City Council Hearing: Land Use & Transportation Committee; April 2, 2026

The City Council's Land Use & Transportation Committee held a hearing on April 2, 2026, focusing on the Baltimore Department of Transportation's street resurfacing programs. Director Veronica McBth presented updates on transitioning from the fragmented "Operation Orange Cone" list to the more strategic, data-driven "Repave Baltimore" program, which aims to improve project planning, funding alignment, contractor diversity, and performance management. The committee discussed funding challenges, noting that resurfacing needs an estimated $50 million annually but has historically received under $10 million, with recent increases to over $30 million. The department is also addressing staffing shortages by recruiting engineers and shifting from consultants to full-time employees. Procurement issues were highlighted, including the need to unbundle contracts to expand the contractor pool and reduce delays caused by change orders and contractor prioritization. Coordination with utilities and other agencies to minimize repeated road cuts was emphasized, alongside plans to improve community engagement and integrate complete streets policies. The committee also discussed challenges related to materials procurement, maintenance of concrete streets, and the impact of winter road treatments on pavement degradation. No specific contract awards or dollar amounts were disclosed, but the discussion underscored efforts to enhance procurement processes and project delivery efficiency.