MDTA Maryland Transportation Authority
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026
MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
2310 BROENING HWY BALTIMORE, MD 21224
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA April 9, 2026 – 9:00 a.m. This meeting will be livestreamed on the Finance and Administration Committee Meeting Archive | MDTA (maryland.gov) NOTE: This is an Open Meeting being conducted via livestreaming. The public is welcomed to watch the meeting at the link listed above. If you wish to comment on an agenda item please email your name, affiliation, and agenda item to cgreen2@mdta.state.md.us no later than noon on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. You MUST pre-register in order to comment. Once you have pre-registered you will receive an email with all pertinent information. AGENDA OPEN SESSION Call to Order
1. Approval March 12, 2026 - Open Meeting Minutes
Chairman von Paris 5 min.
2. Approval Contract No. MR - 3042 - On-Call Upgrade and Replacement of
Tony Zhang
5 min.
Metal Traffic Barriers and Attenuators
3. Update Financing Resolution 25-02, Series 2026 Bonds
Allen Garman
10 min.
4. Update Tolling Contracts and Agreements
Richard Jaramillo
15 min.
5. Update Key Bridge Rebuild Engagement Efforts
20 min.
Melissa Bogdan Bradley Tanner
CLOSED SESSION - Expected Time 9:55 a.m.
6.
To Discuss Contract Negotiations
James Harkness
20 min.
Brian Wolfe
Vote to go into Open Session
Vote to Adjourn
Subject to change; revisions to be published
4/9/26
ITEM 1
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026 OPEN MEETING VIA LIVESTREAM OPEN SESSION
MEMBERS ATTENDING:
Cynthia Penny-Ardinger Dontae Carroll Jeffrey Rosen John von Paris William Bertrand Greg Brown Jeffrey Brown Percy Dangerfield Jeffrey P. Davis Tonya Dorsey Allen Garman Bruce Gartner Chantelle Green Anthony Hagen James Harkness Pilar Helm Natalie Henson Kendra Joseph Mary O’Keeffe Megan Mohan, Esq. Kenneth Montgomery Timothy Sheets
STAFF ATTENDING:
At 9:00 a.m., Member John von Paris, Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, called the Finance and Administration Committee Meeting to order.
APPROVAL – OPEN MEETING MINUTES FROM JANARY 15, 2026 MEETING Member John von Paris called for the approval of the meeting minutes from the open meeting held on February 12, 2026. Member Jeffrey Rosen made the motion, and Member Cynthia Penny-Ardinger seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
OPEN SESSION MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE TWO OF THREE
UPDATE – HUMAN RESOURCES AND WORKFOCE DEVELOPMENT Ms. Tonya Dorsey provided an update on key initiatives from the Office of Human Resources and Workforce Development. Ms. Dorsey began her remarks by updating the Finance and Administration Committee on the agency’s vacancy rate and the various recruitments that occurred during 2025. Additionally, Ms. Dorsey provided an update on labor relations training, the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) Supervisory Training and Engagement Program, Leadership Investment for Tomorrow (LIFT) Program, Career Development Program, and All-Access Tours Initiative designed to train facility maintenance employees on how to navigate key employment systems related to timekeeping, employee benefits, and online training. UPDATE – FY 2027 DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUDGET ANALYSIS Ms. Chantelle Green and Mr. Jeffrey Brown provided the Finance and Administration Committee with an overview of the budget analysis and recommendations presented by the Department of Legislative Services during the MDTA’s Fiscal Year 2027 legislative budget hearing. The overview also included a brief recap of the budget and the MDTA’s responses to the questions raised in the budget analysis document. UPDATE – 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION Ms. Mary O’Keeffe provided the Finance and Administration Committee with a verbal update on the MDTA’s two departmental bills. Ms. O’Keeffe advised that the first