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September Newsletter

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WHAT IS THE RED LINE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM?
  • In 2024, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) relaunched the Red Line High School Internship Program, as the original program that began in 2009 was canceled in 2015.
  • The program is a six-week paid opportunity for high school students residing and studying within the east-west transit corridor, providing them with insights into the Baltimore Red Line. During the program, students learn about transportation investments, including government and private sector roles, project development, transit operations, and community engagement.
  • Students gain valuable experience working on a transit project and are exposed to careers within the transportation industry. The Baltimore Red Line Internship Program has seen remarkable success, with more than 100 interns completing the program.

Meet the Class of 2025!

Congratulations again to our newest Red Line Internship Alumni! Tony Graham II and Bradley Brown from Morgan State University; Amiyah (Mya), Eric, and Nolan from Edmondson-Westside High School; Kenneth and La’Mya from Patterson High School; and J’Da, De’Marcus, and Sofiat from Woodlawn High School.

2025 Red Line College Intern Tony
Tony
2025 Red Line College Intern Bradley
Bradley
2025 Red Line Intern Mya
Amiyah (Mya)
2025 Red Line Intern Eric
Eric
2025 Red Line Intern Nolan
Nolan
2025 Red Line Intern Kenneth
Kenneth
2025 Red Line Intern LaMya
La’Mya
2025 Red Line Intern JDa
J’Da
2025 Red Line Intern DeMarcus
De’Marcus
2025 Red Line Intern Sofiat
Sofiat

This year, the summer internship program included participation from Edmondson-Westside, Patterson, and Woodlawn High Schools as well as two college assistants from Morgan State University. The program connects students who live and attend school within the proposed Red Line corridor with educational and career opportunities in transportation. It was created as a way to engage with Red Line community members and involve those who will ultimately benefit from the Red Line transit service.

 

During the program, interns learned about the Red Line project, its potential to improve transportation access across Baltimore, and how it will impact their communities. They explored careers in transportation through field visits, hands-on activities, professional development workshops, and a final capstone project.

 

The capstone project was completed through hands-on work across three themes:

 

  • Storytelling & Social Media Strategies
  • Community Engagement & Youth Outreach
  • Station Area Planning from a Youth Perspective

 

Each week focused on a different theme. The interns built skills in communications, planning, engineering, and public engagement. In the final two weeks, interns developed and presented their capstone project at the closing ceremony.

 

This project included the following elements:

 

  • Interns redesigning three to four Red Line open house boards with teen-centered messaging and visuals.
  • Youth-led summary of Community Advisory Team (CAT) insights and develop CAT Tour Handouts.
  • Contributing to station area maps with youth-focused ideas and priorities.
  • Youth-designed station area plan, to include drawings, maps, or digital layout.
  • A final Capstone Group Presentation.

 

This experience provided students with an opportunity to shape the future of the Red Line through youth-driven ideas and input.

 

The Red Line Internship class of 2025 is joining a long list of Red Line Internship Alumni like MTA Police Officer Anton Christian, who you can learn more about by watching his People of the Red Line interview.

What’s next for the program?

The 2025 program was a great success, expanding to three high schools along the Red Line corridor. We’re in the early planning stage for the 2026 version of the program, exploring an increased number of students, partnerships with more schools, and combining efforts with other existing internship programs.

Patterned Line

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Glossary of Terms

Alignment
In transit planning this term refers to the specific physical pathway or route that a chosen transit mode will take to connect destinations. It may include travel on the surface, tunnels, or structures (bridge).
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and many public and private places that are open to the general public.
Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan (RTP)
The Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan (RTP) is a 25-year plan for improving public transportation in Central Maryland (Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County, and Howard County). The Plan addresses traditional transit (buses and trains) and explores new mobility options and technology.
Community Advisory Team (CAT)
The Community Advisory Team (CAT) is a group of individuals who bring voices and perspectives from the full range of affinity groups and neighborhoods living, working, and investing along the Red Line transit corridor. The CAT is serving as a vital link between the Maryland Transit Administration’s Red Line team's engagement efforts and the diverse communities of the greater Baltimore region.
Community Compact
A collaborative agreement between project stakeholders to ensure the success of the Red Line project by involving community, business, and advocacy group leaders in maximizing community benefits and addressing diverse interests and perspectives.
East-West Regional Transit Corridor Feasibility Study
The East-West Regional Transit Corridor Feasibility Study looked at a corridor serving east to west in Baltimore City and County. It helped identify the potential for high-capacity transit service serving heavily traveled east-west corridors in Baltimore. In particular, the study reinforced the need for enhanced transit in the area now being studied for the Red Line alternatives.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is the part of the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The agency supports all types of transit, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries. FTA also oversees safety measures and helps develop next-generation technology research.
Light Rail Transit (LRT)
Light rail transit (LRT) is a public transportation system that often uses electric-powered trains to carry passengers in urban areas and is capable of operating in mixed traffic. LRT systems are a modern version of streetcars, but they can carry more passengers, travel faster, and cover longer distances.
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
An alternative (mode and alignment combination) evaluated through the local planning process, adopted as the desired option by the appropriate state and/or local agencies through a public process, and identified as the preferred alternative in the NEPA process.
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is the overarching agency for state transportation in Maryland. It is led by the Maryland State Secretary for Transportation and includes the Maryland Aviation Administration, the State Highway Administration, the Maryland Port Administration, the Motor Vehicle Administration, and the Maryland Transit Administration.
Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation.
Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) train
The Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) is a commuter rail system in the Washington–Baltimore area. MARC trains are operated by the MTA. The Red Line will have a direct connection to MARC trains at the West Baltimore MARC Station which will be completely rebuilt by Amtrak as part of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Project with Amtrak.
National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is an association of 100 major North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federal law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions when building or implementing a new project. The goal of NEPA is to lesson or eliminate negative affects of a project.
Park-and-Ride
A park-and-ride is a parking lot where transit users can leave their car and get on a bus or train to transport them to their destination.
Record of Decision (ROD)
A Record of Decision (ROD) is a formal document that summarizes the findings of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A ROD is the basis for a federal agency's decision on a project.
Red Line
The Red Line is the name given to this project. It will be a high-frequency, high-capacity Light Rail line for the Baltimore Region, and it will be an investment in residents’ access to jobs, education, services, and opportunities.
Red Line Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Facility
The Red Line operations and maintenance (O&M) facility will be a central location where trains can be regularly maintained and kept in good condition to run transit service. The facility may also include a storage yard for the trains to "live" in when they are not being used.
Regional Rail Plan
The Regional Rail Plan from 2002 outlines proposed future rail lines for the Baltimore Region. This plan is where the Red Line first appeared on a map and became the basis for the project under development today.
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is a document that updates or enhances an existing Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A SEIS is prepared when new information, circumstances, or changes to a project would result in significant environmental impacts that were not considered in the original EIS.
Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
Transit Signal Priority (TSP) is a technology that adjusts traffic signal timing to make it easier for transit vehicles to pass through intersections faster by either extending green lights longer or shortening a red light when a transit vehicle is present.
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a large mechanical "mole" that is able to dig tunnels deep underground with little to no disruption on the surface except for where the machine enters the ground.
West Baltimore MARC Transit Oriented Development Study (MARC TOD)
The West Baltimore MARC Transit Oriented Development Study (MARC TOD) looks at the potential for future development around the West Baltimore MARC Station. The station will be rebuilt as part of Amtrak's Frederick Douglass Tunnel Project to be fully accessible with elevators and indoor waiting areas. This station will be a key connection hub for local MTA buses, the Red Line, and MARC train service. The area around the station is ideal for development of new housing, retail, and other community-oriented uses that can help maximize the investment in transit.