimore.
The RAISE grant for Mondawmin will aid an overall $33.5 million station upgrade. The Maryland Transit Administration has committed $12 million, and other contributions include $1 million from the Baltimore City Department of Transportation and $500,000 from the city Department of Public Works. Improvements include replacement of the existing bus loop; a new street level customer service kiosk and seating; pedestrian and bicycle safety features including a grade-separated bike and pedestrian trail on the Gwynn Falls Parkway; and environmental features such as 10 electric vehicle chargers provided by BGE, bioretention facilities and creation of new green spaces.
“The Mondawmin Transit Hub project will expand job, education, health care, shopping and recreational opportunities for residents throughout West Baltimore and beyond,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This $20 million federal RAISE grant, combined with support from the Moore-Miller Administration, our Congressional delegation and local and private partners, will make a lasting impact in the community and make access to transit easier and more convenient for all.”
The Mondawmin Transit Hub will expand access for a diverse population in West Baltimore and create opportunity for transit-oriented development. Mondawmin Station is in a Historically Disadvantaged Community. Within a half-mile radius, 23% of households earn less than $15,000 annually and 27% of residents were living at or below the poverty line as of the 2020 census. Ninety-five percent of residents within a half-mile of the station identify as non-white or of Hispanic/Latino origin.
“This is a major investment in our transit system and in West Baltimore,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “Mondawmin is a critical hub, and this project includes upgrades designed to create a more rider-focused station.”
The RAISE grant program was expanded under the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create good-paying jobs, build and repair critical infrastructure, and advance equity. In the most recent round of RAISE grant funding, more than $2.2 billion in total funding was awarded to 162 different infrastructure projects across the country. Seventy percent of the grants are going to projects in regions defined as an Area of Persistent Poverty or a Historically Disadvantaged Community.
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