bill, Senate Bill 188/House Bill 229, increases the MDTA’s revenue bond limit from $4 billion to $5 billion. While there were some questions and amendments offered during the floor debate, both bills passed their respective chambers (as introduced) and crossed over to the opposing chamber for further action. The second bill, House Bill 246, authorizes the MDTA to issue a Notice of Toll Due (NOTD) to the owner of a “Class G vehicle” (e.g., boat trailer) when the license plate on a motor vehicle is missing or obscured. After further consultation with the Maryland Motor Trucking Association, the MDTA proposed an amendment to the bill clarifying the MDTA would only issue a NOTD to the owner of the trailer when it is unable to determine the registered owner of the motor vehicle. The bill, as amended, passed the House and crossed over to the Senate for further action. UPDATE – FSK BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION Mr. William Bertrand provided the Finance and Administration Committee with an overview of the process for tracking, reporting, and recovering federally eligible expenditures related to the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge Rebuild Emergency Relief (ER) Project. Mr. Bertrand advised that before a federal reimbursement request is
OPEN SESSION MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE THREE OF THREE
submitted, project teams from the MDTA and Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) interact with the Federal Highway Administration Maryland Division ER Staff and the General Engineering Consultant’s subconsultant firm to review all transactions for federal compliance and eligibility for reimbursement. The process requires that transactions that are deemed federally eligible for reimbursement are properly supported for audit trail purposes. While there are no known concerns with the current structure of the systems and controls that are currently in place for supporting the FSK Bridge Rebuild Project expenses, the MDTA and SHA will continue to support process and/or documentation enhancements. There being no further business, the meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee adjourned at 9:48 a.m., following a motion by Member Penny-Ardinger, and seconded by Member Dontae Carroll.
_________________________________________________ John von Paris, Chairman
ITEM 2
Wes Moore, Governor Aruna Miller, Lt. Govemor Kathryn Thomson, Chair
Maryland ,M Transportation Authority
Board Members: Dontae Carroll Maricela Cordova 'Mlliam H. Cox, Jr.
Cynthia D. Penny-Ardinger
Jeffrey S. Rosen
Samuel D. Snead, MCP, MA
Mario J. Gangemi, P.E. John F. von Paris
Bruce Gartner, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Finance and Administration Committee
FROM: Highway Engineer Dongning (Tony) Zhang, PE SUBJECT: Contract MR-3042-000, On-Call Upgrade & Replacement Metal Traffic Barriers and Attenuators DATE: April 9, 2026 PURPOSE OF MEMORANDUM To seek approval from the Finance & Administration Committee to present Contract No. MR-3042-000, On-Call Upgrade & Replacement Metal Traffic Barriers and Attenuators, to the full MDTA Board at its next scheduled meeting. SUMMARY On December 10, 2025, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) advertised a solicitation for the subject contract with a letting date of February 18, 2026. A few minutes prior to the letting time (12:00 noon), Procurement noted that only one bid was received. To promote competition, Procurement postponed the letting date to March 4, 2026, and contacted multiple vendors to encourage additional participation. Procurement subsequently received no-bid responses from five vendors who indicated that they either operate outside the geographic areas (jurisdiction) or do not provide the services requested in the solicitation. No additional bids were received. At the bid opening, on March 4, 2026, a single bid was recorded from L.S. Lee, Inc ., in the amount of $5,555,550. This bid price is 9.63% higher than the Engineer’s Estimate, which is $5,067,350. MDTA