MTA budget hearing focuses on Purple/Red Line projects, apprenticeships, paratransit and calls to fully fund 'Be More Bus'

Samuel Quist, the Department of Legislative Services analyst, briefed the subcommittee on the Maryland Transit Administration’s FY27 allowance, reporting a $71.1 million (5.4%) operating increase to about $1.4 billion and a $125.9 million (15.8%) capital increase to roughly $921.6 million. Quist emphasized that FY25 ridership remained below pre‑pandemic FY19 levels (about 75% of FY19) and flagged capital priorities in the Consolidated Transportation Program such as the Purple Line, Red Line preliminary design, light rail modernization and the Frederick Douglass Tunnel.

Acting MDOT Secretary Katie Thompson and MTA Administrator Holly Arnold told lawmakers the agency is delivering key milestones: new metro rail cars are being assembled in Hagerstown, 28 light rail vehicles for the Purple Line have been delivered, and the Purple Line is now more than 87% complete with a projected opening in January 2028. Arnold described the light rail modernization program as a $1.4 billion program in market for multiple procurement tranches and said MTA is pursuing progressive design‑build for station work that includes Howard Street traffic improvements.

The analyst and administrators discussed DLS’s recommended actions. Quist said DLS recommends deleting funding for five of the newly requested apprenticeship positions and adopting committee narrative to request bimonthly Purple Line status reports. Arnold defended the apprenticeship program—a bus maintenance partnership with the union approved by the Maryland Department of Labor—and asked the committee to retain the positions, saying ten apprentices are already enrolled and the program creates a pipeline for skilled, unionized mechanics.

Lawmakers pressed MTA on several operational issues: apparent repeat audit findings about personnel controls and health‑care claims; plans to contract an external auditor and complete the audit by year‑end; the increase of ~134 positions tied to Purple Line policing and ongoing discussions with WMATA about shared policing arrangements; and paratransit cost growth driven by higher demand and the expansion of third‑party 'Abilities Ride' services. Arnold said MTA reorganized HR functions, added monthly tracking of critical personnel items, and planned to procure an external auditor to complete healthcare claim reviews by the end of the calendar year.

Public testimony overwhelmingly urged fuller funding for the Be More Bus plan—a vision to increase bus service 36%, add roughly 200 buses and construct a fifth bus division. Advocate and union witnesses said limited CTP funding is a “down payment” but not sufficient for implementation. Paul Sturm told the committee, “A plan without money does not work,” and a student witness said unreliable buses cause students to arrive late or stay late at school. Industry and business representatives urged predictable, stable transit funding to allow planning and regional economic growth.

Members asked for more granular follow‑ups including a breakdown of the $12.2 million paratransit increase shown in the analysis, a complete list of farebox recovery percentages, and materials explaining deficiency appropriations referenced in the DLS appendix. MTA and MDOT committed to provide more detailed documentation to the committee and legislative analysts.