Maryland State Highway Administration


Introduction

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is one of six transportation business units in the Maryland Department of Transportation that strive to provide exceptional customer service for the State’s transportation system. MDOT SHA is responsible for maintaining the State’s numbered, non-tolled roads and continues to deliver transportation projects and solutions to improve Maryland's roads and bridges.

Mission

The MDOT SHA Mission Statement is “The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is a customer-driven leader that delivers safe, sustainable, intelligent and exceptional transportation solutions in order to connect our customers to life's opportunities."

History

During his term as Governor, Austin Lane Crothers pushed the General Assembly to adopt a progressive agenda of public service experts to oversee the people’s business. The result was a State Bank Commissioner, a Public Service Commission and the State Roads Commission. The State Roads Commission was charged with creating a state road system by expanding state aid to county roads, purchasing privately owned turnpikes and building state roads. The “seven-year plan” promised to connect all of Maryland’s county seats with paved roads. The commission became the State Highway Administration on July 1, 1971.

Organization

MDOT SHA headquarters is located in the City of Baltimore and houses numerous divisions and offices, including:
MDOT SHA also maintains a complex in Hanover, which is home to:
There are seven engineering districts in the State. These districts, at the least, have divisions for traffic, construction, maintenance, and utilities. Each district also oversees several maintenance shops—typically one per county. The following is a table of the districts, counties within their jurisdiction, and their respective headquarters.
DistrictCountiesHeadquarters
Wicomico County

Worcester County

Somerset County

Dorchester County
Salisbury
Cecil County

Kent County

Queen Anne's County

Talbot County

Caroline County
Chestertown
Montgomery County

Prince George's County
Greenbelt
Baltimore County

Harford County
Cockeysville
Anne Arundel County

Calvert County

Charles County

Saint Mary's County
Annapolis
Washington County

Allegany County

Garrett County
La Vale
Frederick County

Howard County

Carroll County
Frederick

Statistics

MDOT SHA owns and maintains the Interstate, U.S. and Maryland numbered non-toll routes. The agency is responsible for more than 17,178 lane miles of roads and ramps and more than 2,500 state-maintained bridges. Approximately 2,960 employees located at MDOT SHA Headquarters, Hanover Complex and district offices provide customers with a safe, well-maintained highway system. Seven districts cover Maryland’s 23 counties. District offices are located in Salisbury, Chestertown, Greenbelt, Hunt Valley, Annapolis, La Vale, and Frederick. Maintenance shops are located throughout the districts.

Highlights

In 2019, MDOT SHA:

Note: In 1908 a separate State Roads Commission chairman and a separate chief engineer led the agency. In June 1959 a director of highways was added who also served as State Roads Commission co-chairman. In July 1971 all three roles were subsumed under the MDOT SHA administrator.