
Governor Wes Moore appoints Marciela Cordova to Maryland Transportation Authority Board
Marciela Cordova has been appointed as a new member of the Maryland Transportation Authority Board, per Governor Wes Moore in a Friday announcement.
Cordova, who already serves as the special assistant to the director for transportation strategic projects with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, will serve a four-year term on the board.
According to a press release, Cordova has more than 30 years in architectural, engineering, and construction programs through serving a multitude of roles with the MCDT and acting as a senior manager of design, preconstruction, and project development with Clark Construction Group, LLC.
"Maricela Cordova's extensive background and proven track record in the transportation sector make her the perfect candidate to serve this important role on the MDTA Board," Governor Wes Moore said. "Her leadership skills and innovative thinking will be an asset to the Board and to all Marylanders."
"I am honored to receive this appointment by Governor Moore," she said. "I am eager to collaborate on Maryland's most important projects and priorities, and I am committed to advancing the board's values of integrity, transparency, and efficiency. With my expertise in transportation, I look forward to making meaningful contributions that will benefit the state and its future."
The Board, comprised of eight members, is responsible for policy-setting, decision-making, and governing for the MDTA, which oversees and preserves the state's toll facilities and roads. The MDTA is financed by toll revenue alone and was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1971.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
Opendoor Technologies seeks reverse stock split
Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) filed a preliminary proxy statement. The proxy statement was furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Opendoor's Board of Directors for use at the company's Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time. 'Our Board has adopted and is recommending that our stockholders approve amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation, to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio ranging from any whole number between 1-for-10 and 1-for-50, with the exact ratio within such range to be determined by the Board in its discretion, subject to the Board's authority to determine when to file the amendment and to abandon the other amendments notwithstanding prior stockholder approval of such amendments.' Confident Investing Starts Here:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Maryland must tackle interconnected land use, housing, transportation, economic challenges
Traffic on the Capital Beltway near the American Legion Bridge. Surveys show Marylanders want housing near jobs, but state policy doesn't always make that easy. (Photo by Dave Dildine/WTOP) Maryland is well-known for innovative state policies and reforms, including smart growth, but the state missed key opportunities this year to build on that legacy. While approving a half-billion-dollar package to close a major transportation funding gap, the legislature (primarily the Senate) failed to adopt bills that would ensure the funds shift the state in a new direction toward abundant and affordable housing and transportation choices. Maryland's land use, high housing costs, transportation challenges and economic doldrums are interconnected. They require new approaches, not just patching budget holes to fix. Homes are expensive in part because Maryland communities allow too little housing near transit, services and jobs. This contributes to sprawling, car-dependent development, further fueled by too much public spending on oversized roads and highways. The result is long commutes, more driving to reach stores and services, and higher transportation costs for families. The average new car in the U.S. costs almost $50,000, and last year 17% of American drivers said they had to take on a second job to help pay for their car. Instead of funding more of this status quo, Maryland needs to help families stay here, with affordable access to opportunity. Fostering walkable, vibrant activity centers with good transit and a range of housing types and prices near jobs will help current residents and also attract the next generation of skilled workers and industries. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. The House of Delegates passed several valuable smart growth bills: Transit-oriented development (House Bill 80) to remove obstacles to building housing and mixed-use development near rail stations; Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (House Bill 84), ensuring the state's transportation investments support its climate change goals while giving residents more travel options; Metro Funding Modification Act (House Bill 467), fixing dedicated state capital funding for the D.C.-area Metro system to account for inflation; and Gov. Wes Moore's Housing for Jobs Act (House Bill 503), which would have required the state's job centers to address housing needs, although it was watered down into largely a study bill. Unfortunately, the Maryland Senate did not advance any of these bills to a vote. The Senate, to its credit, did pass: Split-rate property tax enabling legislation (Senate Bill 472) that would allow local governments to create tax structures that capture the value of land near assets like rail stations while incentivizing new development, though the House did not pass it; and Accessory dwelling unit bill (House Bill 1466) that will require local governments to allow construction of a smaller independent home on a lot with a single-family detached house. The House concurred with the final bill and the governor signed it. We know that legislators had a lot on their plates, with a sizable budget gap and chaotic federal backdrop. However, most of the smart-growth bills that didn't pass would have cost little or nothing to government coffers – and would actually save the state money over time through reduced infrastructure and service costs. Realizing this vision provides interconnected benefits. For example: Smart growth