SUITLAND, Md. (May 16, 2014) – Today, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown was joined by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, County Executive Rushern Baker, Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr., and other state and local officials to break ground on a $37 million construction project to improve motorists’ and pedestrian access to the Branch Avenue Metro Station in Suitland. The Branch Avenue Metro Station enhancement is the first project funded by the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 to begin construction in Prince George’s County.
“One year after the passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, Maryland stands ready to deliver major projects that will expand economic opportunity, create jobs and provide safer streets for the residents of Prince George’s County,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Thanks to our strong partnership with local governments and members of our Congressional Delegation, several other projects across Prince George’s County and the State are moving forward. Our Administration remains committed to making the necessary investments to build a modern transportation network for Maryland that will drive economic development, create jobs, reduce congestion and support our growing economy.”
"This announcement is welcome news for the region’s commuters who struggle with some of the worst traffic congestion in the country," said Senator Ben Cardin.
"Working as a team, the Maryland Congressional Delegation has been united in fight to ensure federal support for Marylanders’ quality of life. I am pleased that we will be able to provide much-needed transportation upgrades and important transit connections."
“Prince George’s County has enjoyed a great partnership with the State as we work to improve our transportation infrastructure,” said County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “These investments in Prince George’s County will enable us to continue our focus on Transit Oriented Development as well as support our efforts to increase our economic impact in the Washington region and the State of Maryland. Each of these projects will create jobs and opportunity that will grow our economy and improve the quality of life for our residents.”
"The Prince George's County Council is truly thankful to our state partners, particularly Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Governor Martin O'Malley and our Local Delegation, for the substantial investment the state is making in our transportation infrastructure at Branch Avenue Metro Station,” said Prince George’s County Council Chairman Melvin Franklin. “We are bringing the world to Prince George's County to create jobs and economic development and the state is our biggest partner in that effort."
Today’s announcement highlights the O'Malley-Brown Administration's ongoing commitment to building a more modern transportation infrastructure in Prince George's County with: projects being completed this year, projects getting under construction, and new funding for several other priority projects on the horizon. Transportation project milestones for the County in 2014 include:
Groundbreakings
• $37 million Branch Avenue Metro Station Access Improvements (Transportation Act funds);
• $6.8 million Hyattsville Queens Chapel Road Streetscape (Transportation Act funds);
Completions
• $38.8 million I-95 / Contee Road New Interchange;
• $89.3 million Intercounty Connector from I-95 to US 1;
New Funding
• $7.5 million MD 337 BRAC Access Improvements at Joint Base Andrews;
• $2.2 million MD 5 at MD 373 (Accokeek Road) and Brandywine Road New Interchange – Utility
Relocation; and
• $500,000 US 50 Traffic Flow Improvement Analysis from Washington, D.C. line to I-495.
The passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 enabled the Maryland Department of Transportation to add $4.4 billion in new projects to create the largest six-year capital budget in Maryland history at $15.6 billion. Over the spring and summer months, the State will continue to review project needs and make investment decisions before developing an updated draft six-year transportation budget to be published this fall.
“Today’s Branch Avenue Metro Station groundbreaking on this improvement project is another major milestone in the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s ongoing efforts to create jobs and to enhance economic competitiveness and sustainability by enhancing access to transit,” said Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr. “Supporting communities around our transit stations allows people to live, work and play all within walking distance to transit, which will help us meet the Governor and Lt. Governor’s ambitious goal of doubling transit ridership by 2020.”
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