ZA00A
Miscellaneous Grants
B &O Railroad Museum (Baltimore City)
GO Bonds $1,500,000 Recommendation: Approve
Bill Text: Provide a grant to the Board of Directors of the B & O Railroad Museum to assist in the
design, construction, and equipping of the historic roundhouse restoration and of a new facility to
rehabilitate aged and damaged rolling stock, subject to the requirement that the grantee provide an
equal and matching fund for this purpose. Notwithstanding Section 1(5) of this Act, the matching
fund may include funds expended prior to the effective date of this Act.
Program Description: The B & O Railroad Museum is one of the world’s premier transportation
museums. It averages 160,000 visitors per year, including 40,000 school children. This project will
construct improvements to the museum in three phases. The first phase is underway and involves
reconstruction of the 33,000 square foot slate roof on the historic 1884 roundhouse, half of which
collapsed in last February’s record snowfall, as well as reconstructing the damaged interior of the
building to match the original features. Insurance proceeds, donations, and a $450,000 long-term
loan from the Maryland Historic Trust are funding this work. State support is currently being
requested for Phase 2 and 3. Both of which are scheduled to begin during fiscal 2004 and be
completed in fiscal 2005. A State Community Legacy Grant of $300,000 has been awarded to assist
with the costs of Phase 3.
Year Project Began: 2003.
Comments: Phase 1 of the reconstruction program has been funded at a cost of $10.2 million and is
underway. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin design this spring and to be completed by December 2004.
The total cost of $9.2 million for Phase 2 includes $3.6 million in operating expenses (exhibits and
programming costs) and $5.6 million in capital costs (reconstruction of the clerestory roof, correction
of code deficiencies, and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements). The museum cannot
reopen until Phase 2 is finished. The museum’s future is endangered if the Phase 2 schedule is not
maintained because the longer its admission revenues are interrupted the more difficulty the museum
will have in paying and retaining staff.
Phase 3 includes construction of the restoration building as well as the restoration of the damaged
locomotives and rolling stock. Phase 3 is also scheduled to begin design this spring and to be
completed by December 2004. The total cost of $10.1 million for Phase 3 includes $5.1 million in
For further information contact: Stacy A. Porter Phone: (410) 946-5530
Analysis of the FY 2005 Maryland Executive Budget, 2004
1
ZA00A – Miscellaneous Grants
operating costs (equipment repair) and $5.0 million in capital costs. The museum’s leadership
believes that construction of the restoration building would make possible significant savings in the
costs of restoring the damaged equipment, inasmuch as that cost is estimated at $5.1million if done
in-house and over $15.0 million if all of the work must be shipped out to private contractors.
Estimated Cost of Project
Prior Recommended Future
Appropriation Amount Request Total
Planning $500,000 $0 $500,000
Construction $10,200,000 9,690,000 0 19,890,000
Equipment 410,000 0 410,000
Total $10,200,000 $10,600,000 $0 $20,800,000
State Match 10.8% 750,000 1,500,000 2,250,000
Match 89.2% 9,450,000 9,100,000 18,550,000
Source of Matching Funds:
Cash Reserves (Including Insurance) $15,550,000
Federal Grants 1,500,000
Foundation Grants 500,000
Local Governments Grants 500,000
Private Donations 500,000
Total Match $18,550,000
The States contribution to this project equates to $2.3 million, or 10.8% of the total cost of the
project.
Recommended Actions
Approve.
Analysis of the FY 2005 Maryland Executive Budget, 2004
2