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Red Line Event

NEXT STEPS TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD

Following the Red Line’s relaunch in June 2023, MTA explored several key considerations to develop and refine preliminary alternatives through analysis and public input:

  • Transit Mode – Light-rail transit (LRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT) options were both evaluated in the prior Red Line EIS and in the East-West Feasibility Study. In the fall of 2023, Red Line Preliminary Alternatives review LRT performed better than BRT in ridership and overall capacity. Ultimately, LRT was identified as the recommended mode due to technical performance and strong public support.
  • Extent of Tunneling – Options to reduce or eliminate tunneling downtown through on-street alignments that follow industry best practices are being studied further to assess costs, benefits and drawbacks to tunneling.
  • Highlandtown/Bayview Alignment – Due to recent and ongoing development in the Highlandtown area, alignment adjustments and design changes in this portion of the corridor are being studied. Additionally, MTA has started a separate study to explore potential transit investments extending east to Baltimore County.
  • 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. MTA began evaluating environmental impacts this spring through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. To support the NEPA process, the team will collect data through fieldwork to update the many studies conducted during the original Red Line project over a decade ago. Together, this work will prepare MTA to identify a Locally Preferred Alternative in Winter 2024/2025, which will define the specific alignment.
Red Line study area

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 the Federal Transit Administration’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 developed and analyzed Preliminary Alternatives. Preliminary Alternatives included both LRT and BRT modes, as well as options including tunneled segments. Now that LRT has been selected as the preferred mode for the Red Line based on public input and technical analysis in fall 2023, the MTA will focus on further refinement of the LRT alternatives summarized in the table below and illustrated in the maps that follow.

Preliminary Alternative Mode Tunnel/Surface Alignment
Maximum Tunnel

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 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.
Maximum Surface North

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 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.
Maximum Surface South

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 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.
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.