Cardin and Ruppersberger Announce $750,000 in New Federal Funding for I-695 Baltimore Beltway Widening Project
 Congressman Ruppersberger with Mahlon Anderson, Congressman Cardin and Trent Kittleman at announcement of the new Highway Funds |
Approximately 189,000 motorists travel along the 12-mile stretch of roadway every day. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) expects that number to increase by more than a third by 2025. The Baltimore metropolitan region is one of the 25 most congested in the nation, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. In 2001, Baltimoreans spent 33% of their daily travel in congestion compared to 12% in 1982. Both Congressmen agree this money will "be a big help in reducing congestion that has choked much of the beltway in recent years."
"The beltway is one of the most important transportation arteries in our region. It is critical to future economic growth that we keep traffic moving in an efficient and effective manner. Funding to widen I-695 is my one of my top transportation priorities, and it is one that I will continue to work for in Congress," said Congressman Cardin.
"Keeping Marylanders moving along the Baltimore Beltway is incredibly important to keep our economy moving and improve the quality of life for our residents. These federal dollars will keep the I-695 widening project on the right track to reduce traffic congestion. I will continue to fight in Washington to bring this important federal funding to the Baltimore Region," said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).
The Congressmen were joined at the press conference by Trent Kittleman, Deputy Secretary of MDOT and Mahlon G. Anderson, AAA Mid-Atlantic Director of Public and Government Relations.
"Federal support is extremely important in realizing Gov. Ehrlich's vision for reducing traffic congestion in Maryland," said Maryland's Deputy Transportation Secretary Trent M. Kittleman. "We appreciate this funding for the Baltimore Beltway widening effort and we look forward to working with Congressman Cardin and Congressman Ruppersberger throughout the federal transportation reauthorization process to insure Maryland receives the transportation funding it needs."
 Congressman Ruppersberger and Congressman Cardin at announcement of the new Highway Funds |
"Baltimore is in the throws of a mobility crisis -- we have gridlock growing everywhere and few dollars to address it. Nowhere is this more evident than on the Baltimore Beltway. Clearly our gridlock is growing much faster than the state dollars available to address it, so federal dollars are a necessary part of the solution. We congratulate Congressmen Cardin and Ruppersberger for their successful efforts to bring home some new federal dollars to improve life for motorists on the Baltimore Beltway," said Lon Anderson, Director of Public and Government Relations for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
The $750,000 will be used along with $1.2 million in previous funding for the engineering design phase. The first segment of the inner loop of I-695 to be designed and built is between MD 41 (Perring Parkway) and MD 147 (Harford Road). It is estimated that construction will cost $23.5 million and engineering $3.5 million.
As funding becomes available, future plans call for widening the outer loop of I-695 and the remaining portion of the inner loop from I-83 to Perring Parkway. The project will total more than $315 million and will be completed in several phases. Federal highway transportation funds account for 80% of the funding.
The FY2005 transportation bill that recently passed the House contains $9.7 million in new federal money for the Beltway widening project.
-end-