Calvert-St. Mary’s Metro Planning Org
Originally Published: March 1, 2024
Transportation Plan Review Meeting Scheduled
On March 5th, from 3-7PM, the C-SMMPO will host a meeting at the Lexington Park Library to discuss the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Titled “Moving Forward 2050”, the LRTP “establishes transportation investment priorities in the C-SMMPO region over the next 22 years based on estimates for population, land use, travel, employment, congestion, and economic activity.” Calvert County communities including Chesapeake Ranch Estates, Drum Point, Lusby, and Solomons, and St. Mary’s communities of California, Lexington Park, Callaway, Great Mills, and St. Mary’s City, and NAS PAX are within the planning area.
Have you heard of the Calvert-St. Mary’s Metropolitan Area? After the 2010 census, the population of the Lexington Park-California-Chesapeake Ranch Estates region was more than 50K. “That triggered a federal requirement forming a Metropolitan Planning Organization to coordinate transportation planning between, through, and around this Urbanized Area, as it pertains to projects that receive federal funding,” according to the website of the Calvert-St. Mary’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, or C-SMMPO. Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State creating the organization, with a County Commissioner from each county and a representative from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) governing the board.
Calvert County is responsible for the fiscal management of the C-SMMPO, including accepting and managing funds from federal, state, and local sources. Meanwhile, St. Mary’s is the administrative agent of the organization, including contract oversight, meeting scheduling and coordination, and maintaining records and reports. Neither county is required to provide funds to the organization. The last meeting records available on their website show the C-SMMPO Council last met in May 2023, with Commissioner Hance representing Calvert County. I was unable to identify a Commissioner from St. Mary’s present at the meeting, but DPWT Director Gotsch and other St. Mary’s supporting staff were present.
Various other comprehensive, land preservation, transportation, and master plans, as well as several studies, from both Counties and the State are considered in the development of the LRTP. Combined with public feedback, information in those plans helped the C-SMMPO create these goals for the area: “enhance access and mobility; encourage local jurisdictions to control the location and intensity of land development so that highway traffic load will not exceed capacities; provide connected, multimodal transportation system; conserve the environment; improve safety and security; support economic vitality; and manage the existing transportation system.”
Several data points stood out as I read the LRTP draft (link in comments). The population of the Calvert-St. Mary’s Metro Area in 2020 was over 62K, with the 2050 estimate at 80K. Population estimates for St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties in 2050 were 159K and 101K, respectively. The Metro Area has 8.4% more renter-occupied households than St. Mary’s and 20% more than Calvert. About 34% of roads in St. Mary’s are urban, and 66% rural; Calvert’s roads are 90% urban and 10% rural. This disparity isn’t explained in the report, but is interesting because it could speak to how the counties handle land use and development. In 2022, Calvert drivers logged 790M vehicle miles, and St. Mary’s 908M, measured by MDOT. Over 81% of workers drive alone to work in both Counties and the Metro Area, showing a clear need for more public transportation options to reduce traffic congestion.
Identified strategies to combat congestion along MD235 and MD4 are traveler information and smart traffic signals. Traveler information consists of signs/apps to share drive time, congestion, and accident information, or to provide alternate routes if available. This strategy doesn’t lend itself to relieving traffic congestion for St. Mary’s, in my opinion. Alternate modes of transportation are discussed as well, including bicycling. Bike paths are, however, “along high-speed roadways with high traffic volume and would be considered a high stress riding experience, likely deterring potential cyclists who would prefer safer infrastructure.” A map of bicycle routes showing level of stress is an intriguing study.
St. Mary’s County Regional Airport is described as being “an important part of the transportation network since its opening…[but] no major airlines serve the airport currently.” The airport “is used for Maryland State Police operations, medical evacuations, private charter operations, flight instruction, and general and corporate aviation operations.” The airport is a key feature of St. Mary’s Economic Development strategies, though I would question its actual public transportation benefit.
Regional projects the C-SMMPO says it has sufficient funding to support between now and 2050 include the MD5/Great Mills Rd Improvement project (2030, $17M); MD4 widening between MD235 and the Solomon’s Bridge (2032, $88M) and from the Solomon’s Bridge to Patuxent Point Parkway (2034, $11M); MD4/MD235 interchange construction (2032, $196M). Others listed as projects which “could be completed if additional funding were to become available” include replacement of the Solomon’s Bridge, St. Andrew’s Church Road widening, shoulder widening for bicycle and buddy use along MD235, 246, 238, 236, 242, 239, 520, and 243, sidewalks in Appeal, Lusby, and Solomons, and other projects.
There is much more in this document, and I hope to learn more at the meeting on March 5th. Make plans to attend and offer feedback!
