The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are holding public hearings to provide the public additional opportunities to review and comment on the DEIS, which has been prepared pursuant to the federally mandated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The purpose of the Bay Crossing Study is to consider two-mile-wide corridors to provide additional capacity and access across the Chesapeake Bay to improve mobility, travel reliability and safety at the existing William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge, while considering financial viability and environmental responsibility.

The public hearings will be comprised of two components – a Public Hearing Virtual Information Room (VIR) and Live Testimony Sessions. The VIR will be available at 10AM at baycrossingstudy.com. In the VIR, attendees can review information on the Tier 1 DEIS, register to give public testimony and learn how to submit written comments.  The public is encouraged to testify at one of the testimony sessions and should visit baycrossingstudy.com to register. If a member of the public cannot access the project website, they can call 1-877-249-8370 to register. The testimony sessions are intended for live testimony only and will not include presentations nor responses to questions. The dates and times are:

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Call-in sessions	Thursday, April 15, 2021 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Call-in sessions
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Double Tree Hotel 210 Holiday Court Annapolis, MD 21224	Thursday, April 22, 2021 Kent Island American Legion Hall 800 Romancoke Road Stevensville, MD 21666

Planning for a new bay crossing is still in its early stages. The Tier 1 study includes identification of a range of Corridor Alternatives as well as a Selected Corridor Alternative in the Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD). A Tier 2 study would identify specific alignment alternatives within the two-mile-wide Selected Corridor Alternative identified during Tier 1. Completion of the Tier 1 study does not presume the initiation of a Tier 2 NEPA study, since no funding has been identified beyond the current Bay Crossing Study.

Please see the following links for more information.

BCS Public Hearing Press Release     BCS DEIS Executive Summary February 2021