Calvert County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Calvert County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Thomas Johnson Bridge replacement
The state has finished mapping the riverbed and is working with the Coast Guard on height needs for a replacement span, with studies done by summer 2027. But no funding exists for the next step — a life-cycle cost study — and Commissioners pressed Secretary Thomson on when the state and federal government will commit real money.
Route 4 congestion and safety
Commissioners pressed MDOT on Route 4 backups, the Huntingtown High School median hazard, missing crosswalks at Asbury and Patuxent Point, and the unfunded widening phases north of Prince Frederick. The state says its traffic safety fund is fully committed through FY 2028.
Route 231 traffic safety
The sheriff flagged Route 231 as dangerous — heavy traffic, no merge or turn lanes, with a school, fairgrounds, college, and industrial park all on it. Planned state road improvements were cut from the budget, so deputies are using enforcement and entrance restrictions to manage risk.
Dunkirk park-and-ride capacity and commuter bus routes
The plan recommends working with the Maryland Transit Administration on commuter bus routes from Dunkirk to Annapolis, New Carrollton, College Park, and Greenbelt. Commissioners questioned whether park-and-ride capacity and parking expansion would follow.
County Transportation Priorities for State Funding
The county set out which road and transit projects it wants prioritized in Maryland's Consolidated Transportation Program — the wishlist that drives state funding decisions.
Calvert-St. Mary's MPO Boundary Expansion
The two counties share a transportation planning organization, and officials discussed expanding its boundary. This shapes how regional road and transit projects get planned and funded.
Apple Way right-turn-only restriction and Shops Way connector
A plan recommendation would make Apple Way onto Route 4 right-turn-only, based on a State Highway Administration safety study, while a proposed Shops Way connection to Dunkirk Way is popular with residents who want to avoid Route 4.
Strategic Roadway Safety Plan Update
Five-year data shows 5,110 crashes, 46 fatal and 213 serious injuries, with speeding, distraction, impairment, occupant protection and vulnerable road users (including ATV and farm equipment) as focus areas. Public outreach sessions are coming as the update proceeds.