WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced their direct federal funding requests for Maryland community projects under the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee for fiscal year 2023. The Senators worked with local community leaders to identify a wide range of projects, which will support infrastructure upgrades, public transit improvements, affordable housing, and access to community centers and green spaces, among other initiatives.
“Team Maryland is united in our ongoing effort to bring new federal resources back to Maryland based on local needs and priorities, especially those that uplift our communities by expanding economic opportunities and rebuilding our infrastructure,” said Senator Cardin, Chair of the Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “Each one of these projects was developed with local input and invests in high priority, transformative projects, such as green spaces, trails and public facilities, as well as housing and workforce development sites. Our goal is to maximize taxpayer dollars in the most meaningful way for our communities.”
“Investing federal dollars directly in our communities allows us to upgrade our infrastructure, improve public transit, spur economic opportunity, and make our state an even better place to live and work. That’s why we’ve partnered with local leaders to identify projects that will benefit Marylanders and our communities – from strengthening transportation infrastructure to increasing affordable housing opportunities to ensuring greater and more equitable access to resources like medical care, job training, and more. We’ll be fighting to get these priorities through Congress and deliver these funds directly to our state,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
While not all requests may receive funding in the final fiscal year 2023 funding legislation, the Senators will advocate for their requests to be included as the Appropriations subcommittees draft their respective bills over the coming months. Fiscal year 2023 begins October 1, 2022. For fiscal year 2022, Senators Cardin and Van Hollen secured over $104 million in direct investments to benefit Maryland.
A sampling of the Senators’ requests for the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee are listed below. All of Senator Cardin’s requests can be found at this link and Senator Van Hollen’s requests can be found at this link. Website pages will be updated as requests to the Appropriations subcommittees are submitted.
Project Name: College Park Community Preservation and Housing Trust
Applicant: College Park City-University Partnership
Description of Proposal: The College Park City-University Partnership is establishing a Housing Trust program to provide affordable workforce housing and to stabilize targeted College Park neighborhoods. Today, only 6 percent of UMD faculty and staff live in College Park; many of the neighborhoods nearest the University have expensive rental properties and many potential home buyers can’t access homeownership, especially in neighborhoods where home prices have soared astronomically. Federal funds will be used to purchase homes and place them into a Shared Equity Homeownership Program to support owner-occupied homeownership.
Project Location: College Park, MD
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Project Name: End Hunger Community Economic Development Project
Applicant: End Hunger in Calvert County
Description of Proposal: The End Hunger Community Economic Development Project serves individuals in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, Prince George’s, and southern Anne Arundel Counties, creating a centralized location for local organizations and nonprofits to create new opportunities for residence and address the root causes of poverty. Funds will be used to renovate facilities to support the receipt and distribution of food to food pantries, schools, and businesses serving low income families. It also includes a dedicated space for a Culinary Workforce Development Program for students with disabilities.
Project Location: Hungtingtown, MD
Amount Requested: $1,133,000
Project Name: I-81 Phases 3-4 Reconstruction
Applicant: Maryland Department of Transportation
Description of Proposal: I-81 serves as a key shipping and logistics spine up and down the East Coast. Ensuring more reliable and consistent free-flow operations will encourage continued growth of the corridor’s warehousing and supply chain industry. Funds will be used for preliminary engineering and design of phases 3 and 4 of the I-81 widening project.
Project Location: Hagerstown, MD
Amount Requested: $10,000,000
Project Name: Last Mile Park
Applicant: American Communities Trust, Inc.
Description of Proposal: Last Mile Park is a one-mile urban ecological and public art trail that will loop through Amtrak’s eight overpasses, making it safe for residents north of the tracks to access the many publicly-funded amenities-parks, playgrounds and retail-to the south. Last Mile Park is planned as a one-mile urban ecological and public art trail that will loop through Amtrak’s eight overpasses. The trail will take pedestrians on a tour of sculptural art, permanent artistic light installations, and green infrastructure while providing engaging information on the narratives and culture of East Baltimore and its residents. The project integrates the northern and southern neighborhoods around the railroad track, promoting one unified community. Federal funds will be used complete the remaining seven overpasses for Last Mile Park.
Project Location: Baltimore City, MD
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Name: Laurel Multi-Service Training Center
Applicant: City of Laurel, MD
Description of Proposal: The City of Laurel, MD intends to develop a multi-service training and employment service center that will house an overnight shelter for 60 individuals; an institutional kitchen and food pantry; post office boxes; laundry services; a computer learning & career assistance center with library; space for onsite physicians and dentists; office space for case workers, counselors, and other related social services; a centralized reception area with dining and lounge space; and some recreational use space. The facility will also include a clothing distribution center and police security office. Federal funds will be used to support renovations of the existing structure.
Project Location: Laurel, MD
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Name: Montgomery County Flash Bus Expansion to Howard County Maryland
Applicant: Montgomery County Government
Description of Proposal: Montgomery and Howard Counties plan to extend the Montgomery County Flash Bus System northward from its existing terminus in Burtonsville to Downtown Columbia, including stops in Maple Lawn and the Johns Hopkins Advanced Physics Lab. Federal funds to purchase four zero-emission buses will allow a bi-county bus with peak period service (3 morning and 3 evening trips) on an hourly headway. Montgomery will purchase, own and operate the vehicles, and Howard County will fund the annual operating costs for their share of this service.
Project Location: Montgomery and Howard Counties, MD
Amount Requested: $3,350,000
Project Name: Salisbury Rail-Trail and Mobility Enhancement Project
Applicant: City of Salisbury, Maryland
Description of Proposal: The Rail-Trail is an essential component of the City of Salisbury’s transformation as a welcoming and walkable city. The proposed Trail addresses a critical missing piece to the City’s existing Trail network: a comfortable, safe, and centrally located mobility network that serves both recreation and transportation purposes. The Rail-Trail will serve as the centerpiece and spine of Salisbury’s active transportation network, connecting residents, employees, students, and visitors to key destinations across Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Upon completion, the Trail will connect Salisbury to the City of Fruitland in the south and the Town of Delmar in the north. Funds will be used to complete 1.6 miles of the City’s Rail Trail.
Project Location: Salisbury, MD
Amount Requested: $6,138,517
Project Name: The Star Community Family Life Center (FLC)
Applicant: MSBC Five Star Program, Inc.
Description of Proposal: The Star Community Family Life Center will turn a former body shop into a space for a variety of multi-generational programs and services including the Youth 360 Program; supportive physical and mental health counseling and services offered to youth and adults; recreational space for activities; and meeting and training space for seminars, classes and workforce development. Federal funds will support the renovation.
Project Location: Woodlawn, MD
Amount Requested: $1,700,000
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