Bill > SB59

This bill, the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026, aims to align major highway expansion projects with climate goals by requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct impact assessments and develop multimodal transportation programs. A "major highway capacity expansion project" is defined as a significant capital project costing over $100 million that increases highway lanes or capacity. For such projects, the bill mandates an "impact assessment," which is an evaluation of the project's effect on greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), a measure of how much people drive. Crucially, the bill requires that the net greenhouse gas emissions from these projects, when combined with their associated multimodal transportation programs, must be zero or negative. These multimodal programs, which prioritize investments in transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and other strategies to reduce driving, must be funded concurrently with highway construction or the highway project's construction must be delayed until the offsetting requirements are met. The bill also establishes a framework for evaluating all major capital transportation projects in the state's Consolidated Transportation Program, requiring them to demonstrate progress towards greenhouse gas reduction targets and a reduction in per capita vehicle miles traveled, with specific offsetting activities like parking reduction, transit improvements, and land use changes outlined. The Department will also set annual statewide and regional declining greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, incorporating assumptions about electric vehicle use, and must consider both direct and "induced demand" impacts, which is the increase in driving that occurs when more road capacity is available. The bill explicitly excludes projects that were already funded for construction or had completed environmental review by June 30, 2026, and it also clarifies that system preservation activities, which focus on maintaining existing infrastructure, are not to be considered when evaluating progress towards greenhouse gas emission goals.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0059?ys=2026RS