Odenton parking lot to become transit hub and mixed-use neighborhood

Governor Moore broke ground on a new commuter parking garage at the Odenton MARC Station on Wednesday. The project is the first step in converting a nearly 13-acre surface lot into a transit-oriented development district.

The construction will create a 1,100-space garage and free up more than 30,000 square feet for a walkable area. This new district is planned to include housing, retail stores, and public amenities. The garage itself is an approximate $56 million investment financed primarily by Anne Arundel County.

The funding package includes $4 million in federal money secured by Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Steny Hoyer. The state contributed $750,000 through a capital grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation. MDOT also provided the land for the project. The county and state will work with the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to deliver the build.

This initial phase is part of a larger strategy to develop the station area. The full plan aims to add 585 multifamily units, including 130 affordable homes and 435 market-rate units. The redevelopment also calls for 180,000 square feet of public amenity space and improved pedestrian and bicycle paths. Officials estimate the entire station area will generate over $270 million in new tax revenue for the state and county over the next 30 years.

Local and state officials emphasized the connection between transit and housing during the ceremony. County Executive Steuart Pittman noted the project aligns with long-term regional goals. MDOT Secretary Katie Thomson stated that Odenton is one of the busiest intermediate stations on the Penn Line, serving a high volume of daily commuters. She added that development around the station improves mobility and safety for residents and workers.

The garage is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2028. Joint development partners Homes for America and Questar Properties were selected in November 2025 to advance the project. They will work with state and local agencies to transform the west side of the station. The initiative supports the administration's 2024 MARC Penn Line Strategy, which promotes mixed-use communities along the rail corridor.

The Odenton station is currently the third busiest on the Penn Line, behind Washington Union Station and Baltimore Penn Station. The area includes residential, commercial, and federal government facilities that drive ridership. This project marks the first physical construction under that strategy, following the announcement of a similar development plan for the North parcel of the Rogers Avenue Metro Station earlier this year.