May 23, 2022

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg

Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

We are writing to express our support as members of the Maryland General Assembly for the Maryland
Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration’s (MDOT MTA) application, A New
Leaf: Zero-Emission Buses & Training, which will enable the agency’s first full delivery of battery-
electric buses as part of their transition to a zero-emission bus fleet. The project will transition the
agency’s battery-electric bus pilot into a permanent program, inclusive of robust workforce development
training to prepare MDOT MTA operations and maintenance staff for the new electric bus technologies
coming to the agency and the industry overall.

In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation requiring MDOT MTA to transition its bus
fleet to all zero emissions overtime. That mandate and this project are consistent with the agency’s and
state’s progress toward sustainable operations. To accomplish this ambitious fleet transition goal, the
MDOT MTA is shifting to exclusive purchase of zero-emissions buses and developing the charging
infrastructure to ensure a successful and seamless fleet conversion. Further, the agency remains
committed to workforce development to ensure this generational shift in bus operations is supported by
the agency’s most valuable assets: MDOT MTA employees. In order to ensure that MDOT MTA fulfills
that commitment, the Maryland General Assembly passed a just transition workforce bill this past
legislative session.
We urge you to favorably consider the project as it supports our shared goals to improve the quality of
life for transit operators and residents of communities in the Baltimore Region and empowers MDOT
MTA to increase the environmental sustainability and resiliency of the transit system.

Sincerely,

Delegate Vanessa E. Atterbeary, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee
Delegate Ben Barnes, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee
Delegate Kumar P. Barve, Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee
Delegate Luke Clippinger, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee
Delegate Anne Healey, Chair of the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee
Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk, Chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee
Delegate C.T. Wilson, Chair of the House Economic Matters Committee
Delegate Dalya Attar
Delegate Heather Bagnall
Delegate J. Sandy Bartlett
Delegate Wendell R. Beitzel
Delegate Lisa Belcastro
Delegate Harry Bhandari
Delegate Regina T. Boyce
Delegate Tony Bridges
Delegate Benjamin Brooks
Delegate Alfred C. Carr, Jr.
Delegate Mark S. Chang
Delegate Lorig Charkoudian
Delegate Nick Charles
Delegate Frank M. Conaway, Jr.
Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield
Delegate Eric Ebersole
Delegate Jessica Feldmark
Delegate Diana M. Fennell
Delegate Linda Foley
Delegate Catherine M. Forbes
Delegate Shaneka Henson
Delegate Terri L. Hill
Delegate Julian Ivey
Delegate Steve Johnson
Delegate Dana Jones
Delegate Rachel Jones
Delegate Anne R. Kaiser
Delegate Ariana B. Kelly
Delegate Kenneth Kerr
Delegate Marc Korman
Delegate Cheryl S. Landis
Delegate Mary A. Lehman
Delegate Jazz Lewis
Delegate Robbyn Lewis
Delegate Brooke E. Lierman
Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti
Delegate Lesley J. Lopez
Delegate Sara Love
Delegate Eric G. Luedtke
Delegate Maggie McIntosh
Delegate Ric Metzgar
Delegate David Moon
Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr
Delegate Edith J. Patterson
Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass
Delegate Susie Proctor
Delegate Lily Qi
Delegate Pam Queen
Delegate Kirill Reznik
Delegate Sheila Ruth
Delegate Emily Shetty
Delegate Stephanie Smith
Delegate Jared Solomon
Delegate Dana Stein
Delegate Vaughn Stewart
Delegate Jen Terrasa
Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith
Delegate Alonzo T. Washington
Delegate Courtney Watson
Delegate Jheanelle K. Wilkins
Delegate Nicole A. Williams
Delegate Karen Lewis Young
Delegate Pat Young