WASHINGTON – Friday, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) were in Prince George’s County to highlight $3,483,000 in direct federal investments they delivered to upgrade transportation and water infrastructure across the County. They were joined by local partners, including County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Randy Clarke, CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and Kishia Powell, General Manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC).
“In Prince George’s County and throughout the state, we’re focused on bringing new investments to communities that have traditionally been overlooked and underserved. With this critical funding, Team Maryland is delivering federal investments that support infrastructure projects to help improve water quality, mitigate flooding, make transit safer and more reliable and build stronger neighborhoods across the region,” said Senator Cardin.
“Modernizing our infrastructure not only improves Marylanders’ everyday lives, it also lays the foundations for greater economic growth and opportunity. These investments in Prince George’s County will do just that by helping our communities bolster their resilience against flooding, improve wastewater management systems, and increase access to public transit,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“Together we can positively impact our community. From sewer lines to pollution and flood mitigation to promoting public transportation and access while minimizing wastewater run-off, our federal team along with our community and business stakeholders all have important roles to play to ensure a safer, more equitable and green Prince George’s County and region. Friday’s announcement of community project funds is a good step in the right direction towards those goals,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey.
The lawmakers secured the following investments within the federal funding bills passed and signed into law for Fiscal Year 2024.
- $500,000 for Prince George’s County to improve the area surrounding the West Hyattsville Metro Station with enhanced bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, art and signage, and stormwater management;
- $1,383,069 for Prince George’s County’s Anacostia River Watershed flood control project, which includesupgrading outdated storm drainage and storm management systems and developing a comprehensive plan to reduce flooding;
- $1,600,000 for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to extend public sewers to homeowners in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties who cannot afford to pay on their own, preventing septic failures and protecting public health.
“Today, as we celebrate new investments in Prince George’s County, we cannot overstate the transformative impact of these projects,” said Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Executive. “These investments not only address immediate needs but also advance our long-term vision of growth, climate resilience, and community connectivity.”
“Promoting transit ridership throughout the region relies on enhancing the customer journey from start to finish. If customers do not have access to sidewalks or a safe path to walk or bike, they will choose another option. We are so grateful for this investment secured by our Maryland Congressional delegation, and we look forward to working together to improve equity and accessibility in the communities we serve,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke.
“As an anchor institution, WSSC Water gratefully accepts this funding and will use it to further our efforts to advance environmental justice and lift up historically unserved and underserved communities,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. “This crucial funding will enable residents with aging septic systems to connect to our wastewater collection system – saving residents thousands of dollars by covering the cost of extending sewer lines to their homes. We thank our federal delegation members for their leadership in securing these funds and appreciate the counties’ ongoing support in identifying households that will benefit.”
Senators Van Hollen and Cardin and Congressman Ivey delivered this funding as part of their broader efforts to support investment in Prince George’s County’s infrastructure. Additional direct federal funding they secured in Fiscal Year 2024 includes $1.68 million for flood mitigation in the Town of Cheverly; and $850,000 to re-stabilize, protect, and restore the Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park among other projects throughout the county.
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