April 8th, 2022 by WCBC Radio
The funding puzzle for the re-opening and redesign of the downtown mall continues to be pieced together- with city officials voting this week to accept $6.3 million in state grant assistance. The funding is being issued through the Maryland State Highway Administration's Transportation Alternative Program. Baltimore Street was bricked over and closed to traffic in 1977 to create a pedestrian mall. Total project cost at last estimate is in the ten million dollar range- and that will include installing Baltimore Street; replacing aging underground utility lines and creating a new streetscape that will include trees, shrubs and redesigned parklets. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss tells WCBC News that the project has strong support- including the backing of Governor Larry Hogan…