has been key to attracting and retaining Fortune 500 firms like Marriott and Choice Hotels in transit-oriented locations. Maryland families on average would save over $3,000 per year in transportation costs if the state provided more opportunities for transit, walking, biking and accessible living. State-owned transit-oriented development sites could support 5,000 new housing units in the Baltimore region and 2,600 new housing units along the MARC Penn Line. These Penn Line sites could generate $800 million in new state and local revenue. Marylanders want these opportunities; 76% support more homes in job-rich areas. Before the next General Assembly session, the Moore administration can make progress: The Maryland Department of Transportation can adopt changes to its Chapter 30 project prioritization process to better maintain existing infrastructure, recognize good land use planning as a transportation solution, and ensure affordable and sustainable travel choices for residents. The Department of Housing and Community Development can provide further analysis on the state's housing shortage and the benefits of new homes in accessible locations. It could also work with local governments to improve land use review to reduce time and complexity, allowing more new homes to be built faster in transit-accessible locations. During the 2026 session, the General Assembly will have the opportunity to pass legacy-making legislation ahead of the elections. Gov. Moore, with the support of state senators and delegates, can help Marylanders address the everyday needs of housing and transportation in lasting ways, which also help the state's finances, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Moore administration touts nearly $400 million in savings
State officials announced they found nearly $400 million in potential savings, much of which would come from moving state employees out of state-owned and maintained buildings like the decaying State Center complex in Baltimore. (File photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.) State officials Friday announced a series of budget cuts they said could reduce spending by nearly $400 million in coming years. Included in the reductions are $50 million in cuts that are part of the fiscal 2026 budget. The bulk of the savings — $326 million — would come over as many as 25 years as part of an effort to shift employees out of state-owned buildings and into commercial office space. 'While the federal government recklessly slashes budgets and lays off public servants, we are using data to save taxpayers money and modernize government in a targeted way,' Gov. Wes Moore Moore (D) said in a statement. 'This announcement is only the beginning of our efforts. Together, we will continue to prioritize fiscal discipline and ensure we deliver essential services to all Marylanders, efficiently and effectively.' Moore, in announcing his proposed 2026 budget in January, promised to find $50 million in savings. The effort was a small part of attacking what was then a projected $3.3 billion structural budget deficit. Moore set up a work group to look for savings within state agencies. The group was tasked with looking for efficiencies in procurement, real estate and fleet management. Officials who briefed reporters Friday said they hit their target. The largest portion of the savings — about $30 million — for the fiscal year that starts July 1 will come from changes in state technology. Officials said underutilized mobile and land phone lines will be eliminated. The state will also standardize laptop purchases and keep equipment longer before buying replacements. Ferguson: Maryland would lose $430 million in Trump 'skinny budget' proposal Another $14 million of the proposed savings will come from standardizing shipping and delivery options. Officials said the savings will come from ensuring state employees are aware of and use contracts that offer the best rates. The final $6 million comes from consolidation of the state's vehicle fleet. Departments will purchase fewer vehicles and spend less on fuel and maintenance. All that is in addition to $16 million the state Department of Information Technology had planned on saving from centralizing the programs it uses for employee access to computer systems as well as cybersecurity tools. 'Our data-driven approach to modernizing state government operations is saving taxpayer dollars,' Chief Performance Officer Asma Mirza said in a statement. The bulk of the savings — $326 million — is expected to come from moving state employees out of nine buildings in Baltimore City that are owned and maintained by the state. Those employees will move to commercial space in the city's central business district. The total amount of savings would come over a 20- to 25-year period, officials said. One state official told reporters that the state hopes to take advantage of the large amount of available commercial office space and negotiate 'very aggressive lease rates.' The state was already moving out of the decaying State Center property. At one point, the plan was to partner with the private sector to redevelop the 25-acre state office complex, which sits on a Metro stop and is adjacent to the light rail. CONTACT US The plan, which was approved in 2009, fell apart, and then-Gov. Larry Hogan (R) filed a lawsuit to terminate the $1.5 billion project. The developer countersued. The Board of Public Works, led by Moore, voted unanimously in November to settle with developer State Center LLC for $58.5 million. At the time of that settlement, there were fewer than 5,000 employees from seven state agencies at the center. The state plans to move all remaining employees to other locations by the end of 2026. A final plan for the property has yet to be determined. It is unclear if the property will be taken over by the city or sold to a developer. The state also plans on moving employees out of two other buildings — the William Donald Schaefer Tower on St. Paul Street and the Nancy Grasmick building at 200 W. Baltimore Street. Officials told reporters that relocating those employees could take up to three years. The goal, they said, was to open the properties up for redevelopment and put them back on city tax rolls.