EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0778*
HOUSE BILL 778
R2 2lr1563
CF SB 514
By: Delegates Solomon, Bartlett, Brooks, Carr, Chang, Charkoudian, Charles,
W. Fisher, Fraser–Hidalgo, Hill, Hornberger, Kerr, Korman, Lehman,
J. Lewis, Love, Luedtke, Rogers, Shetty, Smith, Terrasa, Thiam, Watson,
Williams, K. Young, and P. Young
Introduced and read first time: February 3, 2022
Assigned to: Appropriations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 11, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Transportation – Investment Program – MARC Rail Service 2
(Maryland Regional Rail Transformation Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Transit Administration to establish certain 4
investment programs for enhancing certain rail lines and services operated by the 5
Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail service; requiring the Administration to 6
advance certain rail projects in a certain fiscal year; requiring the Administration to 7
conduct a certain study; establishing the Transportation Trust Fund Workgroup; 8
and generally relating to the Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail service and the 9
enhancement of rail services. 10
BY adding to 11
Article – Transportation 12
Section 7–311 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 15
Preamble 16
WHEREAS, The Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) rail service connects 17
Baltimore and Washington, D.C. to many of Maryland’s suburban communities; and 18
2 HOUSE BILL 778
WHEREAS, The State must advance the Maryland Transit Administration’s MARC 1
Cornerstone Plan and other MARC improvements to unlock a truly regional rail system 2
that reliably services more Maryland communities and connects to Virginia and Delaware; 3
now, therefore, 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
Article – Transportation 7
7–311. 8
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HA VE THE MEANINGS 9
INDICATED. 10
(2) “MARC” MEANS THE MARYLAND AREA REGIONAL COMMUTER 11
RAIL SERVICE. 12
(3) “MARC CORNERSTONE PLAN” MEANS THE PLAN ESTAB LISHED 13
BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO TRA NSLATE THE ADMINISTRATION ’S TRANSIT VISION 14
STATEMENT INTO STRAT EGIC PRIORITIES, POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND INITIATIVES 15
FOR MARC RAIL SERVICE. 16
(4) “TRANSIT VISION STATEM ENT” MEANS THE ADMINISTRATION ’S 17
OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE SAFE, EFFICIENT, AND RELIABLE TRANSIT ACCESS ACROSS 18
MARYLAND WITH WORLD –CLASS CUSTOMER SERVI CE. 19
(B) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ESTABLISH INDIVIDUAL 20
INVESTMENT PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE THE MARC CORNERSTONE PLAN AND 21
OTHER MARC IMPROVEMENTS BY PROV IDING INCREMENTAL EN HANCEMENTS 22
FOR: 23
(I) THE BRUNSWICK LINE, INCLUDING A THIRD TR ACK 24
BETWEEN ROCKVILLE AND GERMANTOW N TO BETTER SERVE WESTERN MARYLAND 25
AND EXISTING COMMUNI TIES SERVED BY THE L INE; 26
(II) THE CAMDEN LINE; 27
(III) THE PENN LINE; 28
(IV) NEW REGIONAL SERVICE BETWEEN PERRYVILLE, 29
MARYLAND AND NEWARK, DELAWARE; 30
(V) NEW REGIONAL RUN –THROUGH RAIL SERVICE TO 31
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA; AND 32 HOUSE BILL 778 3
(VI) EXTENDING THE BRUNSWICK LINE TO BETTER SERVE 1
WESTERN MARYLAND. 2
(2) EACH INVESTMENT PROGR AM ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH 3
(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL: 4
(I) COMMENCE IN FISCAL YE AR 2023; 5
(II) INCLUDE A R EVIEW OF EXISTING RA IL OPERATIONS , 6
INFRASTRUCTURE , AND RIGHT–OF–WAY INFORMATION TO C ONFIRM EXISTING 7
CONDITIONS; 8
(III) INCLUDE RAIL SIMULATI ON MODELS FOR EACH O F THE 9
CURRENT CORRIDORS SE RVED BY MARC AND AREAS IDENTIFIED FOR NEW 10
SERVICE; 11
(IV) IDENTIFY FUTURE OPERATING S CENARIOS THAT CAN 12
IMPROVE SERVICE , INCLUDING NEW MIDDAY , WEEKEND, EVENING, 13
THROUGH–RUNNING, AND BIDIRECTIONAL SE RVICE; 14
(V) DEVELOP CONCEPTUAL LE VEL IMPROVEMENT PLAN S TO 15
ENHANCE MARC’S SERVICE OVER TIME , INCLUDING: 16
1. CONCEPT P LANS FOR HIGHEST –VALUE 17
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPRO VEMENTS IDENTIFIED B Y THE SIMULATION MOD ELS; 18
2. NEW STATIONS OR STATI ON ENHANCEMENTS ; AND 19
3. IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHAN CE ACCESS TO JOBS AN D 20
HOUSING IN NEIGHBORI NG JURISDICTIONS ; AND 21
(VI) IDENTIFY A 5–YEAR PRIORITY SET OF CA PITAL PROJECTS 22
AND ACTIVITIES TO IM PLEMENT PLANNED IMPR OVEMENTS TO BE FUNDE D IN THE 23
CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. 24
(3) IN FISCAL YEAR 2028 AND EVERY FIFTH FISC AL YEAR 25
THEREAFTER , THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL UPDATE EACH INVESTME NT PROGRAM 26
ESTABLISHED UNDER TH IS SUBSECTION. 27
(C) IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ADVANCE THE 28
FOLLOWING RAIL PRIOR ITY PROJECTS AS PART OF THE INVESTMENT PR OGRAMS 29
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION: 30
4 HOUSE BILL 778
(1) IN COORDINATION WITH THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, VIRGINIA, 1