requires continued access to the services solicited under this contract to maintain its traffic barrier infrastructure. Rejecting the single bid and re- advertising the solicitation is unlikely to increase competition or generate additional interest, and it would delay or potentially interrupt access to these necessary services. The contract will be structured as a not-to-exceed contract in the amount of $6,000,000, with the aggregate bid price is used solely for the purpose of ranking the bidders. An evaluation and justification of the bid by the Highway Engineer indicates that the bid is balanced and reasonable. L.S. Lee, Inc ., is the incumbent contractor on the current W- beam replacement and upgrade on-call contract (MR-3035-0000) and has been
2310 Broening Highway • Baltimore, MD 21224 • mdta@mdta.maryland.gov • 410.537.1000 • 711 (MD Relay) • mdta.maryland.gov • DriveEzMD.com
Contract MR-3042-000 Page Two
previously awarded several on-call contracts, including MR-2847-000-001, MA-2239- 000-002, MA-2436-000-002 and MR-3015R-0000. The firm has demonstrated a consistent track record of performing similar work on contracts with Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). RECOMMENDATION Approve the presentation of Contract No. MR-3042-000, On-Call Upgrade & Replacement Metal Traffic Barriers and Attenuators, to the full MDTA Board at its next scheduled meeting. ATTACHMENT • Finance & Administration Committee Project Summary
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE PROJECT SUMMARY MR-3042-0000 - On-Call Upgrade and Replace Metal Traffic Barriers and Attenuators
Maryland Transportation Authority
PIN NUMBER
N/A
CONTRACT NUMBER CONTRACT TITLE
MR-3042-0000
On-Call Upgrade and Replace Metal Traffic Barriers and Attenuators
The contract includes replacement and maintenance of traffic barrier w-beam and attenuators on an as- needed basis. The contract will be awarded as a Not-To-Exceed (NTE) amount of $6,000,000. All work will be completed through on-call task assignments directed by the MDTA Engineer, and may occur at any MDTA facility.
PROJECT SUMMARY
SCHEDULE
ADVERTISEMENT DATE
($)
12/10/2025
ANTICIPATED NOTICE TO PROCEED DATE
Advertised GOAL (%)
Proposed GOAL (%)
May-26
DURATION (CALENDER DAYS)
MBE PARTICIPATION
1,095
OVERALL MBE
5.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
5.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
AFRICAN AMERICAN ASIAN AMERICAN HISPANIC AMERICAN
WOMEN
VSBE
$5,067,350.00
ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE (EE)
BID AMOUNT % VARIANCE TO
BID RESULTS
($)
EE
NO ☒
YES □
L.S. LEE
$5,555,550.00
9.60%
BID PROTEST
FUNDING SOURCE
100% TOLL REVENUE
ITEM 3
Wes Moore, Governor Aruna Miller, Lt. Govemor Kathryn Thomson, Chair
Maryland ,M Transportation Authority
Board Members: Dontae Carroll Maricela Cordova 'Mlliam H. Cox, Jr.
Cynthia D. Penny-Ardinger
Jeffrey S. Rosen
Samuel D. Snead, MCP, MA
Mario J. Gangemi, P.E. John F. von Paris
Bruce Gartner, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Finance and Administration Committee Deputy Director of Finance Allen Garman
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Bond Sale Update
DATE:
April 9, 2026
PURPOSE OF MEMORANDUM Provide an update on timing and structure for the Series 2026 bonds. SUMMARY
The Municipal Financing Resolution 25-02 approved by the board in December 2025, authorizes a $600 million bond issuance to finance a portion of capital projects in calendar 2026. In the latest approved financial forecast from November 2025, a second financing need of approximately $250 million is also modeled for fiscal 2027. The timing of the second financing is in likely in calendar 2026 (first half of fiscal 2027). As these two financings are relatively close in timing, management is considering combining into two series and issuing at one time, though the total financing will not exceed the resolution approved par of $600 million. Combining the financings will increase financial flexibility. If the second financing is not needed in calendar 