2021 Planning Webinar Series


Session 1: Thursday, November 18 from Noon to 1:00 PM

Planning for Zero Emission Buses in Maryland

Presented by
Lauren Molesworth, Environmental Planning Manager for MDOT MTA
Severin Skolrud, Zero Emission Market Lead for MD, DC, VA, WV at WSP

Since 2020, Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and WSP have been building a comprehensive zero-emission bus (ZEB) transition plan to meet the 2030 goal established by Maryland’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act (GGRA) to convert 50% of MDOT MTA’s fleet to zero-emissions. This will involve a battery electric bus pilot at Kirk in early 2023, two separate facility retrofits to accommodate battery electric charging infrastructure, and finally, the redevelopment of the eastern bus depot to be a purpose-built BEB facility. MDOT MTA is taking a methodical approach to a constantly changing industry to ensure service disruptions are minimized and MDOT MTA continues to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service.

Registration is closed.

Session 2: Friday, December 3 from Noon to 1:00 PM

I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study: NEPA Effort

Presented by
Karen Kahl, RK&K, Consultant Project Manager
Caryn Brookman, Blackwater Environmental Group, Environmental Program Manager

The I-495 & I-270 Managed Lanes Study is the largest NEPA effort the State of Maryland has undertaken.  Starting as a 48-mile-long study, the Preferred Alternative is currently 15 miles long and has the same limits as the first P3 contract called Phase 1 South. The study is scheduled to be completed in 2022 after encountering significant challenges over the past 3 years.  This presentation will provide an overview of the project history and how the team worked through the many challenges

Registration is closed.

Session 3: Wednesday, December 15 from Noon to 1:00 PM

Baltimore City Parking Problems & Solutions

Presented by
Peter Little, Executive Director, Parking Authority of Baltimore City

The Parking Authority serves the City of Baltimore, its residents, businesses and visitors by managing the parking assets of the City and developing and implementing parking solutions.  The Parking Authority has oversight of 14 City-owned garages and 24 City-owned lots.  Furthermore, the Parking Authority administers on-street parking programs for the City including parking meters, the City’s Residential Parking Permit (RPP) programs, reserved parking spaces for residents with permanent disabilities, truck loading zones, passenger loading zones, and valet parking zones.  The Parking Authority has been a leader in the Baltimore Region in the installation of pay-on-foot parking revenue control equipment in its off-street facilities, solar-powered multi-space and “smart” single-space parking meters that accept credit and debit cards, a program to provide on-street metered parking to people with disabilities while curbing the theft and abuse of disability placards (Project Space) in Baltimore City, and demand-based parking meter rate setting to foster greater availability at metered parking spaces.

Registration is closed.

Session 4: Tuesday, December 21 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Section 106 Made Easy: An Innovative New Program to Facilitate Section 106 Compliance for Local Public Agency Transportation

Presented by
Kari Sprengeler, Cultural Resources Local Program Lead, MDOT SHA

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) can be intimidating to those who are not cultural resource practitioners. Complying with Section 106 of the NHPA involves coordinating with federal and state agencies, involving consulting parties in the process, and ensuring that Section 106 review starts early enough in project planning that the chances of a project being held up by Section 106 and NEPA review are minimized. This presentation will cover some Section 106 basics before discussing an innovative new program at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) that provides for MDOT SHA cultural resources professionals to assist local public agencies with Section 106 compliance on federal-aid transportation projects in Maryland.

Registration is closed.