The Administration shall prepare plans to meet the transit needs of the District and from time to time shall review and revise these plans. The plans shall specify: The transit facilities to be constructed or acquired, including the location of terminals, stations, and parking facilities; The character, nature, design, and location of the transit facilities; Whether the transit facilities are to be constructed or acquired by lease, purchase, or condemnation; A timetable for providing the transit facilities; Anticipated capital costs; Estimated operating expenses and revenues; The type of equipment to be used; The areas to be served and the routes and schedules of service expected to be provided; The expected fares and charges for service; The plan of financing the capital costs and operation of the transit facilities; When applicable, improvements in interjurisdictional commuter transit services including the location of corridors, routes, stations, and terminals; Improvements to fare payment systems that will: Allow for the processing of fare media in electronic form; and Provide electronic fare media for distribution to employees as part of a commuter benefits program; and Any other information that the Administration considers relevant. A plan may provide for demonstration or testing facilities and for the use of the facilities for research and development.

In this section, “core service area” means: An area in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County, and Howard County that is served by light rail, metro, or fixed bus route service; and As determined by the Department, any other area in which the population commutes to an area described in item (1) of this subsection in order to use light rail, metro, or fixed bus route service. In addition to the requirements of §§ 7–301 and 7–302 of this subtitle, on or before October 1, 2020, the Administration shall, in consultation with the Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan Commission and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, prepare a Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan to meet the transit needs of the core service area. The Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan shall: Define goals for outcomes to be achieved through the provision of public transportation; In order to best achieve the goals defined in item (1) of this subsection, identify options for: Improvements to existing transportation assets; Improvements to leverage non–Administration transportation options available to public transportation; and Corridors for new public transportation assets; Prioritize corridors for planning of new public transportation assets; Evaluate the Plan’s consistency with local land use and transportation plans and the Maryland Transportation Plan and identify opportunities for achieving greater consistency; Be reviewed, revised, and updated at least every 5 years; and Address a 25–year time frame. There is a Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan Commission. The Commission consists of the following members: The County Executive of Anne Arundel County, or the County Executive’s designee; The Mayor of Baltimore City, or the Mayor’s designee; The County Executive of Baltimore County, or the County Executive’s designee; The County Executive of Harford County, or the County Executive’s designee; The County Executive of Howard County, or the County Executive’s designee; One representative from a Central Maryland business or transportation organization, appointed by the President of the Senate; One representative from a Central Maryland business or transportation organization, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and The following individuals appointed by the Governor: One representative from a Central Maryland business organization; One representative from the Citizen Advisory Council; One representative from a disabled riders group; and One representative from the MARC Riders Advisory Council. The Commission shall participate in the development of: A strategy for meaningful public involvement in the Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan; and The goals for outcomes of the Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan.

To the extent practicable, the transit plans prepared by the Administration shall: Implement the general development plan of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council; and In order to provide for a balanced transportation system and for the coordination of transit planning and general planning, be prepared in consultation with the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. The Administration shall cooperate with the planning agencies of the Department of Planning and any other State or federal agency concerned with transit plans. To provide a framework for regional participation in the planning process, the Administration may create technical committees concerned with planning and the collection and analyses of information to aid in the transportation planning process. On request of the Administration, the Department of Planning may make appointments to these committees.

A transit plan is not effective and steps may not be taken to implement it until the plan has been adopted by the Secretary. The Secretary may not approve or adopt the location of corridors, routes, stations, and terminals in any political subdivision unless the locations have been approved by the legislative body of the political subdivision. If the legislative body does not advise the Secretary in writing of its action within 180 days after its receipt of notice of the proposed locations, the legislative body is deemed to have approved the location. Before the adoption, revision, or amendment of any transit plan, the Secretary shall send the proposed plan, revision, or amendment to the following, for comment to be made within the time that the Secretary specifies: The Governor; The chief executive officers and the councils or the boards of county commissioners in the District; The Public Service Commission; The Baltimore Regional Council of Governments; The Department of Planning; Each private carrier operating in the District; Each labor union representing employees engaged in transit operations in the District; The legislative representatives of any affected political subdivisions; and Any other agency that the Secretary determines.

The Administration shall: Release to the public information as to any proposed transit plan or proposed amendment or revision of a transit plan; and Keep a copy of the proposal and information at its office for public inspection. The Administration shall hold a public hearing on the proposed plan, revision, or amendment. The Administration shall give at least 30 days’ prior notice of the hearing. The notice shall be published once a week for 2 successive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the District. The 30-day period begins when the notice first appears in the newspaper. The Administration shall consider the evidence submitted and the comments made at the hearing. With the approval of the Secretary and without any further hearing, the Administration may make any changes in the proposed plan, amendment, or revision that it considers appropriate.

The Administration may not construct, acquire, or incur a commitment or obligation in connection with any transit facilities specified in a transit plan until the necessary funds are available or provision has been made for the funds under Title 3 or 4 of this article.

Subject to constitutional limitations, this State and its political subdivisions may: Make grants to the Administration; Guarantee any obligations of the Administration; Make contributions to meet any operating expenses of the Administration; and Contract with the Administration, any lender, or any trustee under an indenture or loan agreement made by the Administration. Unless otherwise authorized by law, the Administration: Does not have any power to impose any commitment or obligation on this State or any of its political subdivisions; and May not levy any tax.

