US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee, (both D-Md.) today announced $31,781,589 in direct federal funding for local projects in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties within the six-bill package of fiscal year 2024 funding bills passed by the Senate Friday. These funds, included at the Senators’ request, support projects encompassing a wide array of local and regional priorities, ranging from public safety to infrastructure improvements to community development. Overall, the Senators included over $160 million in federal dollars directly for Maryland within the legislation. President Biden signed the measure into law this weekend, averting a partial government shutdown.
A full list of the funds included by Senator Van Hollen in this fiscal year 2024 appropriations legislation is here. A full list of the funds included by Senator Cardin in the legislation is here.
“The bipartisan passage of these six spending bills provides continued investment in Maryland that will help fund locally driven priorities and opportunities throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. This congressionally directed funding supports the completion of critical infrastructure, public safety, health care and other projects that strengthen Maryland’s communities and growing economy,” said Senator Cardin. “Team Maryland is united in our ongoing effort to respond directly to needs of Marylanders and is committed to bringing new federal resources to our state.”
The funding announced by the Senators includes:
- $18.2 million for infrastructure, including for the Brandywine Road Bridge replacement project; improvements to the Burtonsville Park and Ride; various water and sewer system upgrade projects across both counties; pedestrian and safety improvements along Goshen Road in Montgomery County; a study to identify a secondary drinking water source for the greater Washington area; accessibility and development around the North Bethesda and West Hyattsville metro stations; rehabilitation of the Northwest Branch SVU3 Trail; transit and streetscape improvements on Russell Avenue in Gaithersburg; and transit safety standards in Montgomery County
- $3.6 million for public safety, including for Montgomery County’s crime laboratory management system and police department crisis co-response teams; gun violence and violence research and intervention programs at the University of Maryland; and police radio communications equipment for the City of Rockville;
- $1.9 million for education and research, including for an electron microscope for STEM research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore; and modernization of the University of Maryland’s aerodynamic testing wind tunnel
- $4.5 million for community development, historical, and cultural initiatives, including for childcare and community resource centers in both counties; restoration of Laurel Riverfront Park Dam Ruins; and a building materials salvage and reuse center providing low-cost materials to low-income Montgomery County residents
- $3,000,000 for the planning and design of a new fire house at Naval Support Activity Bethesda
- $225,000 for the Anacostia River Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration & Monitoring Project
Project Name: Brandywine Road Bridge Replacement
Applicant: Prince George’s County
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $1,616,279
Description: Funds will replace a structurally-deficient and deteriorating bridge over Piscataway Creek to improve safety and traffic flow for local residents and commuters.
Project Name: Burtonsville Park and Ride Improvements
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $850,000
Description: Funds will support construction of a 500-space parking facility at the Burtonsville Park-and-Ride lot, which serves the northernmost station on the county’s US29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit Line. The additional capacity will allow more residents to access public transit and reduce traffic congestion.
Project Name: City of Bowie for Water Infrastructure Upgrades
Applicant: City of Bowie
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $840,000
Description: The City’s water system, which was built in the 1960s, uses a lift system to convey filtered water from a clear well to the ground storage tank at the treatment plant. Funds will be used to replace the aging lift pump assembly and ensure a safe and reliable drinking water supply for residents.
Project Name: City of Rockville for Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades
Applicant: City of Rockville
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Description: The City has an ongoing project to upgrade its sewer lines to prevent wastewater overflows and pipe failures in order to better serve residents and prevent environmental harm. Funds will be used to replace over 50-year-old pipes in Southeast Rockville.
Project Name: City of Rockville for Water Main Rehabilitation Project
Applicant: City of Rockville
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $959,752
Description: The City provides water and sewer service to 70% of its residents and is undergoing a water main rehab program to update outdated and faulty pipes and provide adequate water pressure for fire suppression. Funds would support the project in the Opportunity Zone in Southeast Rockville.
Project Name: Goshen Road Pedestrian and Safety Improvements
Applicant: Montgomery County Department of Transportation
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: Funds will be used for the design of safety improvements along Goshen Road from approximately 500 feet south of MD Route 124 to approximately 500 feet north of Emory Grove Road. The project will correct a sight distance issue associated with the hillcrest at the intersection of Emory Grove Road, where there is a substantial crash history. Sixty-six crashes have occurred on Goshen Road between the intersection of Emory Grove Road and MD-124 since 2016. More than half of these resulted in an injury.
Project Name: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB)
Applicant: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $650,000
Description: The ICPRB is a federal entity that works to protect the Potomac River. Funds will be used to implement the Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan to help preserve and restore water quality. The Potomac River Basin supplies 78% of the drinking water for the DC Metropolitan Area.
Project Name: North Bethesda Metro Station Northern Entrance
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $5,000,000
Description: Funds will support planning and preliminary engineering for a new north entrance to the North Bethesda Metro Station. The new entrance will serve existing and planned transit-oriented development in the Pike District and improve access for residents and commuters.
Project Name: Northwest Branch SVU3 Trail Rehabilitation
Applicant: Montgomery Parks
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $1,616,279
Description: Funds will be used to repave the Trail, replace existing bridges and culverts, and extend pavement to the existing end of Oakview Drive. Improvements to the Northwest Branch Trail, one of the oldest in the county’s network, will support bicycling, pedestrians, and access to public transit.
Project Name: Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $850,000
Description: Funds will be used to install electric vehicle charging stations at parking garages in Silver Spring, providing access for residents who may not have single-family homes where they can install home chargers. This will reduce barriers to purchasing EVs and reduce air pollution.
Project Name: Russell Avenue Multimodal and Streetscape Improvements
Applicant: City of Gaithersburg
Project Location: City of Gaithersburg
Amount Awarded: $1,000,000
Description: Funds will update Russell Avenue to better connect Olde Towne Gaithersburg with new mixed-use development, accommodate a future Flash Bus Rapid Transit Route and expanded county transit center, and creating a park boulevard to spur economic activity between Odendhal and Montgomery Village Avenues.
Project Name: Town of Cottage City for Stormwater Management
Applicant: The Town of Cottage City
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $670,000
Description: Significant stormwater drainage issues are impacting nearly half the families in the Town of Cottage City. Funds will address groundwater incursion that has caused issues with standing water, redirect stormwater away from residences, and repave streets and alleys to ensure proper drainage.
Project Name: Vision Zero Improvements for Bus Stops
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $560,000
Description: Funds will be used to develop standard designs for bus stops that incorporate best practices to ensure the safety of transit patrons walking and biking to transit stops and create a plan to prioritize and implement improvements countywide.
Project Name: Washington Aqueduct Backup Water Supply Study
Applicant: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Project Location: Greater Washington region
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Description: Funding will be used to conduct a feasibility study on a secondary drinking water source and additional drinking water storage capacity for the Washington region, the only major metropolitan area in the country without back-up measures to support its water supply.
Project Name: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission for Utility Services Project
Applicant: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $1,600,000
Description: Over 4,000 homes in the WSSC service area in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties are on private septic systems, and many are failing or close to failing. Funds will extend public sewer to homeowners who cannot afford to pay on their own, preventing septic failures and protecting public health.
Project Name: West Hyattsville Station, Street and Road Infrastructure Improvements
Applicant: Prince George’s County
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Description: Funds will be used to improve the area surrounding the West Hyattsville Metro Station with enhanced bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, art and signage, and stormwater management. The project will support continued transit-oriented economic development in the area and better serve local residents.
Project Name: Crime Laboratory Information Management System
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $963,000
Description: Funds will implement a Laboratory Information Management System to streamline and automate processes with forensic laboratories so scientists can perform their work faster and with increased transparency to investigators and attorneys and ultimately increase public safety.
Project Name: Crisis Co-Response Teams
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $700,000
Description: Funds will support Crisis Intervention Teams, specialized units of law enforcement officers and mental health professionals trained to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises. Teams provide immediate support to individuals in crisis and to help prevent tragic outcomes.
