Alignment Alternatives
The Red Line transit alternatives represent a wide range of operational and design approaches for both bus rapid transit (BRT) and light rail transit (LRT), as well as a wide range of costs. Ultimately, elements of any alternative could be mixed and matched with elements of other alternatives to form the preferred alternative. The map on the next page provides a reference for segments comprising the alternatives.
Alternative1: No Build
The No-Build Alternative is the baseline against which the other alternatives are compared. It consists of the existing highway and transit network as well as planned and programmed (i.e. committed) improvements, other than the Red Line, in the region's adopted, financially constrained long-range plan. This includes the new Route 40 express bus route recently implemented.
Alternative 2: Transportation System Management
This alternative would entail relatively low cost improvements to upgrade bus service in the Red Line Study corridor. The improvements would include some increases in existing bus service and potentially one or two new bus routes. There would be operational improvements to improve the speed and reliability of bus service but very little new construction. Construction would be limited to improved bus stops and park-and-ride facilities similar to the Build Alternatives and minor improvements at intersections to help buses move more quickly.
The core bus route alignment for Alternative 2 is depicted in the adjacent figure. It would have shared and dedicated lanes on the following alignment:
- CMS to Security Square Mall to the end of I-70 via Security Boulevard;
- Cooks Lane;
- Edmondson Avenue to West Franklin Street to West Baltimore MARC station;
- West Baltimore MARC station to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard with split transit service on US 40, Franklin Street, and Mulberry Street;
- Along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard;
- Through downtown via a one-way pair on Baltimore and Lombard Streets;
- Along Central Avenue;
- One-way pair on Eastern Avenue and Fleet Street to Chester Street; and
- Split transit service: Along Boston Street to Canton Crossing; and an Eastern Avenue/Fleet Street one-way pair that turns north to a future Bayview MARC station via Conkling Street and Lombard Street.
Alternative 3: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Alternative 3 is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). This alternative would operate at the surface or in tunnel along a combination of alignments listed below and depicted in the map to the right.
- Security Blvd. from CMS to Rolling Road
- Security Square Mall Area from Rolling Road to I-695
- I-695 Area from I-695 to Woodlawn Drive
- Social Security Administration Area from Woodlawn Drive to I-70 East Park-and-Ride
- Woodlawn/Johnnycake/Ingleside from Woodlawn Drive at Security Blvd. to US 40 at Cooks Lane
- I-70 East Park-and-Ride
- Cooks Lane from I-70 East Park-and-Ride to US 40
- US 40/West Franklin St. from Cooks Lane to Longwood Street
- US 40/Franklin St. from Longwood St. to West Baltimore MARC
- Franklin/US 40/Mulberry from West Baltimore MARC to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. from US 40 to Lombard Street
- Fayette/Baltimore/Lombard from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to Market Place
- Baltimore/Lombard/ Central/Pier 6 from Market Pl. to Central Ave. at Aliceanna Street
- Eastern/Fleet/ Aliceanna Streets from Central Ave. to Chester Street
- Eastern/Fleet/Boston Streets from Chester Street to Conkling Street
- Conkling Street to Bayview Medical Campus
Alternative 4: Light Rail (LRT)
Alternative 4 is Light Rail Transit. This alternative would operate at the surface or in tunnel along a combination of alignments listed below and depicted in the map to the right.
- Security Blvd. from CMS to Rolling Road
- Security Sq. Mall Area from Rolling Road to I-695
- I-695 Area from I-695 to Woodlawn Drive
- Social Security Administration Area from Woodlawn Dr. to I-70 East Park-and-Ride
- I-70 East Park-and-Ride
- Cooks Lane from I-70 East Park-and-Ride to US 40
- US 40/West Franklin St. from Cooks Lane to Longwood Street
- US 40/Franklin St. from Longwood Street to West Baltimore MARC
- Franklin/US 40/Mulberry from West Baltimore MARC to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. from US 40 to Lombard St.
- Fayette/Baltimore/ Lombard from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to Market Pl.
- Baltimore/Lombard/ Central/Pier 6 from Market Pl. to Central Ave. at Aliceanna Streets
- Eastern/Fleet/ Aliceanna Streets from Central Avenue to Chester Street
- Eastern/Fleet/Boston Streets from Chester Street to Conkling Street
- Conkling Street to Bayview Medical Campus