NEXT STEPS TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD
Over the coming months, MTA will explore the following key considerations in the alternatives development phase, with inclusive public engagement, to receive, share, and consider project options:
- Transit mode – LRT and BRT options were both evaluated in the prior Red Line EIS and in the East-West Feasibility Study. In the Feasibility Study, both performed well and will be studied in this phase.
- Extent of tunneling – Options to reduce or eliminate tunneling downtown through on-street alignments that follow industry best practices will be studied further to assess costs, benefits and drawbacks to tunneling.
- Highlandtown/Bayview alignment – Due to recent development in the Highlandtown area, alignment adjustments and design changes in this portion of the corridor will be studied to reflect current conditions and to not preclude potential extension east to Baltimore County as part of a separate study.
- Update to environmental documentation – While the affected environment in the Red Line study area has not changed dramatically since 2013, MTA will assess updates to project impacts to reflect current conditions, as well as integrate with other projects, such as the Reconnecting Communities planning study for the West Baltimore United project and the RAISE East-West Priority Corridor project.
Red Line study area
MTA is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to accelerate delivery of the Red Line project by building upon previous analyses to get the job done. We will be continuing public outreach and engagement in the summer and fall to ensure the Red Line can best meet the needs of the Baltimore region. We will also be working with our partners to develop a funding strategy for this project, including making this project competitive and well-positioned to receive federal funding through FTA’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program.
PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVES
Building upon the public input gathered during the focused engagement period in summer 2023, the Red Line project team has developed and analyzed Preliminary Alternatives. Preliminary Alternatives include both Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) modes, as well as options including tunneled segments. The six Preliminary Alternatives are summarized in the table and illustrated in the maps that follow.
| Preliminary Alternative | Mode | Tunnel/Surface | Alignment | |
| Maximum Tunnel | Alternative 1 | LRT | Tunnel | Mimics the Red Line Preferred Alternative alignment from 2015. Includes the Cooks Lane and Downtown Tunnel. General alignment follows: Security Boulevard, I-70, Cooks Lane, Edmondson Avenue, US 40, Fremont Avenue, Lombard Street, Fleet Street, Boston Street. Different options being considered for Brewers Hill/Highlandtown area connecting to Bayview. |
| Alternative 3 | BRT | Tunnel | ||
| Maximum Surface North | Alternative 2A | LRT | Surface | Alignment on the surface. Alignment follows Security Boulevard, Cooks Lane, Edmondson Avenue, US 40, MLK Jr Blvd, Baltimore Street/ Lombard Street Couplet, President Street, Eastern Avenue/Fleet Street couplet. Different options being considered for Highlandtown area connecting to Bayview. |
| Alternative 4A | BRT | Surface | ||
| Maximum Surface South | Alternative 2B | LRT | Surface | Alignment on the surface. Alignment follows Security Boulevard, Cooks Lane, Edmondson Avenue, US 40, MLK Jr Blvd, Pratt Street, President Street, Eastern Avenue/Fleet Street, Boston Street. Different options being considered for Brewers Hill/Highlandtown area connecting to Bayview. |
| Alternative 4B | BRT | Surface |
Want to learn more about the Red Line and potential options for the relaunched project?
STAYING ENGAGED
We are committed to a robust, transparent community engagement process built around equitable opportunity to both access information and inform the project as it advances. We will be reaching out to communities early and often; we have a team in place to make sure that engagement is targeted and timed appropriately so that communities can directly impact the decisions that are most relevant to them.
While outreach and engagement will be ongoing throughout the project, there are two periods of focused public engagement planned in 2023 during July-August and October-November to align with project milestones and decision-making. Information will be posted to the website and social media as public engagement opportunities, including pop-up events and workshops, are scheduled. Outreach materials and surveys from in-person events will also be made available through the website and on social media.
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VIEW THE ENGAGEMENT MATERIALS ON THE RESOURCES PAGE
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