Governor O’Malley Announces Red Line Locally Preferred Alternative
Sleek, Quiet, Low-to-the-Ground Vehicles Will Travel along East-West Corridor Creating the ‘Next Generation’ of Transit for the Baltimore Region
BALTIMORE, MD (August 4, 2009) - Governor Martin O’Malley announced today that the locally preferred alternative for Baltimore’s Red Line will be a 14-mile, east-west light rail line operating between Woodlawn to the west and the Johns Hopkins Bayview medical complex to the east. The Red Line will connect with the existing Baltimore Light Rail system, MARC stations, the Baltimore Metro subway and local bus routes to create a comprehensive regional transit network that is unprecedented in the Baltimore area.
“A light rail system operating along the Red Line corridor will provide the east-west transit service that has been missing in the Baltimore region for decades,” said Governor O’Malley. “The Red Line will connect people to the diverse employment, education, healthcare and entertainment centers located throughout the region by providing an efficient and dependable transit system that is unprecedented in the Baltimore region. And, we will do it in an environmentally conscious and sustainable way.”
“The Baltimore Red Line is a vital project that will connect people with opportunities,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “This project is just one component of our longstanding commitment to improving and expanding public transportation for all Marylanders and as we prepare for the arrival of BRAC, this project is more important than ever. I applaud all the men and women who have shared our efforts increase public transit ridership and I look forward to riding this line with Marylanders from around the Baltimore suburbs.”
With this selection of what is formally known as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), the project will now be submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under its “New Starts” process. The State will be seeking the approval to begin preliminary engineering and the $1.6 billion project will compete for federal funding.
“The Baltimore Red Line is going to help transform our region, adding a convenient, affordable alternative to the ever-increasing gridlock,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation Subcommittee. “With connections to Baltimore’s Light Rail, MARC, and downtown bus routes, the Red Line will improve the flow of our city’s transportation, help improve air quality by taking thousands of cars off the road, and provide Maryland with a jumpstart in developing a new, more energy efficient economy.”
The preferred Red Line alternative selected will run mostly as a dedicated surface transitway in the median of existing roads with one mile of tunnel under Cooks Lane and approximately three miles of tunnel downtown. It will run underground in areas of high congestion and limited right-of-way, while running on the surface where available right of way, traffic conditions and adjacent land uses are appropriate. The Red Line will be the region’s first cross-town rail route that will tie the city and suburbs together serving existing dense residential neighborhoods and employment centers. It also will support emerging new development at locations such as Harbor East, Canton Crossing and Uplands. The presence of the Red Line has the potential to spur revitalization efforts at Security Square Mall, Edmondson Village, Highlandtown, Greektown, and around the West Baltimore MARC station. By linking up with the MARC system, the Red Line will improve access to Washington, DC and growing BRAC job opportunities at Fort Meade and Aberdeen.
Planning for the Red Line has included extensive public participation and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has worked with local community members to develop alternatives that provide the greatest benefits, while minimizing adverse impacts. This Red Line alternative has the support of Congressman Elijah Cummings, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.
“Construction of the Red Line will support redevelopment in local communities throughout the City of Baltimore while improving the connections that local residents have to a wide range of opportunities throughout the metropolitan region,” said Congressman Elijah Cummings. “As a Senior Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I will continue to fight to ensure that this project receives the federal funding it needs to become a beneficial reality to our region.”
“The decision by Governor O'Malley to move forward with the preferred local option 4C is significant to the success of the Red Line and the Baltimore region,” said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith. “I applaud the Governor's vision and leadership and his understanding of the relationship among mass transit, economic development and sustainability.”
“This billion dollar project holds limitless benefits for Baltimore’s neighborhoods,” stated Mayor Sheila Dixon. “The Red Line will connect the west side to the east side, transform our region's economy and environment for the better and, during these tough economic times, create and support needed jobs. The Red Line will be the catalyst to carry Baltimore's revitalization to even greater heights.”
As development of the Red Line moves forward, the Maryland Transit Administration will continue to work to address and mitigate the concerns and issues raised by communities and citizens throughout the study process. Public outreach and agency coordination will continue to be an integral part of the development of the final environmental impact statement, providing opportunities for local residents and stakeholders to contribute to the planning and design of the project. With appropriate approvals and funding, construction could start in 2013 and service on the Red Line could begin in 2016.
Today, Governor O’Malley also announced the selection of light rail as the preferred alternative for the Washington region’s Purple Line. The Purple Line is a 16-mile light rail line that would extend from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George's County. The Purple Line will link both branches of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail Red Line at Bethesda and Silver Spring, to the Green Line at College Park, and the Orange Line at New Carrollton. The project would also connect to all three MARC commuter rail lines, Amtrak, and local bus services. Together, the Red Line and the Purple Line form the next generation of transit in Maryland.
To obtain more information on Baltimore’s Red Line visit www.baltimoreredline.com.
View a list of Red Line Frequently Asked Questions and Responses.
View a map of the planned route for the Red Line.
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Red Line Key Facts
- Mode – Light rail
- Overall length – 14.5 miles
- Surface – 9.8 miles
- Tunnel – 3.9 miles (Cooks Lane; Downtown – MLK Blvd. to Boston Street)
- Aerial – 0.8 miles (over I-695 and ramps; Woodlawn Drive; and over CSX freight rail yard)
- Stations – 20
- Surface – 15 stations, 5 with parking
- Underground – 5 stations
- Capital Cost - $1.63 billion (2009 dollars)
- Average daily ridership – 54,000
- FTA cost effectiveness rating - $24.24
- Maintenance Facility – at Calverton Road bounded by Franklintown Road, Frankling Street, and Amtrak
- One-Way Travel Time – Woodlawn to Bayview: 44 minutes
- Frequency of Service
- Peak: 8 minutes
- Off Peak: 10 minutes
- Schedule (provided necessary approvals obtained and funding available)
- Preliminary Engineering begins 2009
- Final Design begins 2011
- Construction begins 2013
- Operations begins 2016
