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2026 Transportation Forum: Sustainable Solutions for Maryland’s Future

Friday, July 24, 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)

Event Details

Transportation Forum: Sustainable Solutions for Maryland’s Future

ABOUT THE EVENT

Maryland continues to face long-term structural challenges in transportation funding. As traditional revenue sources decline and infrastructure demands grow, the need for innovative, sustainable funding mechanisms has never been more urgent.

The Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association (MTBMA) invites you to join a focused discussion on the future of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) and explore viable long-term solutions to ensure Maryland can maintain, modernize, and expand its transportation system. This forum will convene policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to examine current challenges, identify gaps, and discuss forward-looking strategies that support economic growth and system reliability.

This event consists of two moderated panels, each with a Q&A.


WHY ATTEND

This forum offers an opportunity to hear directly from the policymakers, agency leaders, and industry stakeholders shaping Maryland’s transportation future. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the financial pressures facing the Transportation Trust Fund, the funding and policy options being discussed at both the state and federal levels, and how those decisions could affect project delivery, economic competitiveness, and long-term infrastructure investment. The program is intended to foster substantive discussion around sustainable transportation funding strategies while also providing meaningful opportunities to connect with public officials, private sector leaders, and others involved in advancing Maryland’s transportation system.


WHO BELONGS IN THE ROOM

This forum is designed for professionals & organizations with a stake in Maryland’s transportation future and the movement of people, goods, and commerce. Attendees may include business leaders who rely on dependable infrastructure & mobility, executives from transportation, construction, and infrastructure firms, and professionals working in public policy, government affairs, and economic development. The event will also be valuable for planners, developers, and innovators exploring technologies & solutions that influence how transportation systems are funded, delivered, and maintained.



Agenda

July 24
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM REGISTRATION & NETWORKING Enjoy coffee, a light breakfast, and an opportunity to network with other attendees and industry leaders.
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS Welcome & introductory remarks provided by Michael Sakata, MTBMA, followed by Presenting Sponsor's welcome & introduction of MDOT Secretary Thomson. Sponsored and presented by:
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ADDRESS MDOT Sec. Thomson will provide an overview of Maryland's transportation system, current priorities, and the broader funding landscape shaping the year ahead.
9:30 AM - 9:35 AM SETTING THE STAGE A brief framing of the morning's central question: how does Maryland move from a structurally strained Transportation Trust Fund to a sustainable funding model that keeps projects moving and communities connected.
9:35 AM - 10:15 AM PANEL I: THE STATE OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND A candid look at the structural pressures facing the TTF, including declining revenue sources, funding gaps, and the long-term sustainability questions that shaped the most recent legislative session. Sponsored and moderated by Panel I Sponsor:

Panelists: 
-Comptroller Brooke Lierman
-Jaclyn Hartman, MDOT
-Senator Nancy King
-Mike Voinis, HNTB
-Stephen Skippen, SKANKSA
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Q&A Audience Q&A for Panel I.
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM BREAK
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM PANEL II: THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING A forward-looking conversation on innovative funding mechanisms, federal partnerships, public-private partnerships, and the strategies that will sustain Maryland's transportation system for the next generation. Sponsored and moderated by Panel II Sponsor:

Panelists:
-Senate President Bill Ferguson
-Delegate Marc Korman
-Mugdha Tipnis, WSP
-Steve Dewitt, ACS Infrastructure Development, Inc.
-Morteza Farajian, Build America Bureau
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM Q&A Audience Q&A for Panel II.
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM CLOSING REMARKS Closing reflections on the morning's themes and the role Maryland's business and construction community will play in advancing long-term transportation solutions. Presented by: Michael Sakata, MTBMA.

For More Information:

Laurie M. Lawler
Laurie M. Lawler
VP of Operations Maryland Transportation Builders & Materials Association (410)760-9505

In Partnership With: