Maryland Chamber Hosting Policy Forum to Discuss Transforming the State’s Transportation Future

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Maryland Transportation and Building Materials Association (MTBMA) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Maryland (ACEC) is hosting a critical Policy Forum titled "Transforming Maryland's Transportation Future," presented by Amazon.

This half-day event, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will convene business leaders, policymakers, transportation experts and stakeholders to tackle the state’s critical infrastructure challenges and explore innovative funding solutions. The event will be held at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, University of Maryland.

Maryland Chamber President & CEO Mary D. Kane underscores, “Transportation infrastructure is the backbone of our economy, essential to business success and community wellbeing.” However, data highlights Maryland's pressing transportation challenges:

• The state ranks 45th nationally for road conditions, with only 70% of roads deemed acceptable.
• Commuters in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas face some of the nation’s longest travel times.
• Neighboring states are outpacing Maryland in transportation investments.
• Maryland's Transportation Trust Fund shows a significant $3.1 billion funding shortfall.

“These issues go beyond numbers — they impact everyday people, from small business owners facing delays to workers with long, stressful commutes,” Kane adds. “This forum is about charting a path forward with actionable solutions. I look forward to hearing diverse perspectives that can help position Maryland as a leader in transportation investment and innovation."

The event will host a range of distinguished speakers and panelists.

Keynote Speaker: Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller

Panelists:

• Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Department of Transportation
• Senator Cory McCray, Deputy Majority Whip, Member, Budget & Tax Committee
• Delegate Marc Korman, Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee
• Delegate Vaughn Stewart, Chief Deputy Majority Whip, Member, Environment and Transportation Committee
• Frank Principe, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, UMD; Chair of the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs
• Louis Campion, President & CEO, Maryland Motor Trucking
• Cinzia Cirrillo, Director of the Center for MultiModal Mobility
• Rocky Moretti, Director of Policy & Research, National Transportation Research Group
• Aaron Tomarchio, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Tradepoint Atlantic
• Jennifer Vey, Chief Strategy Officer, Greater Baltimore Committee
• Andrey Yushkov, Senior Policy Analyst, Tax Foundation

Topics will include Maryland’s funding gap, infrastructure maintenance, the impact on business competitiveness, and insights from the recent Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Panels will also discuss revenue-generating strategies and explore how Maryland can adapt these models.

As the presenting sponsor, Amazon highlights the importance of reliable infrastructure. “We know that transportation investments help everyone, as Maryland residents rely on transportation infrastructure to commute to work, deliver goods and participate in economic activity,” said Anya Malkov, Head of Maryland Public Policy at Amazon. “With more than 23,000 Amazon employees who call Maryland home, we are pleased to support this constructive dialogue on Maryland's transportation future and the creative solutions needed to move the entire state forward.”

The Maryland Chamber’s Policy Forum emphasizes the urgent need for innovative, collaborative solutions to shape a more efficient and sustainable transportation future.

For more information about the event, please visit mdchamber.org/TransportationForum.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: Members of the media are invited to attend this important event. Please RSVP in advance to Vice President of Marketing and Communications Abbi Ludwig at aludwig@mdchamber.org or (302) 682-5772 (mobile).