2026, lower costs of issuance (legal, advisory, ratings) may also be achieved. That is, the combined financings for both the Key Bridge project and other portions of the CTP does not commit the MDTA to second issue in calendar 2026 and increases the possibility of costs of issuance savings. If a second issue is needed, it may also be structured in two series. The need and proportions of a second financing in calendar 2026 will be informed by capital spending and federal reimbursement timing. As discussed in December, the interim financing for the Key Bridge project is planned to be structured as an interest only term bond with a single maturity in six years. The second series of bonds to finance a portion of other capital projects will feature the more common thirty-year amortization structure and a standard par call in ten years. These two
2310 Broening Highway • Baltimore, MD 21224 • mdta@mdta.maryland.gov • 410.537.1000 • 711 (MD Relay) • mdta.maryland.gov • DriveEzMD.com
Bond Sale Update Page Two
structures will represent the Series A and Series B bonds in yet to be determined proceeds proportions of perhaps 75% and 25%, respectively. Combined Financing Goals 1. Increase Financial Flexibility 2. Lower Interest Costs 3. Lower Costs of Issuance Since delegated authority was granted in December 2025, a preliminary official statement and supplemental trust agreement have been drafted. Credit rating agencies have been engaged and are awaiting the final structure to provide ratings. The sale may be executed in late April or early May. Resolution 25-02 contained the following limiting and reporting provisions: 1. Par Amount – Limited to $600 million. 2. Bond Sale Date – No later than December 31, 2026. 3. Bond Sale Reports on Results – Provided by the Executive Director and CFO at the first Board meetings after the sale dates.
ITEM 4
Wes Moore, Governor Aruna Miller, Lt. Governor Kathryn Thomson, Chair
Maryland SM Transportation Authority
Board Members: Dontae Carroll Maricela Cordova William H. Cox, Jr.
Cynthia D Jeffrey S.
. Penny-Ardinger Rosen . Snead, MCP, MA on Paris
Samuel D Mario J. Gangemi, P.E. John F. v
Bruce Gartner, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Finance and Administration Committee Chief Operating Officer Richard Jaramillo
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Contracts, Out-of-State Debt Collection, and Reciprocity
DATE:
April 9, 2026
PURPOSE OF MEMORANDUM The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Finance and Administration Committee with an update on the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) contracts, Out-of-State Debt Collection Request for Proposals (RFP), and Out-of-State Toll Enforcement Reciprocity. SUMMARY The attached document provides an overview of the key areas of interest related to the MDTA’s tolling vendor contracts, including the status, timeline, and next steps related to the out-of-state debt collection RFP; and the key points, and next steps related to toll enforcement reciprocity with Pennsylvania.
ATTACHMENT
• General Tolling Updates
2310 Broening Highway • Baltimore, MD 21224 • mdta@mdta.maryland.gov • 410.537.1000 • 711 (MD Relay) • mdta.maryland.gov • DriveEzMD.com
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE April 9, 2026
Presentation Topics: 1. Status on Kapsch and TransCore contracts a. Vendor Contract Timelines b. Vendor KPI’s c. Continuous Improvement
2. Out-of-State Debt Collection RFP a. Purpose b. Status
c. Key Points d. Next Steps e. Minimum Qualifications (sample)
3. Reciprocity
a. Purpose b. Status
c. Key Points d. Next Steps
Page 1 of 7
Status on Kapsch and TransCore contracts 1. Vendor Contract Timelines Vendor Contract Start Contract End
Optional Renewals
Kapsch
Feb. 2018 Feb. 2018
Feb. 2028 Contract has two, two-year renewal options Feb. 2028 Contract has two, two-year renewal options
TransCore
• Partnership is critical. Annual Partnership meetings are held with both vendors. • Weekly and monthly progress meetings are held between MDTA and vendors.