THE VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS, AMTRAK, AND CSX, DEVELOP A SERVICE AN D 2
OPERATIONS PLAN FOR MARC THROUGH–RUNNING TO ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA; 3
(2) IN COORDINATION WITH DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA , THE 4
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (SEPTA), AND 5
AMTRAK, DEVELOP A SERVICE AN D OPERATIONS PLAN FO R MARC, SEPTA, OR 6
AMTRAK TO RUN COMPETI TIVE TRANSIT SCHEDUL ES BETWEEN PERRYVILLE, 7
MARYLAND AND NEWARK, DELAWARE; 8
(3) COMPLETE 30% OF THE DESIGN FOR A NEW ELKTON INFILL 9
MARC STATION ON THE PENN LINE; 10
(4) COMPLETE 30% OF THE DESIGN FOR A NEW BAYVIEW INFILL 11
MARC STATION ON THE PENN LINE; 12
(5) COMPLETE 30% OF THE DESIGN FOR : 13
(I) A THIRD TRACK BETWEEN ROCKVILLE AND GERMANTOWN 14
ON MARC’S BRUNSWICK LINE TO BETTER SERVE WESTERN MARYLAND AND 15
EXISTING COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE LINE ; AND 16
(II) GERMANTOWN STATION IMPROVEMENTS ; 17
(6) COMPLETE 15% OF THE DESIGN FOR A FOURTH TRACK ON THE 18
PENN LINE; AND 19
(7) HIRE THREE FULL–TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) STAFF AT A COST OF 20
APPROXIMA TELY $450,000 ANNUALLY BEGINNING I N FISCAL YEAR 2023 FOR THE 21
ADMINISTRATION ’S PLANNING AND CAPIT AL PROGRAMMING TO EN SURE THE 22
ADMINISTRATION HAS AD EQUATE STAFF RESOURC ES TO LEVERAGE FEDER AL RAIL 23
FUNDING. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 25
(a) The Maryland Transit Administration shall conduct a MARC Cornerstone 26
Plan Implementation Study. 27
(b) The study shall assess and present for public review: 28
(1) the total expected cost to implement: 29
(i) the entire MARC Cornerstone Plan; 30
(ii) Maryland–Virginia through–running rail service; 31 HOUSE BILL 778 5
(iii) Maryland–Delaware through–running rail service; and 1
(iv) Western Maryland MARC extension programs; 2
(2) the total expected cost of the first 5–year capital program for Brunswick 3
Line, Camden Line, Penn Line, Maryland–Virginia through–running, Maryland–Delaware 4
through–running, and Western Maryland extension rail services; 5
(3) the Administration’s workforce needs to efficiently implement the 6
MARC Cornerstone Plan, Maryland–Delaware through–running, and Western Maryland 7
extension rail services, including a staffing and compensation comparison between MARC 8
and peer regional railroads throughout the United States; and 9
(4) efficient and achievable methods by which the rail capital investments 10
and services identified and analyzed under this subsection should be funded. 11
(c) In developing the study, the Administration shall consult with regional 12
private entities, including leading employers, labor representatives, transit rider advisory 13
committees, and regional planning boards. 14
(d) (1) On or before December 1, 2022, the Administration shall submit to the 15
Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General 16
Assembly an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations from the 17
study. 18
(2) The Administration shall post the executive summary and report 19
required under paragraph (1) of this subsection on the website of the Administration. 20
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 21
(a) In this section, “Workgroup” means the Transportation Trust Fund 22
Workgroup. 23
(b) There is a Transportation Trust Fund Workgroup. 24
(c) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 25
(1) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 26
the Senate; 27
(2) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 28
the House; 29
(3) the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary’s designee; 30
6 HOUSE BILL 778
(4) one individual representing the business community, jointly designated 1
by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; and 2
(5) one individual representing the unions, jointly designated by the 3
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. 4
(d) The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff for the Workgroup. 5
(e) The Workgroup shall examine: 6
(1) the current State funding sources and structure of the Maryland 7
Transportation Trust Fund; 8
(2) threats and challenges to the existing funding sources; 9
(3) short– and long–term multimodal infrastructure construction and 10
maintenance funding needs for all regions of the State; 11
(4) how to ensure that the Transportation Trust Fund and not other fund 12
sources supports the State’s infrastructure needs and options for sustainable, long–term 13
revenue sources for transportation; 14
(5) how to position the State to benefit from the multiyear federal 15
infrastructure bill; 16
(6) how to ensure that the State’s public–private partnership law provides 17
adequate oversight; and 18
(7) potential changes to policies and procedures, including legislation that 19
may be needed to implement any recommendations. 20
(f) On or before December 16, 2022, the Workgroup shall submit a report of its 21
findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 22
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 23
SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
July 1, 2022. 25