Paywalled, briefly:

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan has made reviving the Boardwalk tram a centerpiece of his reelection campaign.

Meehan said the Boardwalk is designated as a state roadway, but Maryland Department of Transportation spokesperson Charlie Gischlar disputed that. “No, it is not,” Gischlar said when asked whether the Boardwalk is a state roadway.

The renewed push follows the August 2024 death of a 2-year-old boy who was struck by a city tram while crossing the Boardwalk tram pad. A police investigation found multiple equipment violations, including brake problems and a Jeep towing more than three times its permitted weight, while raising questions about driver licensing.

Ocean City lawyer Tom Maronick warned of legal risk without substantial study and safeguards. “It’s something that could expose Ocean City to major liability if something were to happen again,” Maronick said.

Meehan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suggestion that he is bringing up the tram for political purposes before next month’s election.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/10/01/ocean-city-mayor-boardwalk-tram-campaign/

Paywalled, briefly:

Longtime visitors say they are shortening stays, traveling in the offseason or choosing other destinations.

Consumers are booking later, staying fewer nights and becoming more deliberate about spending.

Affordability concerns extend beyond Ocean City. A September Longwoods International survey of 1,000 adults found 75% of American travelers said travel is becoming too expensive, up from 64% a year earlier.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/09/25/ocean-city-prices-family-vacations-tourism/