KPI’s KPI’s – Kapsch
As of: February 2026
No
KPI Description
KPI Reporting
Missed KPI in last 6 months
1 Cumulative Monthly Downtime 2 AVI lane transaction processing 3 Customer feedback transactions 4 Video toll transaction processing 5 Usable video toll transactions 6 Non-readable video transaction images
Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Annual Annual Annual Monthly Annual Annual N/A
None None None None None None
7 Trip processing 8 Trip accuracy
1 out of 6
None
9 Manual lane terminal response (removed due no longer cash transactions – went AET)
N/A
10 Toll System synchronization 11 Transponder file processing 13 Video toll image association 14 Vehicle classification accuracy 12 AVI read accuracy
None None None None
6 out of 6 4 out of 6
15 Vehicle separation and association accuracy 16 Report generation (deferred due to volume of data) 17 System response time (removed due no longer cash transactions – went AET)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
18 Monthly reporting 19 Daily reporting
Monthly Monthly
None None
20 Reporting accuracy (100% error free)
Daily
4 out of 6
Page 2 of 7
KPI’s – TransCore
As of: February 2026
No
KPI Description
KPI Reporting
Missed KPI in last 6 months
1 Staffed Telephone Coverage 2 CSC System Availability
Daily
None None None None None None None None None None
Monthly
3 Report Generation (< 1 million database source records)
As observed
4 System Response Time*** 5 Website Response Time 6 IVR Automatic Response Time 7 Average Call Wait Time
Annual / as observed Annual / as observed
Monthly Monthly Monthly
2 out of 6
8 Call Blockage Rate 9 Call Abandon Rate
Daily Daily Daily
10 First Contact Resolution Rate 11 Time to Response to Escalations 12 CSC Employee Turnover
Monthly using the past 365 days
6 out of 6
13 Customer Service Rating 14 Time to Process Payments 15 Time to Process Non-Payments 16 QC and Send Outgoing Correspondence 17 Correct Assignment of Transponders
Monthly
None
Daily Daily Daily
1 out of 6 1 out of 6
None None None None None None
Measured by Reported Errors
18 Time to Process Refund Requests
Daily
19 Monthly Reporting* 20 Daily Reporting 21 Reporting Accuracy**
Monthly
Daily
Periodic Audit
NOTE: • KPI’s for both contracts are based on requirements and industry standards and set forth during development of the RFP. • As a standard KPI’s are intentionally set at a high-level. • Regardless of KPI reporting time, all KPI’s are invoiced monthly and disincentivized monthly during invoicing. • Regular contract monitoring of requirements and KPI’s are performed to ensure revenue assurance. • Tracking and documenting processes are used to enforce compliance through Lost Revenue Claims as appropriate.
Page 3 of 7
Continuous Improvement (Kapsch & TransCore) Both Kapsch and TransCore contracts have a continuous improvement language stating they will work with the MDTA on continuous improvement regarding System, Contractor, and Process Operations that will benefit MDTA and MDTA customers. Below are improvements for both vendors that have been implemented into production. Kapsch Improvements: • Driving Accuracy & Audit Confidence : Improved OCR/LPR performance to ~99.8% and upgraded to white light cameras, significantly enhancing plate capture (including challenging reads such as red font plates) and strengthening overall audit reliability. • Proactive Monitoring & Faster Issue Resolution : Implemented PowerBI dashboards and an internal issue management tool to provide real-time visibility into system performance, enabling quicker identification, triage, and resolution of issues. • Strengthened Review Quality & Data Performance : Continued targeted training for image review agents and enhanced DVR/video quality and data warehouse performance to support more effective auditing and faster access to critical data. • Double Blind Manual Image Review : Kapsch has partnered with Kyra to perform an independent double blind image review process. This process will improve image review accuracy and reduce customer disputes. The KPI for Image Review Accuracy will increase from 99% to 99.95% accuracy levels. TransCore Improvements: • Re-design of the DrivEzMD.com Website for easier navigation and a more consolidated platform • IVR (Interactive Voice Response) - streamlined menu options so customers have less prompts to choose from. • Individual QR codes on the NOTDs that auto-populate the "Pay My Tolls" page so the customer only has to enter payment information for their video tolls (reducing keystrokes)
Page 4 of 7
2. Out-of-State Debt Collection RFP – Brief Overview and Timeline Purpose:
Establish a contract allowing multiple vendors with extensive experience in collecting out-of-state unpaid tolls and/or fees to perform out-of-state debt collection for delinquent MDTA tolls and related civil penalties. The contract also allows potentially for other MDTA debt tied to out-of-state registered vehicles and includes an option to manage payment plans at MDTA’s discretion. Status: A draft of the RFP has been provided to Procurement. We are advancing the RFP through the formal procurement process in accordance with State requirements. Our objective is to publish the RFP following final approvals and proceed expeditiously, with the goal of having an award in place by the end of calendar year 2026. Remaining RFP work has transitioned from development to formal procurement processing, including completion of performance metrics and reporting requirements and advancement through required approval stages of Operations, Procurement, and Legal. Key Points: • Established compliance framework aligned with federal and state consumer protection laws and applicable state and federal regulations. • Defined operational requirements governing collection practices, customer communications, dispute handling, and settlement processes. • End-to-end transition planning, covering account placement, recall, contract wind-down, final reconciliation, and data return or destruction. • Clear governance and accountability model, including executive sponsorship, program management, and dedicated data-security oversight. • Data security standards aligned with Maryland IT requirements and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) frameworks, including audit rights and breach escalation provisions. • Presentations from 11 current tolling vendors. • MDTA retains approval authority over operational decisions, customer communications, and settlement parameters.
4. Next Steps • Finalize procurement documentation for review and required approvals. • Publish the RFP in accordance with State procurement requirements.
Page 5 of 7
Minimum Qualifications (sample) Qualification screening will ensure that any vendor considered: • Has significant experience in high-volume toll collections (account volumes validated through presentations from Firms and other Agencies). • Has direct government toll agency experience. • Is properly licensed in all States. • Meets industry payment channels security standards. • Has credible industry standing. All vendors are required to be in good standing with the state.
3. Reciprocity – Brief Overview and Timeline Purpose:
Enter into an enforcement reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania that results in flagging and/or suspending vehicle registrations when a PA resident owes tolls in Maryland and vice versa. Status: Pennsylvania/New York (PA/NY): 1. The PA/NY reciprocity agreement is under legal review in both states. a. The framework reflects several years of joint development by the PTC and New York Tolling Agencies, lending confidence in its feasibility and durability. 2. Final draft is targeted for completion by April 2026. 3. Targeted implementation in Spring 2027. 4. Agree to terms PA/NY Maryland/Pennsylvania (MD/PTC): 1. In parallel, the MD/PTC draft and pursue reciprocal toll enforcement where Reciprocity would allow participating states to use motor vehicle registration holds—and, where authorized, suspensions—to enforce out-of-state toll debt. 2. Reciprocity will serve as the out-of-state complement to Maryland’s in-state enforcement tool through the Central Collection Unit, which can intercept
Maryland tax refunds but cannot reach out-of-state motorists. 3. Final draft is target for completion in Spring/Summer 2027.
Page 6 of 7
MD/PTC Reciprocity • Year Description 2026
2027
Execute free OMV look-up agreement Align on and understand PA/NY framework Understand PA & MD statutes and business rules Gather MD-specific deviations
Jan '26 - Jun '26 ~
Foundations
-
Apr '26 - Jun '26
Draft MD program
Agreement
requirements
Iterative review (including legal)
Development
Jul '26 - Sep '26
~
Final Legal
Formal legal review
-
Review
Final revisions
Oct '26 - Dec '26
. Office
~
Execution
• Final signatures by all parties
Finalize and test systems and
workflows Staff training
Implementation
System upgrade projects that
System
♦PennDOT Back
¥
TC Back Office
need completed prior to
Upgrades
implementation
Key Points: The PA/NY framework demonstrates that reciprocal toll enforcement can be implemented: 1. Each state applies its existing statutory authority, rather than conforming to uniform rule - agreeing to accept the enforcement authorizations that each Agency/State has in place. a. Built on two foundational concepts: i. Home State – where the vehicle is registered . ii. Toll State – where the toll is incurred. 2. No new penalties 3. Preserves state sovereignty. 4. Protects due process rights. 5. Supports efficient revenue recovery. Next Steps • Continue meeting with PTC, PennDOT DMV, and Maryland MVA.
