State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

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.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.