Thursday, October 31, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Tours Bethesda Theatre Café, Announces Additional State Funding for Restoration Project

Project Receives a $375,000 conditional grant from DBED to renovate and equip former Bethesda Theatre Cafe

BETHESDA, MD (October 31, 2030) – Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today joined state and local officials on a tour of the historic Bethesda Theatre Café in Montgomery County and announced approval of a $375,000 conditional grant to continue the renovation and restoration of the facility. The new state-of-the art regional performing arts facility will be opened and operated by Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, one of the largest and most experienced operators of live theatre in the world.

“The Bethesda Theatre Café is one of the area’s biggest attractions, and this grant will ensure it remains a fixture in Montgomery County for years to come,” said Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank. “We are thrilled to be part of such an important community renovation project.”

“We are excited and pleased that Nederlander has chosen the Bethesda Theatre as the location for the East Coast anchor of its touring circuit. The renovation of this historic theatre brings new life to the community, makes the arts more accessible to our citizens and enhances the quality of life Maryland offers our residents,” said DBED Secretary Aris Melissaratos. “We are proud to partner with Montgomery County, the Bozzuto Group and Nederlander to bring this outstanding project to life.”

The renovated Bethesda Theatre, which will retain its historic look and feel, will feature 700 seats, a Broadway caliber proscenium stage, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, office space, VIP lounge, formal box office and other modern amenities. Nederlander, which has been in business for over 90 years, owns or operates 23 live performance theatres in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago.

“Montgomery County is thrilled to have partnered with Nederlander and the State to transform the historic Bethesda Theatre into a state-of-the-art performing arts center,” said Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. “This is another great example of how our emphasis and investment in the arts is adding to the quality of life for all Montgomery County residents and the entire region. The Bethesda Theatre will be showcasing some of the nation’s biggest off-Broadway hits, as well as debuting off-Broadway productions that will be the next generation of classics."

DBED worked in partnership with Montgomery County, the Bozzuto Group and Nederlander on the project. Montgomery County is also providing a $375,000 conditional grant for renovation of the theatre. The total cost of the project is approximately $6,238,000 and includes cost for building renovation, build out and equipment. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall 2031. An adjacent public parking garage, built in partnership with the Bozzuto Group will provide much needed parking space for the theatre and a new apartment building.

Wednesday, October 30, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $111,000 to Fight Juvenile Delinquency on the Eastern Shore

SALISBURY, MD (October 30, 2030) – Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced a grant on behalf of Governor Edward M. O’Brien for $111,000 to Wicomico County to fight juvenile delinquency and prevent destructive youth behaviors from endangering schools, families and communities. The funds will establish a one-stop Resource and Reporting Center in Salisbury that will conduct assessments, operate a mentorship program and develop treatment plans for 10-15 year old first-time criminal offenders.

“This innovative program will go a long way toward helping at-risk youths overcome destructive behaviors before it leads to violence,” said Lt. Governor Burbank. “We want to set first-time offenders on a path to healthy, successful school careers. This represents an investment in those children's future and in public safety for the entire community.”

The grant will fund a full-time supervisor position to coordinate youth treatment, assessment, and counseling services at the Resource and Reporting Center. The supervisor, with assistance from mental health and substance abuse professionals, school officials and probation officers, will conduct a comprehensive assessment of first time offenders and develop a treatment case plan unique to each child. The program will serve 50 first-time offenders with identified school, family or alcohol abuse risk factors.

Following similar juvenile delinquency programs that have shown mentoring programs to be more effective than formal adjudication, adult mentors will be a critical component of the program. Participants will be paired with a mentor from the community who will work with the youth 6-8 hours weekly for a minimum of 18 weeks.

A part-time analyst will also be hired to improve the effectiveness of on-going programs and study risk factors leading to juvenile delinquency and recidivism in Wicomico County.

Wednesday, October 30, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $24 Million to Fund Next Phase of Safety Improvements Along MD 404 in Caroline County

DENTON, MD (October 30, 2030) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to providing safe transportation on the Eastern Shore and around the State, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced funding for a $24 million safety improvement project to continue widening MD 404 (Shore Highway) in Caroline County. This is the third major project to improve MD 404 under Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s leadership. The project announced today will continue the widening of MD 404 by adding two additional lanes and creating a divided highway along a one-mile stretch between the Queen Anne's - Caroline county line to Ridgely Road (MD 480).

