Most of State’s Stimulus Money Will Go to Fixing Highways

Maryland’s Department of Transportation has unveiled a list of $564.9 million in transportation projects covered by the federal stimulus package that spends three times as much on highways as it does on transit, which contractors say is helping them avoid making layoffs — and stay in business.

Speaking at a roundtable on transit-oriented development, state Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari emphasized the importance of “system preservation” projects, or those that repair and improve existing infrastructure rather than new construction.

“The approach Maryland has taken is a little different than other states,” he said at Thursday’s meeting. “We don’t just have a few mega-projects. … The first call on capital dollars is fixing what you have first.”