Page 7 of 7
ITEM 5
Wes Moore, Governor Aruna Miller, Lt. Governor Kathryn Thomson, Chair
Maryland SM Transportation Authority
Board Members: Dontae Carroll Maricela Cordova William H. Cox, Jr.
Cynthia D. Penny-Ardinger
Jeffrey S. Rosen
Samuel D. Snead, MCP, MA
John F. von Paris
Mario J. Gangemi, P.E.
Bruce Gartner, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Finance and Administration Committee Meeting Director of Communications, Brad Tanner
FROM:
Project Manager Community Relations, Key Bridge Rebuild Engagement Efforts, Melissa Bogdan
SUBJECT:
DATE:
April 9, 2026
PURPOSE OF MEMORANDUM To provide the Committee with an overview of the Key Bridge Rebuild community engagement and communication efforts, highlighting the outreach best practices and performance metrics.
The MDTA is committed to providing timely and transparent updates to foster public and stakeholder trust within the communities it serves, ensuring that residents, partners, and agencies remain informed throughout the Key Bridge Rebuild process. To support this commitment, a comprehensive set of engagement and communication strategies are being utilized to connect and educate the public through public meetings, virtual community updates, speaker requests, and pop-up events in Anne Arundle County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City communities. The outreach efforts incorporate storytelling methods to convey complex engineering and construction information to ensure it is relatable, understandable, and memorable for the public. Educational and informative progress updates are delivered through media days, fact sheets, photos, videos, newsletters, e-blasts, text alerts, and the project website that serves as a centralized hub for all project resources. Social media, community programs, job fairs, and upcoming focus groups strengthen two-way communication to ensure that the community needs and preferences directly inform our engagement practices. These tools, combined with grassroots engagement, help to build community trust and ensure that community is involved and informed throughout the project. ATTACHMENT • PPT Presentation
2310 Broening Highway • Baltimore, MD 21224 • mdta@mdta.maryland.gov • 410.537.1000 • 711 (MD Relay) • mdta.maryland.gov • DriveEzMD.com
Key Bridge Rebuild Engagement Efforts Finance and Administration Committee Meeting April 9, 2026
Our Team
MDOT
Governor’s Office
GEC/PDB/CMI
Federal Agencies
Elected Officials
MDTA
State, County and City Agencies
Industry Partners
Community Organizers
Stakeholders
Media
1
Our Process We are committed to providing timely and transparent updates to foster public and stakeholder trust within the communities we serve.
