City streets with accessible bus stop ramp and people walking

Project Delivery and Industry Outreach

This page is intended to provide prime contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and other interested businesses with an opportunity to learn more about the Red Line Program’s project delivery and business opportunities.

Baltimore Red Line Program Timeline and Key Milestones

Red Line Capital Investment Grant Timeline 2026

 

This timeline shows five project phases with key milestones and ongoing public and stakeholder engagement. We are currently in the first phase, Alternatives Analysis, at the end of which we will identify the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). The second phase is FTA CIG Project Development, which will take up to two years, and will end with a completion of the environmental review process (NEPA) and securing 15% of state/local funding. The third phase is engineering/final design, after which we will secure 100% of state/local funding. The funding grant agreement and contracting phase will come next, followed by the construction phase. Public and stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the entire timeline until the Red Line is open for operations.

Current Project Status

January 2026

Surface and subsurface conditions have been investigated and assessed throughout the study area for soil composition depth of groundwater, presence and types of utilities, underground obstructions, and other crucial information necessary to implement the guideway. These areas will have to be designed to accommodate heavy vehicular traffic, new infrastructure, and implementation of stations, all of which require surface and subsurface construction. Crews have been conducting survey work and using technology like GPS and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to generate precise 3D models of terrain and vegetation.

The team has begun early coordination to map where water pipes, gas lines, power lines, communication lines, and other utilities may need to be relocated to support construction. For help identifying what’s underground, the team is using Electromagnetic Pipe and Cable tracing technology across the corridor.

The team is working closely with other agencies involved in projects like the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program (Amtrak), West Baltimore MARC station (MTA), West Baltimore United (Baltimore City), Light Rail Modernization Program (MTA), and several private developer projects such as Edmondson Village, the Harborplace Redevelopment and Downtown RISE to coordinate efforts and maximize project benefits for the region and its communities.

Preliminary design is advancing on the remaining alternatives, focusing on the track, civil, and highway elements. The alternatives are being compared with each other, keeping rider accessibility, alternative costs, construction timeline, and safety factors in mind to name a few. Traffic counts for roadways and intersections, including pedestrian counts, have been conducted along the proposed routes for the Red Line. At this stage, a traffic impact analysis on the alignments is still ongoing and will continue in greater detail as the study moves along in design.

2025 was a busy year for our engagement team – we enjoyed meeting communities where they live, work, and play in 2025 and look forward to seeing and hearing from more community members in the coming year as well! Our outreach team is continuing to meet with neighborhood associations along the Red Line to share the latest from the project and collect community feedback that will support the selection of an alternative.

2025 Outreach by the numbers:

  • 4,900+ connections with individuals​
  • 60+  pop-ups and community events ​
  • 670+ comments and emails ​
  • 110+ small business visits
  • Expanded Student Internship Program with 10 students from Edmondson-Westside High School, Patterson High School, and Woodlawn High School and two college students from Morgan State University
  • Participated in a Community Advisory Team (CAT) led tour of the corridor where members pointed out key areas of opportunity in their neighborhoods

Industry Day

Stay tuned for Red Line contractor outreach events.

Doing Business in Maryland

Please click the following links to learn more about how to do business in the State of Maryland, become certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and track procurements. All interested businesses are highly encouraged to visit eMMA and register to ensure you receive procurement information.

  • State of Maryland
    Vendors & Businesses page

    Read More

  • How to do Business
    with the State of Maryland

    Read More

  • State of Maryland
    MBE Certification

    Read More

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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.