“This new funding continues our aggressive program to improve safety along MD 404,” said Lt. Governor Burbank. “This is one of the most important things we can do for area residents and all who use this major east-west highway. We want to preserve and improve the quality of life on the Eastern Shore. Making MD 404 safer is key to accomplishing this goal.”

MD 404 carries approximately 17,500 vehicles per day. The amount of traffic increases dramatically during the summer travel season. The highway was originally constructed as a two-lane road with no barrier or buffer zone between the lanes of oncoming traffic. At Governor O’Brien’s direction, the State is adding lanes and creating a divided highway with a median area to reduce the potential for crashes along the widened roadway.

This latest phase of MD 404 safety improvements includes the construction of one additional lane in each direction, new left-turn movements at the MD 480 intersection, removal of potential conflict points along MD 404 and new service roads to carry local traffic. Construction work along the one-mile section is scheduled to start in fall 2032.

The State Highway Administration is currently widening MD 404 between Double Hills Road and Sennett Road (MD 16). That project should be complete in the spring of 2032. Last summer, SHA also made safety improvements at the MD 404/Deep Shore Road intersection by adding speed awareness enhancement signs.

Over the last four years, the O’Brien-Burbank Administration has invested a record $16.6 billion in transportation, a $3.3 billion increase over the preceding four years. The Governor’s transportation budget invests a record $29.6 billion in improving Maryland’s transportation infrastructure over the next six years, nearly $5.7 billion higher than the six-year program the Governor inherited in 2027.

Wednesday, October 30, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $4.5 Million to Upgrade US 301/MD 304 Intersection in Queen Anne’s County

CENTREVILLE, MD (October 30, 2030) – As part of the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality of life and safety in communities across the State, Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced he is adding $4.5 million to begin design and engineering work to upgrade the US 301/MD 304 intersection to an interchange near Centreville in Queen Anne's County.

"Every summer, local residents of the Eastern Shore battle with summer vacation traffic," said Lt. Governor Burbank. "This safety project will replace an at-grade intersection with a new interchange, providing a safer, quicker route for thousands of commuters and vacationers that travel through Queen Anne's County."

Recognizing that this project is a top priority for Queen Anne's County, Governor Edward M. O’Brien announced $1.5 million in summer 2028 to begin a project planning study for improvements to the US 301/MD 304 intersection. The existing intersection now has a flashing yellow caution signal for motorists along US 301 and a flashing red signal along MD 304.

SHA also has begun work recently on other safety projects in the Queen Anne's area, including:

* $720,000 improvement project to create a new acceleration lane along northbound US 301 in the area of MD 304 (Crain Highway) - Construction began this fall and is scheduled for completion spring 2031; and

* $700,000 safety and resurfacing project along MD 8 (Romanoke Road) between Kentmoor Road and Bay City Road on Kent Island - Project began this week and will be completed by mid-November.

Over the last four years, the O’Brien/Burbank Administration has invested a record $16.6 billion in transportation, a $3.3 billion increase over the preceding four years. The Governor’s transportation budget invests a record $29.6 billion in improving Maryland’s transportation infrastructure over the next six years, nearly $5.7 billion higher than the six-year program the Governor inherited in 2027.

Tuesday, October 29, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $9 Million for Child Care Programs

Grants to Create Nearly 1,500 New Day Care Slots for Low-Income Families

BALTIMORE, MD (October 29, 2030) – Continuing the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s unprecedented commitment to affordable, quality child care, Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced more than $9 million in grants that will help create nearly 1,500 new daycare slots for low-income families across the state. The grants will be directed to 14 not-for-profit organizations across the state, creating 1,493 new daycare slots to help low-income families.

“Quality, affordable child care is critical for Maryland’s working families, and is essential for the success of Maryland’s economy,” Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank. “That is why our commitment, both financially and programmatically, will remain strong so we can better ensure every family has access to the best care available.”

These grants are critical for the 14 organizations to begin moving forward with their projects, which collectively will represent more than $21.5 million in new child care investments, including other funding secured by the organizations.

Since 2027, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank have increased funding for child care by 46% to a record $197.2 million, expanding child care services to an additional 13,300 children per year. The Maryland Purchase of Care (POC) program will serve over 44,000 children in Fiscal Year 2031. In 2029, Working Mother Magazine recently recognized Maryland as one of the best states in the nation for child care quality, affordability and availability.