Project Name: Interoperable Police Radio Communications Equipment
Applicant: City of Rockville
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $963,000
Description: Funds will be used to acquire police radio communications equipment to replace outdated systems. The new equipment will support operations and increase community preparedness by ensuring that Rockville officers can communicate with the Montgomery County Police Department and other agencies.
Project Name: Violence Intervention Program
Applicant: University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $275,000
Description: Funds will be used to expand the Violence Intervention Program, which engages with patients aged 15-35 who were injured through violence to address medical and social needs and break the cycle of violence. With these funds, the program will be able operate on evenings and weekends.
Project Name: Violence Reduction Research Initiative
Applicant: University of Maryland
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $726,000
Description: Funds will support research into gun violence intervention programs to determine and disseminate effective approaches. The Research Initiative will also study safety technology to prevent accidental gun deaths.
EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE
Project Name: Cryogenic Electron Microscope
Applicant: University of Maryland, Baltimore
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $963,000
Description: Funds will be used to acquire a 300 kV cryoEM instrument to be sited within the Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research. The electron microscope will assist researchers in medicine and vaccine development, train students for STEM careers, and advance Maryland’s leadership in bioscience.
Project Name: Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel Electrical Modernization
Applicant: University of Maryland
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $963,000
Description: The Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel has provided an aerodynamic testing resource for students and small businesses that has benefited a wide range of vehicles and applications for over 70 years. Funds will modernize the electrical drive to improve data and measurements and extend the life of the system.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES
Project Name: Community Resource Center for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Applicant: Community Support Services, Inc.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $850,000
Description: Community Support Services addresses the needs of individuals with autism and other developmental and intellectual disabilities through individualized care and support. Funds will support the renovation of a building to provide job training, therapeutic services, and other supports for clients.
Project Name: Laurel Boys and Girls Club Window Repair/Replacement Project
Applicant: Boys and Girls Club in Laurel
Project Location: Howard County
Amount Awarded: $300,000
Description: Funds will repair and replace windows at the Boys and Girls Club in Laurel that provides after-school activities, and a positive learning environment for middle and high school students. The current windows are in disrepair and must be repaired with original materials that meet the historic code.
Project Name: Randolph Road Community Childcare and Community Center for Low-Income Families
Applicant: AHC Inc.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Awarded: $1,175,000
Description: AHC and Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland are developing an affordable housing project that includes 27 Habitat homes for purchase and 168 affordable rental units. Funds will be used to outfit a space for a childcare center and a community center and build a playground outside.
Project Name: Renovation of the Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park in Laurel, Maryland
Applicant: City of Laurel, Maryland
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $850,000
Description: Laurel was built around a dam and mill, and the historic Dam Ruins remain a local attraction. Funds will be used to restabilize, protect, and restore the Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park, renovate the observation deck, improve drainage to control erosion, and repair signage.
Project Name: Saving Jobs, Eliminating Solid Waste, and Expanding Green Opportunities
Applicant: Community Forklift
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $1,616,279
Description: Community Forklift is a nonprofit building materials salvage and reuse center that provides low or no-cost building supplies for low-income residents, workshops and trainings, and small business support services. Funds will be used to purchase a warehouse to be a permanent home for the program.
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
Project Name: Construct Joint Navy/DHA Fire Station: Planning and Design
Applicant: Naval Support Activity Bethesda
Project Location: Bethesda
Amount Awarded: $3,000,000
Description: The current fire station is in severe disrepair and has been plagued by mold, leaks, structural problems, and other serious issues. It is also undersized and unable to accommodate a ladder truck. Funds will be used for planning and design of a new station that meets the needs of the base.
ENVIRONMENT
Project Name: Anacostia River Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration & Monitoring Project
Applicant: Anacostia Watershed Society
Project Location: Prince George’s County
Amount Awarded: $225,000
Description: Funds will be used to expand Anacostia River restoration activities to improve water quality including repopulating native mussels, planting aquatic vegetation, restoring vernal pools and wetlands, and the removal of non-native plants, and monitoring these activities to develop best practices.