The Department may execute any agreement, lease, or equipment trust certificate for the purchase or rental of transit facilities or equipment such as rolling stock, substantially in the form customarily used in these cases and appropriate to effect the purchase or rental. The Department may dispose of an equipment trust certificate in the manner that it determines to be in its best interests. Each vehicle covered by an equipment trust certificate shall have the name of the owner and lessor plainly marked on both sides, followed by the words “owner and lessor”. The money required to be paid by the Department under these agreements, leases, and equipment trust certificates shall be payable from revenues available under this title or Title 3 or 4 of this article. Payment for the purchase or rental of transit facilities or equipment may be made in installments, and deferred installments may be evidenced by equipment trust certificates. Title to the transit facilities or equipment may not vest in the Department until the equipment trust certificates are paid. An agreement by the Department to purchase transit facilities or equipment may: Direct the seller to sell and assign the equipment to a bank or trust company authorized to do business in this State or to the United States Department of Transportation, as trustee, lessor, or seller, for the benefit and security of the equipment trust certificates; Direct the trustee to deliver the transit facilities and equipment to one or more designated agents of the Department; and Authorize the trustee simultaneously with the delivery to execute and deliver a lease of the transit facilities or equipment to the Department. The agreements and leases shall be acknowledged in the form required for the acknowledgment of deeds. The agreements, leases, and equipment trust certificates shall be authorized by the Secretary and contain the covenants, conditions, and provisions that the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate to insure the payment of the equipment trust certificates from the revenues derived from the operation of the transit system and other funds. The covenants, conditions, and provisions of the agreements, leases, and equipment trust certificates may not conflict with any trust agreement securing the payment of bonds or other obligations of the Department then outstanding and may not conflict with the rights of the holders of any other bonds or obligations.

The Administration shall, at least every 3 years, assess the ongoing, unconstrained capital needs of the Administration. In undertaking the assessment required under subsection (a) of this section, the Administration shall: Compile and prioritize capital needs without regard to cost; Identify the backlog of repairs and replacements needed to achieve a state of good repair for all Administration assets, including a separate analysis of these needs over the following 10 years; and Identify the needs to be met in order to enhance service and achieve system performance goals. On or before July 1, 2019, and on or before July 1 every 3 years thereafter, the Administration shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, submit the assessment required under subsection (a) of this section to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. On or before January 20, 2022, and on or before January 20 each year thereafter, the Administration shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, submit an accounting of the capital funds programmed, appropriated, and expended on each of the projects identified in the assessment required under subsection (a) of this section for the prior fiscal year to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

In this section, “complete streets policy” has the meaning stated in § 2–112 of this article. The Administration shall, in accordance with § 2–112 of this article, adopt a complete streets policy for transit facilities.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “MARC” means the Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail service. “MARC Cornerstone Plan” means the plan established by the Administration to translate the Administration’s transit vision statement into strategic priorities, policies, programs, and initiatives for MARC rail service. “Transit vision statement” means the Administration’s objective to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit access across Maryland with world–class customer service. The Administration shall establish individual investment programs to advance the MARC Cornerstone Plan and other MARC improvements by providing incremental enhancements for: The Brunswick Line, including a third track between Rockville and Germantown to better serve Western Maryland and existing communities served by the line; The Camden Line; The Penn Line; New regional service between Perryville, Maryland and Newark, Delaware; New regional run–through rail service to Alexandria, Virginia; and Extending the Brunswick Line to better serve Western Maryland. Each investment program established under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: Commence in fiscal year 2023; Include a review of existing rail operations, infrastructure, and right–of–way information to confirm existing conditions; Include rail simulation models for each of the current corridors served by MARC and areas identified for new service; Identify future operating scenarios that can improve service, including new midday, weekend, evening, through–running, and bidirectional service; Develop conceptual level improvement plans to enhance MARC’s service over time, including: Concept plans for highest–value infrastructure improvements identified by the simulation models; New stations or station enhancements; and Improvements to enhance access to jobs and housing in neighboring jurisdictions; and Identify a 5–year priority set of capital projects and activities to implement planned improvements to be funded in the Consolidated Transportation Program. In fiscal year 2028 and every fifth fiscal year thereafter, the Administration shall update each investment program established under this subsection. In fiscal year 2023, the Administration shall advance the following rail priority projects as part of the investment programs required under subsection (b) of this section: In coordination with the District of Columbia, Virginia, the Virginia Railway Express, Amtrak, and CSX, develop a service and operations plan for MARC through–running to Alexandria, Virginia; In coordination with Delaware, Pennsylvania, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and Amtrak, develop a service and operations plan for MARC, SEPTA, or Amtrak to run competitive transit schedules between Perryville, Maryland and Newark, Delaware; Complete 30% of the design for a new Elkton infill MARC station on the Penn Line; Complete 30% of the design for a new Bayview infill MARC station on the Penn Line; Complete 30% of the design for Germantown Station improvements; Complete 15% of the design for a fourth track on the Penn Line; and Hire three full–time equivalent (FTE) staff at a cost of approximately $450,000 annually beginning in fiscal year 2023 for the Administration’s planning and capital programming to ensure the Administration has adequate staff resources to leverage federal rail funding.