All Aboard for Earth Day: The Red Line’s Role in a Cleaner Region

Each year on Earth Day, we reflect on choices, big and small, that can help the planet. The individual choice of how to move through our cities collectively influences how we design our streets. Public transportation reduces carbon emissions, traffic, and other factors that contribute to urban heat.

This Earth Day, we’re highlighting how public transit can shape healthier communities—with fewer cars, lower temperatures, and cleaner air.

Improving Streets for All

As the Baltimore Red Line moves forward, it will be shaped by the Baltimore Complete Streets law. The Complete Streets Manual outlines how transportation projects can make our streets more accessible for those who walk, bike, and roll to the places they care about. According to the Baltimore Complete Streets Manual, Complete Streets should prioritize safety and include green elements like boulevard strips, street trees, planter boxes, rain gardens, and swales. These features not only improve the appearance of the streetscape but also help reduce stormwater runoff and combat the urban heat island effect. The Red Line project will incorporate Complete Streets design best practices, including landscaping into the corridor. The Red Line, as proposed, will help provide more direct access to recreation areas within the city like the Inner Harbor, Patterson Park, Gwynns Falls, and Leakin Park.

A Cooler Baltimore

Figure 1: From “Baltimore Urban Heat Islands: Who Feels the Heat?” by Zachary Durick

According to a study published at Knox College, Baltimore faces temperature disparities through urban heat islands (UHI). But what is a heat island? And how do we identify one? According to the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, urban air temperatures can be up to 10 degrees hotter than the air of surrounding suburban or rural areas. Urban development can increase heat in cities by changing the land surface—pavement, for example, traps heat, and the loss of tree canopy removes natural shade. This poses a health risk for vulnerable people walking, biking, or rolling. Research shows that around 45 percent of Baltimore’s population lives in areas where urban heat islands increase temperatures by at least 8⁰F. The Red Line will run through some of these neighborhoods and be part of changing the streetscape to counteract the UHI in these areas. When people choose transit over driving, it helps reduce both heat and pollution by cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. High-capacity transit systems produce up to 45 percent less carbon dioxide per passenger mile compared to private vehicles (Source: U.S. Department of Transportation / APTA).

Celebrate With Us!

Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day? Take a ride on transit—especially with the Red Line on the horizon! The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is offering free transit on Earth Day, making it the perfect time to give it a try. Explore transit options near you and invite others to join in. Switching to high-capacity public transit can significantly reduce a household’s transportation-related carbon footprint. Every ride counts, whether it’s a short trip or a longer commute. We hope to see you on the bus or train this Earth Day!

To learn more about the Red Line, visit our website at redlinemaryland.com and follow us on social media at YouTube, X, Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook.

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