Transportation Planning Organization Seeks Public Input for Long-Range Plan

Residents of Washington County, Maryland, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia are being invited to contribute to the future of regional transportation. The Hagerstown/Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization (HEPMPO), a federally mandated body responsible for multi-modal transportation planning, is actively seeking public feedback to update its Long Range Transportation Plan. This initiative aims to gather insights on crucial aspects of regional mobility, including planned highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects, as well as public perspectives on safety, freight movement, traffic congestion, and overall quality of life.

The HEPMPO, which serves Washington County, Maryland, and Berkeley and Jefferson Counties in West Virginia, is encouraging community members to voice their concerns and ideas regarding present and future transportation needs. To facilitate this, an online survey has been developed in collaboration with local and state agencies. This survey covers a range of topics, from road improvements and transit route adjustments to sidewalk accessibility, traffic management, bicycle paths, and broader mobility challenges. The survey is accessible online and will be available for completion until April 30, 2026. This direct engagement is vital for HEPMPO to identify specific issues and priorities that will shape the region’s transportation infrastructure for years to come.

In addition to the online survey, HEPMPO is hosting a series of public meetings where residents can discuss the plan update and provide their input directly. These meetings will offer a virtual participation option for those unable to attend in person. The schedule for these sessions is as follows: April 22 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Charles Town Library’s Meeting Room in the basement; April 23 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Martinsburg Public Library in the Martinsburg Room on the top floor; and April 28 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Washington County Free Library in Conference Room 334 in Hagerstown.

For those who prefer to submit written comments, HEPMPO has provided mailing and email addresses. Written feedback can be sent to the HEPMPO’s office at 33 W. Washington Street, Suite 402, Hagerstown, MD 21740, or emailed to mmullenax@hepmpo.net. All comments, whether submitted through the online survey, public meetings, or written correspondence, must be received by Thursday, April 30, 2026. Further details about the Long Range Transportation Plan development process are available on the HEPMPO website at https://hepmpo.com/our-work/direction-2055/. The HEPMPO encourages all interested individuals to participate, as their input will directly influence the region’s transportation future, potentially impacting travel times, accessibility, and the overall development of communities within its jurisdiction.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from The Hagerstown/Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization (HEPMPO)

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