Priority Letter

Consolidated Transportation Program and the Priority Letter

Every year Howard County updates the County’s list of transportation priorities for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)'s Consolidated Transportation Program. The list, also known as the Priority Letter, is developed based on input from the public, county staff as well as elected and appointed officials. The update is sent to the Maryland Secretary of Transportation, along with project questionnaires. 

Following receipt of the letter and the scores, the Maryland Department of Transportation evaluates the projects in the letter to assist the state in updating the Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) a six-year capital budget for State transportation projects. The CTP includes capital projects that are generally new, expanded or significantly improved facility or service that may involve planning, environmental studies, design, right-of-way acquisition, construction or the purchase of essential equipment related to the facility or service.

In 2023, the county hosted an open house to solicit feedback and comment on the counties' overall transportation priorities, approaches to solving common transportation challenges and specific projects. The 2023 open house was held in the Columbia/Ellicott room in the George Howard Building (3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043) from 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

You may view the materials presented at the 2023 open house here.

You may view the summary of comments received in response to our outreach efforts here.

The Final Consolidated Transportation Program for FY 2023 - FY 2028 is available on the MDOT website at: https://mdot.maryland.gov/tso/Pages/Index.aspx?PageId=27

The MDOT Priority Letter website has archived statewide priority letters since 2007, including Howard County's.

For additional background, links to information for prior years' letters follow below.