The Baltimore Red Line: 2011 Year in Review

2011 marked a year of great leaps forward for the Red Line: a significant milestone reached, a noteworthy designation and the cementing of partnerships within the community.

Red Line on Fast Track

The Obama Administration announced that the Baltimore Red Line is one of only 14 infrastructure projects around the country that would be expedited through permitting and environmental review processes. This is an important next step in the Administration's efforts to improve the efficiency of federal reviews needed to help job-creating infrastructure projects move as quickly as possible from the drawing board to completion.

Henry Kay, deputy administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), said the designation was "excellent news. It could potentially speed it up as much as two years, but everything would have to work perfectly," he said.

Kay said the decision could help the MTA speed its dealing with federal environmental agencies that would have to issue permits for various aspects of the project – including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Kay said the move also could help hasten dealings with the Social Security Administration and General Services Administration on issues related to the transit line.

The MTA has had a good working relationship with federal agencies, Kay said. But he said the administration's designation can help because "time isn't always everyone's priority."

Red Line Gets Green Light to Move Forward

Even before the good news about the expedited timeline, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave its approval for the Red Line to move forward and enter the Preliminary Engineering phase. Also known as PE, this phase of the project includes preparation of more detailed plans, schedules and cost estimates as well as completion of final environmental studies. "For the past two years the MTA has been working to comply with rigorous FTA requirements," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "By granting permission for a project to enter Preliminary Engineering, the FTA signals that the project has merit and a high likelihood of ultimate success."

The FTA review of the Red Line proposal focused on the project's ridership and benefits as well as the State's financial commitment and technical capacity to build and operate the project.

Station Area Advisory Committees (SAACs) Begin Second Phase of Advice to MTA and Public

The Red Line SAAC process began its second phase of work in November 2011. This second and final phase, which will entail four sessions of SAAC meetings, began by consolidating the 17 SAACs by geography into four groups – County, City West side, City Central and City East side. The November SAAC sessions concentrated on issues that affect all Red Line station areas such as lighting, station/platform location and other transit matters. The next SAAC sessions are scheduled for January and February 2012. More details at www.baltimoreredline.com/station-area-advisory-committees.

Red Line Embraces Social Media

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube helped keep us connected to the Red Line project this year. By becoming a fan, following us on Twitter, or viewing/subscribing to our YouTube page, stay up-to-date on project information and transit news, community events and opportunities, and be a part of the online conversation!

Summer in the City

Whether you were sampling the delicious fare at LatinoFest or taking in the sights and sounds of ROOTS Fest, there is a good chance that you came around the corner to find a booth with the Red Line logo emblazoned across the front and smiling Community Liaisons standing to either side. Summer 2011 was a busy time for the Community Liaison team. They crisscrossed the corridor, attending festivals and block parties, answering questions, taking feedback, and most importantly gaining a greater understanding of and appreciation for the neighborhoods they serve.

These festivals proved to be a great way for the Liaisons to connect with residents they may not have otherwise encountered. They discussed the project timeline with people from Woodlawn, the alignment and cost estimates with community members in Canton, and economic development with residents in West Baltimore. These familiar and direct conversations allowed the Liaisons to have more substantive discussions that were tailored to stakeholders' particular concerns.

Red Line Art Cart Speeds to Victory

It's not exactly the Red Line but you could call it "rapid transit." Red Line Community Liaison John Enny teamed up with friends and neighbors, including driver Liam Tallon to participate in the first-ever Art Cart Derby held last October in Highlandtown – taking home the trophy in the "Fastest Art Cart" category. Inspired by classic soapbox racing, the Art Cart Derby is a downhill race between gravity-powered carts with a single driver. Click here to see photos of the Red Line Art Cart.

SAACs Share Progress at Open Houses, Develop Vision Plans

Earlier this year, more than 400 neighborhood residents attended a series of four open houses to gather information, ask questions and offer their input on the station design concepts presented by the Station Area Advisory Committees (SAACs).

For the past year the SAACs – consisting of more than 250 community stakeholders – have been meeting to provide input on how 17 stations along the proposed Red Line can be designed to best serve their communities. At the four open houses, SAAC members shared their findings with the public.

Working with that input from the community, each SAAC created a Vision Plan, where they confirmed the station location and other elements they wanted to see in the station areas. More information can be found on the project website, www.baltimoreredline.com/station-area-advisory-committees/vision-plans.

Community Liaisons Join the Red Line Team

Staying connected to the community is a critical element in realizing the success of the Red Line project. In keeping with this vision, the new Community Liaisons have spent the past year working closely with neighborhoods in the project area and serving as vital links between the MTA and communities in the Red Line corridor.

The year was definitely a busy one – the Liaisons attended and participated in community association meetings and events, conducted extensive outreach and information-sharing in the corridor, facilitated targeted community meetings for residents and homeowners of proprieties fronting Edmondson Avenue and took part in the 2011 Rail~Volution conference, among other activities. The Community Liaisons also continue to work with the SAACs throughout the station design process.

We believe 2012 will bring even more progress on this transit project that is so vital to Baltimore City, Baltimore County and the entire region. Our best wishes to you for a happy and prosperous New Year!