Imagine the Possibilities… Vision from the 2002 Rail Plan

The world in 2000 Bus and rail ridership flat Statewide transit plan called for doubling ridership by 2020 Last major rail project completed in 1997 No expansion projects in planning or construction Transit not a factor in development decisions

A region responds… Secretary of Transportation appoints Rail Plan Advisory Committee –Civic leaders, not experts Reviewed prior studies, current and future traffic conditions, location of “life activities” Public workshops Alternative plans narrowed to Draft Plan More public workshops Final plan and priority projects selected Report in 2002

Major findings Baltimore region needs more; better transit Need to unify the region Growing congestion Poor air quality Access to jobs for city to city; city to suburb; suburb to city commuters Fight sprawl and support downtown Mobility for young and old Catch up with peer regions

What does rail transit do well today? Frequent reliable service for downtown workers Occasional riders use for ball games and special events Access to jobs near Hunt Valley, Owings Mills and BWI Fast commuter service to Washington

What is missing? Sense of an overall system Enough destinations to compete with auto travel Service in all major corridors, and to all major employment centers and tourist destinations Coordination with development activities

What should we expect from system expansion projects? Serve densely populated, congested corridors Serve major employment centers and activity centers Support both existing land use and major targeted growth areas Reduce income disparity with opportunities for low income communities Increase use of the existing system Provide seamless, comfortable service for the rider Effectively compete with cars Attract new riders to transit

Recommended System Plan

Red Line Recommended by Rail Plan Advisory Committee Selected by MTA Endorsed by Baltimore City, Baltimore County, State Legislators 2

Red Line – Project initiation Start-up funds in 2003 Planning and design funds approved in 2004 Alternatives Analysis begins in

Alternatives Analysis Transform concept into “real” project No official planned alignment – requires a full range of alternatives Determine… –Modal alternatives –Horizontal alignments –Vertical alignments 4

Key areas to serve SECURITY / WOODLAWN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE FELLS POINT / PATTERSON PARK 5

Detailed studies Project starts to become “real” Full range of environmental impacts Engineering studies Traffic and parking impacts Capital cost estimates Ridership estimates Station planning 6

Public involvement Communities / businesses / institutions 25 corridor-level meetings to date Over 75 individual meetings to date Interactive process relative to alternatives, alignments, and stations Benefits and impacts begin to become “real” as opposition or serious concerns evolve 8

Alignments remaining under consideration Light rail and Bus Rapid Transit Full tunnel Tunnels downtown; Cooks Lane only Full at-grade No Build Bus Management 9

Decision making Workshops in 2007 and 2008 Hearings in 2008 Decision on Locally Preferred Alternative in 2008 Funding? 11

Green Line Scoping meeting in 2003 Detailed work underway in 2007 East Side opportunities –Johns Hopkins Science + Technology Park –NIH at Bayview –BRAC –Canton / Greektown development

MTA goals Solve real transportation problems with feasible solutions Address community concerns and technical issues Look for opportunities to increase economic opportunity; livability Keep the promise of the 2002 plan