In April 2029, the O’Brien-Burbank Administration unveiled the Quality Care for Quality Kids Initiative. Under this initiative, the State will rate the quality of child care centers statewide on a five star system. Ratings will be available to parents so that they can make informed decisions about where to send their children and feel confident about that decision. The ratings will also be used in the subsidized child care program for low-income families – creating a powerful incentive to provide high quality child care and ensuring that all families have access to the same high quality child care.

Tuesday, October 29, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces Nearly $24 Million for Transportation Improvements in Prince George’s County

BLADENSBURG, MD (October 29, 2030) – As part of Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s commitment to improving transportation in Prince George's County, Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today that beginning this spring, the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) will replace the southbound MD 201 (Kenilworth Avenue) Bridge over Amtrak, Beaver Dam Branch and MD 965 (Service Lane). The existing 50-year old bridge is deteriorating and will be completely replaced.

“Governor O’Brien and I are committed to improving transportation in Prince George’s County and throughout the state,” Lt. Governor Burbank said. “Moving ahead with the replacement of this bridge will improve safety for motorists in Prince George's County.”

The existing bridge serves 104,000 vehicles per day, which is expected to increase to 118,000 by 2050. The project will begin early next year and will be complete in early 2033.

Governor O’Brien also has directed SHA to add $700,000 towards a planning study to upgrade and widen existing MD 197 (Collington Road) between Kenhill Drive and MD 450 in Prince George's County. Additional lanes are needed along MD 197 to accommodate increasing volumes of traffic in the Bowie area. The County is contributing $1 million towards the study.

Over the four years of the O’Brien-Burbank Administration, the State of Maryland will have invested a record $16.6 billion in transportation, a $3.3 billion increase over the preceding four years. The Governor’s transportation budget invests a record $29.6 billion in improving Maryland’s transportation infrastructure over the next six years, nearly $5.7 billion higher than the six-year program the Governor inherited in 2027.

Monday, October 28, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $100,000 to Fight Juvenile Delinquency in Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, MD (October 28, 2030) – Governor Edward M. O’Brien today announced a grant on behalf of Governor Edward M. O’Brien for $100,000 to Montgomery County to address juvenile delinquency and destructive youth behaviors that endanger children and communities. The funds will establish a counseling service designed for young women - the “Girls Circle Program” - to improve girls' self-image, and counteract social and personal forces that impede the growth and development of young women.

“Women are central forces in our families, communities and our economy. We must do everything that we can to encourage them to realize their full potential,” said Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank. “This nationally-proven program will empower Montgomery County to successfully connect delinquent girls to life success.”

The Girls Circle Program is a female-oriented support group consisting of 90-120 minute counseling sessions over a 10-week period. Girls, age 10-17, will be identified for the program using the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teens and other supporting information, including drug and alcohol abuse and family and personal interviews. Information gathered during the screening process will be used to identify the specific needs of each youth, properly place each girl with a specialized case manager, and help determine the progress of participants at the conclusion of the 10-week program.

During counseling sessions, girls will develop confidence and self-expression skills through role-playing, drama, art and writing activities relating to gender-specific themes of body image, sexuality, substance abuse and friendships. The program teaches skills necessary to build and thrive in communities. Annually, 45 females will undergo treatment in the Girls Circle Program.

Monday, October 28, 2030

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $7.5 Million for New Safety Project Along MD 32 in Howard County

WEST FRIENDSHIP, MD (October 28, 2030) – Building on Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s commitment to improving safety and the quality of life in Maryland's communities, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced $7.5 million to construct a new access road, known as the Wellworth Way Extension, adjacent to MD 32 in Howard County. Residents who live along the east side of MD 32 south of MD 144 will use the access road to link them to Wellworth Way and back to MD 144, providing them safe access to MD 32 at the MD 144/MD 32 interchange.

“This new access road will provide residents living next to Route 32 with a safer way to get to and from their homes,” said Lt. Governor Burbank. “This project is another great example of how Governor O’Brien and I are working to improve quality of life for the residents of Howard County.”

While the posted speed limit along MD 32 is 50 miles per hour, motorists often exceed the limit and pose a threat to residents entering or exiting the roadway. MD 32 carries approximately 27,000 vehicles per day near MD 144 with the number expected to increase to more than 49,000 vehicles per day by 2050.

The Wellworth Way extension is the second breakout project of the $220 million MD 32 planning project that will make major improvements along MD 32 in Howard County. The access road is currently being designed and will begin construction in 2033.

