FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statewide Transit Innovation Grant Projects Focus on Improving Transit Operations, Mobility Access and Environmental Impact

BALTIMORE, MD (October 18, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration announces the award of three Statewide Transit Innovation Grants totaling more than $300,000 to Delmarva Community Service on the Eastern Shore and to transit agencies in Cecil and Frederick counties for projects to improve customer service, decrease environmental impacts of buses and enhance safety in these communities. This competitive grant program allows local transit agencies and county officials to apply for annual state funding to plan, design or construct innovative transit projects.

“The Maryland Transit Administration’s Statewide Transit Innovative Grants support communities seeking to deliver better transportation to residents throughout Maryland,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “Enhancing safety, reducing carbon emissions and bringing a better travel experience to riders are important elements of a world-class transportation network.”

The Statewide Transit Innovation Grant program has distributed more than $3 million to fund 20 projects since the program launched in 2018. This year’s grants are being awarded to:
 

• Cecil County ($127,955) to upgrade its transit demand response software. The new software will improve the customer experience by providing the opportunity for same-day scheduling, automatic dispatching, real-time updates and online booking portals. The grant also will expand resident access to transit services by enabling better multi-modal coordination between the county’s demand response and mobility on demand services.
   
• Delmarva Community Service ($122,622) to install a propane filling station for future propane powered vehicles. The new filling station will help Delaware Community Services transition to a low emission vehicle fleet, which will decrease the environmental impact of operations and extend the life of its vehicle fleet.
   
• Frederick County ($64,000) to upgrade its transit vehicles’ onboard cameras to enable wireless capability. By enabling Wi-Fi connectivity, the transit agency will be able to improve processing times for accessing camera data.

The Statewide Transit Innovation Grants program funds cost-effective public transportation projects that reduce delays for people and improve connectivity between regional and economic population centers. The projects may incorporate bus, rail or other transit modes.

The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, and operates Local Bus, Commuter Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. The goal of the Maryland Transit Administration is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov

Courtney Mims
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 667-392-0157
cmims@mdot.maryland.gov

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