Understand community demographics
Document and share community’s
Build durable community relationships
impact on decisions
Use community- preferred engagements techniques
Understand community wants and needs
Involve broad representation of community
2
Our Progress Spring 2024 Federal Navigation Channel Fully Reopened Held Industry Form Website Launched Summer 2024 PDB Contract Awarded Held Virtual Community Update Engagement Tour/Pop-up Events Started Launched Support Survey FHWA Approved NEP/Categorial Exclusion Fall 2024 MDE Issued Permits for Demolition of Existing Bridge
Winter 2025 Property Inspections Began GEC Contracted Awarded Facebook Page Launched Pre-construction Activities Media Day New Bridge Design Revealed CMI Contract Awarded MDE Issues Permits to Rebuild the Bridge Spring 2025 Turner Station Job Fair One Year Commemoration of the Francis Scott Key Bridge
3
Our Progress Summer 2025 MDTA Internship Program Smooth Waters Initiative Launched Pardon Our Progress Campaign Launched Demolition Media Day
Winter 2026 Turner Station Pajama and Toy Drive Held Virtual Community Update Read Across America / Book Drive Women in Construction Week Upcoming in 2026 Two Year Commemoration of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Turner Station Job Fair Smooth Waters Initiative Relaunch Adopt-A-Highway Earthday Cleanup MDTA Internship Program
Fall 2025 Text Alerts Launched
KEYping It Reel Videos Launched Logo and Website Update Launched KEYnected Newsletter Launched Test Pile Program Media Day
4
Our Deliverables
Fact Sheets & Videos
Media Days
Press Releases & Events
Social Media
Milestones
Public Meetings & Speaker’s Requests
Website Content
Grassroots and Community Engagement
Newsletter, Eblasts & Text Alerts
5
Media Day Provides the media with direct access to project engineers and technical experts for accurate and real-time information Allows media the opportunity to experience the project site firsthand, improving clarity and depth in their coverage
6
Social Media Shares near real-time project updates through engaging videos and progress photos Breaks down complex project details with “Bridging the Facts” Strengthens public awareness by delivering weekly updates
7
Website
Serves as the central informational hub for all project-related updates Allows users to sign up for e-blasts and text alerts Offers the public easy ways to contact the MDTA with questions Shares schedules for pop-up events Houses resources, fact sheets, and meeting materials
8
Newsletter, E-Blast, Text Alert
Launched a project newsletter featuring key updates and community spotlights available online and print formats Sends bi-weekly e-blasts and text alerts to keep stakeholders inform
9
Our Measures of Success In the last month: Visitors to project website increased from 7,720 to 7,765 (+0.6%), showing continued interest and improved content visibility Facebook followers grew to 29,896 total (+7%) Facebook reach increased from 379K to 824K people (+117%) and engagement with posts rose from 41.6K to 87.8K (+111%), significantly expanding visibility and interaction with the project's messages. Text alert subscribers increased from 293 to 454 (+55%), demonstrating strong audience growth
10
Community Engagement Partnered with the Maryland Higher Education Commission to launch an internship for Maryland college students Supporting local communities through community-focused activities including • Job Fairs • Food Pantry Support • Book/Pajama/Toy Drives Keeping communities informed through initiatives including
• Pardon Our Progress • Property Inspections
11
Speaker’s Requests Provide speaker requests to share project updates for local organizations and HOAs Partner with local podcasts and media to broaden outreach and provide accessible and conversational project updates
12
Pop-up Events
Attend community events in communities across Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County Provide residents with project updates and commuter resources Launched the support survey to understand community needs and best ways to communicate perinate information
13
Public Meetings Hosted two virtual community updates to inform the public about the progress, share how the MDTA and their partners are working to reconnect resources to the impacted communities, and answer questions Hosted four public hearings with the Maryland Department of the Environment to share details on permits required for demolition and reconstruction
14
Industry and Agency Meetings
Hosted a virtual Industry Forum to brief industry professional on the PDB contract, procurement process, and anticipated schedule Provides regular updates to the Harbor Safety Team Launched the Smooth waters Initiative, a public safety campaign designed to protect boaters and marine construction workers safe
15
Community Engagement
113 Pop-ups
64 Speaking Engagements
16
Our Engagement 110+ Pop-up events 60+ Speaking engagements 860+ Surveys completed 6,180+ Connections with communities 4,600+ Email subscribers
17
Focus Groups In Spring 2026, we will conduct focus groups to ensure our communication approach resonates with our audiences Explore how community members prefer to receive information including formats and frequency Evaluate and refine messages by testing tone, clarity, and delivery style across different communication platforms
18
Stay Connected Sign up for project alerts by email or text Invite us to speak in your community Share feedback through email or project hotline Follow us on Facebook for project updates
800-515-7030 Public Information Hotline
KeyBridgeRebuild.com
@KeyBridgeRebuild
info@KeyBridgeRebuild.com
Key Bridge Rebuild 2310 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21224
19
ITEM 6
CLOSED SESSION (VERBAL)
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