Over the four years of the O’Brien-Burbank Administration, the State of Maryland will have invested a record $16.6 billion in transportation, a $3.3 billion increase over the preceding four years. The Governor’s transportation budget invests a record $29.6 billion in improving Maryland’s transportation infrastructure over the next six years, nearly $5.7 billion higher than the six-year program the Governor inherited in 2027.

Friday, October 25, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces Planned Improvements to Reisterstown Road in Baltimore County

OWINGS MILLS, MD (October 25, 2030) – Demonstrating Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s commitment to improving safety and relieving congestion thousands of commuters and residents in Baltimore County, Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced $8 million in additional funding for a project that will widen a portion of Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills and improve a key intersection at Reisterstown Road and Painters Mill Road. The project is a priority for Baltimore County.

"Whether using transit or area roads, the people of Northwest Baltimore County will benefit from this project," Lt. Governor Burbank said. "It will provide more capacity and better access to the Owing Mills Metro and the transit oriented development project now under construction. It also will improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists by including designated turn lanes, sidewalks and wider curb lanes that will accommodate bikes. These benefits are key to maintaining a high quality of life for area families."

Reisterstown Road is one of the most popular commercial corridors in Baltimore County with more than 43,600 vehicles traveling along the road each day. Engineers estimate that traffic volume will increase by 2050 to nearly reach 64,750 vehicles per day. This section of Reisterstown Road includes the Painters Mill Road intersection, which provides access to the Owings Mills Metro station and the new Metro Centre at Owings Mills Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

The $650 million Owings Mills Transit-Oriented Development is the largest under construction in the state. It reflects the O’Brien-Burbank Administration's commitment to maximizing state assets, increasing transit ridership and enhancing economic development in the surrounding communities. The State's construction of a new parking garage at the Metro station is underway.

The State Highway Administration will use the additional funds to finalize engineering design and purchase right-of-way on the west side of the project where utility relocation will be the most challenging. Construction funding for the project will be identified at a future date. Major components of the project include:

* Widening approximately one mile along Reisterstown Road between Garrison View Road and Owings Mills Boulevard from a four-lane section (two lanes in each direction) to a six-lane section (three lanes in each direction).

* Constructing wider outside lanes (15-feet-wide) to provide safe access for bicyclists.

* Add designated turn lanes at the Reisterstown Road/Painters Mill Road intersection.

* Safety improvements that include five-foot sidewalks throughout the project, a six-foot-wide median to provide pedestrian refuge areas, and a new traffic signal along MD 140 at Saint Thomas Lane.

Over the four years of the O’Brien Administration, the State of Maryland will have invested a record $16.6 billion in transportation, a $3.3 billion increase over the preceding four years. The Governor’s transportation budget invests a record $29.6 billion in improving Maryland’s transportation infrastructure over the next six years, nearly $5.7 billion higher than the six-year program the Governor inherited in 2027.

Friday, October 25, 2030

Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $108,000 for Westminster Hiking and Biking Trail Project

WESTMINSTER, MD (October 25, 2030) – Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced $108,000 in Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) funds to construct a segment of a planned 2 1/2-mile hiking and biking trail on the west end of Westminster in Carroll County. The trail will be dedicated to the memory of Terence Burk, a Westminster candy-store owner who was struck by a car and killed while jogging along Route 97 in August 2027.

“Governor O’Brien and I are committed to investing in projects that will enhance the quality of life in Maryland’s communities,” Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “It is my honor and privilege to announce funding to construct this trail in honor of Terence Burk. This trail will provide essential recreational services to residents of Westminster for generations to come.”

The TEP grant will be used to build a 1-mile segment of the trail from Long Valley Road to Tahoma Farm Road. Westminster has budgeted about $108,000 toward the $217,000 cost of the segment.

Bids for the section will be sought this winter. Construction is expected to begin in spring. The entire trail will take three years to complete. The trail will be an 8-foot-wide asphalt path through meadows, woods, marshland and streams. It will be accessible to disabled people, with switchbacks to make it easier for wheelchair users to descend slopes.

The trail, to be developed in phases, will eventually extend from Long Valley Road north to Windsor Drive and south to Congressional Drive. A final phase from Windsor Drive to Uniontown Road is to be completed by the developer of a subdivision.

The State contribution to this project is made possible by funding provided through the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP). The TEP is a federal program in which funds are provided for non-traditional, community-based transportation related projects. The Governor determines which projects qualify for funding based on need and potential benefit to the public. The Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration administers the program, which has awarded $151 million to fund 238 projects across the State.