Maryland Transit Administration
Red Line Corridor Transit Project
Purpose and Need Statement
Context
The purpose of the Red Line Corridor Transit Project is to help improve transit efficiency, transit mobility, access and connectivity in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. This project is a step in the ongoing development of a system of interconnected rapid transit lines, which will improve the quality of transit in the Baltimore region and the study corridor in a cost effective and efficient manner. The Red Line Corridor Transit Project includes the general area of Woodlawn in Baltimore County on the west, through downtown Baltimore, to the Patterson Park/Canton area to the east, a distance of approximately 14 miles.
Purpose
The purpose of the Red Line Corridor Transit project is to improve transportation choices for those persons living and working in the region, support ongoing and planned economic development initiatives and community revitalization, and help the region address congestion and traffic-related air quality issues. The project will connect the eastern and western communities of Baltimore City and Baltimore County with the central business district in downtown Baltimore, suburban employment centers such as the Social Security complex in Woodlawn, and new activity centers in East Baltimore. The Red Line Corridor Transit Project will be completed in a manner that avoids, minimizes, and mitigates adverse impacts on the environment and communities.
Need
There are a number of transportation problems in the region and corridor. These problems will be used as benchmarks as alternatives are developed to measure how successfully each addresses the purpose and need of the Red Line Project.
Transit Efficiency:
At the present time, existing bus service in the corridor is subject to the same traffic congestion as autos, faces incident delays, and provides limited direct connections to other transit modes. There are a variety of transit travel patterns throughout the corridor; the current bus system faces the challenge of efficiently serving these sometimes conflicting and competing trips (local vsvs. through trips). The purpose of this project is to improve transit service efficiency in the region and along the Red Line Corridor, and provide connections to jobs and services.
Transportation Choices for East West Commuting:
Parts of the corridor currently faces congestion with limited transit and system capacity improvement options for commuters traveling from the east or from the west into downtown. The purpose of this project is to improve transit opportunities in the east-west corridor, and better accommodate existing and future east-west travel demands. Its purpose is also to improve the effectiveness of public transportation for the transit-dependent user as well as those individuals within the corridor who chose to use transit as an option.
Transit System Connectivity:
Although Baltimore has a light rail system, Metro service, commuter rail, express bus and a comprehensive local bus network, better connections among the various modes and routes would enhance service to the public regionally and in the corridor. The purpose of this project is to improve system connectivity by providing a direct rapid transit connection to north-south bus and rail lines, including to MARC at the West Baltimore MARC Station, Charles Center and Shot Tower Metro Stops, Light Rail near the Orioles' Camden Yards and Ravens sports stadiums.
Mobility:
There are substantial numbers of residents along the Red Line who depend on transit for access to jobs, schools, shopping, events, healthcare and other services and cultural attractions. Major institutions and employers along the Red Line Corridor such as the Social Security Administration, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore City Community College, major hospitals, the downtown business district, new cultural arts venues, as well as numerous elementary, middle and high schools, all rely on an efficient transportation network that provides mobility choices.
Community Revitalization and Economic Development:
Although development patterns are influenced by market forces and other variables not necessarily directly related to transit accessibility, there are currently unrealized opportunities for supporting existing and potential land use growth patterns that could benefit communities and businesses along the corridor. The Westside Renaissance, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Inner Harbor East, Fells Point, Canton and other nearby areas are currently experiencing major development and re-development and could benefit from additional transit access to realize their regional potential. Likewise, areas of West Baltimore have existing community revitalization initiatives such as The Uplands Redevelopment Area, Harlem Park and Rosemont, and other unrealized commercial and residential development-potential areas that could benefit from improved transit access and investment. Areas in suburban locations such as Westview and Security Square malls could realize additional development opportunities. Specifically at transit stops, localized development and/or redevelopment will be supported by the Red Line project.
Air Quality Goals and Environmental Stewardship:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated the region as a moderate non-attainment area for ozone under the 8-hour standard. There are many contributors to the region's air pollution, including "point sources" such as power plants, "area-sources" such as automobile refinishing, bakeries, "off-road sources" such as mowing and construction equipment, and perhaps most significantly, motor vehicle sources. By offering an effective alternative to automobile travel for a significant portion of work and non-work travel, improved transit service in the corridor can help reduce regional emissions for motor vehicle sources by helping to reduce highway congestion and regional vehicle emissions. These reductions in motor vehicle emissions would help the Baltimore region to stay in consistency with state air quality plans as required by the Federal Clean Air Act and by ISTEA and TEA-21. This transit planning study is also expected to identify potential environmental stewardship opportunities to enhance and improve the existing natural environment and surrounding communities, and provide under-served communities with access to park, trail and other recreational opportunities.