Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. CONTACT US: Governor Hearing From You Michael S. Steele For further information about this project, please contact: Lt. Governor Fall 2004 Open Houses Lorenzo Bryant, Project Manager En Español: Jose M. Vazquéz Robert L. Flanagan Maryland Transit Administration Maryland Transit Administration MDOT Secretary 6 Saint Paul Street, 9th Floor 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 904 Plan to Attend Almost 300 people attended seven Red Line Open Houses Silver Spring, MD 20910 held between October 26 and November 9, 2004. At the Baltimore, MD 21202 Upcoming Public Open Open Houses, participants received updates on the status Lisa L. Dickerson (301) 565-9665 of the project, provided input, and received information on MTA Acting Administrator Telephone: 410-767-3754 Houses on the Red Line alternatives under study. The Open Houses were advertised in a project mailer and the website, as well as local newspapers. 410-539-3497 TTY The Maryland Transit Administration (buildings, historic districts, archaeological Fliers were also distributed to locations along the Red Line (MTA), in cooperation with Baltimore City, or cultural sites) that are eligible for the corridor. Materials presented at the Open Houses can Email: [email protected] | [email protected] Baltimore County, and federal and state National Register of Historic Places. If be viewed by logging on to the project website, resource agencies, will be preparing a you are interested in participating in the www.baltimoreregiontransitplan.com. Website: www.baltimoreregiontransitplan.com Draft Environmental Impact Statement Section 106-Public Involvement process, (DEIS) for the Red Line Study. preservation specialists will be available at Major themes from the Open House comments received Alternate formats of Red Line information can be provided upon request. this Open House to provide information include: The MTA invites you to attend Public Open and take your comments. Houses in June to take a look at alignments ■ Effect of the Project on Neighborhoods: Concerns of and station areas that will be recommended At the June meetings, you will have an how residents and communities will be positively and for further study. The MTA has taken opportunity to review and discuss: negatively affected by the Red Line, including economic information received from previous public MTA May 2005 ■ the various alternatives being development, additional residential traffic, and safety. meetings, preliminary technical analysis, recommended for further study; ■ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Some participants favored BRT and input received from community working ■ where stations could be located; as a viable transit option and others expressed concern groups to reduce the number of potential over the challenges facing the current bus system and routes where the Red Line could run. The ■ information on environmental and the impact of additional buses in residential areas. reduction of alignment alternatives moves community issues that are being the process one step closer towards identifying studied, and; ■ Light Rail Transit (LRT): Participants visualized MTA's the possible Red Line routes that will be ■ the project schedule and next steps. existing Light Rail system and found it difficult to see studied for the DEIS. Light Rail differently than how it exists today in Following the June meetings, the project Baltimore. While some favored LRT, others expressed As part of the Environmental Impact team will continue the assessment of concern over problems facing the current Light Rail Statement process, many federal regulations alternatives and will further define the system. must be addressed, including Section 106 alternatives to be studied further in of the National Historic Preservation Act ■ Existing Transit System: Comments were made favoring the DEIS. of 1966. This regulation requires government revamping of Baltimore's existing bus system, emphasiz- agencies to consider the effects of trans- ing the importance of connectivity between the Red Line portation projects on historic properties and existing transit lines. ■ Consideration of heavy rail: Concerns were expressed Houses. Open Line Red about the elimination of Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) as June the of one Attend Meetings to be held June 2005... attend one of these! an alternative. Both BRT and LRT offer many of the benefits that HRT offers, but with more flexibility and Monday, June 6 Tuesday, June 7 Tuesday, June 7 Wednesday, June 8 Thursday, June 9 significantly less capital costs. Both BRT and LRT 5-7:30 PM 11AM-1:30 PM 5-7:30 PM 5-7:30 PM 5-7:30 PM meet the project goals and objectives. Future Today! Future St. James Episcopal MTA Charles Center Woodlawn Edmondson Holy Rosary Church, Parish Center Metro Station Community Center High School Church Hall 1020 W. Lafayette Avenue Mezzanine 2120 Gwynn Oak Avenue 501 N. Athol Avenue 408 South Chester Street Shaping Transit’s Shaping Baltimore, MD 21217 Entrances at One West Baltimore, MD 21207 Baltimore, MD 21229 Baltimore, MD 21231 Baltimore Street and 110 Served by Bus Route: 21 East Baltimore Street Served by Bus Routes: Served by Bus Routes: Served by Bus Routes: MTA Baltimore, MD 21202 M-6 and Gwynn Oak Park 20 and 23 10 and 13 PAID Served by Bus Routes: Loop Service on 44 US POSTAGE US 2, 3, 8, 11, 20, 31, 91, Baltimore, MD 21202 MD Baltimore, and Metro Subway All locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special 6 Saint Paul Street, 9th Floor 9th Street, Paul Saint 6 PRSRT STD PRSRT services or if you have any questions, please call 410-767-3754 at least 1 Administration Transit Maryland one week prior to the meeting you plan to attend. What is the Red Line Types of Transit BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECTPROJECT TIMELINETIMELINE Open House Fall Transit Study? Being Considered Share information with the public 2004 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) In addition to build alternatives, the MTA is required by the can be designed and Definition of Alternatives There is a lot of talk going around about what the Red Line is and what Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to study a “no-build” operated like LRT, but Public Meeting Spring it isn't. The MTA, along with Baltimore City and Baltimore County, continues alternative. The alternative allows for the comparison of uses rubber-wheeled Presentation of Alternatives 2005 to study both the opportunities and challenges of the Baltimore region’s for Detailed Study the proposed alternatives to the option of not building a vehicles. It can operate proposed Red Line. Below is a listing of what we know, as well as what we do new transit project. The MTA is also studying bus rapid either on city streets or in a separate running way. Draft Environmental Impact not yet know. transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), and an enhanced bus Like a rail system it has fixed stations, services, Statement/Public Hearing Winter service alternative. Both LRT and BRT can operate at and amenities. Vehicles are typically fueled with Where We Go from Here: Document the analysis of 2006/ ■ No decisions have been made on where the Red Line alternatives and receive public 2007 street level, on aerial structures, or in a tunnel. will run. The MTA is conducting this study to better low emission hybrid electric or compressed natural Next Steps testimony understand the options. The MTA is assessing the gas. BRT is new to Maryland, but not to many potential benefits and impacts. As the study moves communities around the world including Pittsburgh, Selection of Locally Preferred Spring/ As we prepare for late spring public meetings, Alternative Summer forward, the MTA will be able to answer such questions Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle. the Red Line Study Team continues to: Selection of Preferred Alternative 2007 as “What are the travel needs for the area?” and ■ “What are the underground conditions?” Answering The Primary Goal of the Red Analyze potential alignments and evaluate the Preliminary Engineering/Final EIS questions such as these will enable the MTA to make possible benefits and impacts of potential routes Record of Decision and Refinement Winter of Preferred Alternative; Agreement 2008/ decisions about the proposed Red Line. ■ Better understand technical conditions that Line is to Improve Mobility LIGHT RAIL on environmental mitigation and 2009 ■ The MTA will be considering options that simply will help or hinder the operation of a new completion of planning enhance existing bus service to options of actually The Red Line will also: transit line through West Baltimore building a rapid transit line. As part of study efforts, Light Rail Transit (LRT) is ■ ■ Improve transit connections Become more knowledgeable of important the MTA is looking at various alternative alignments an electric railway system environmental resources to determine where the Red Line would go as well as ■ Support community revitalization plans and help spur that can operate single whether Bus Rapid Transit or Light Rail Transit would economic development ■ Work with communities to better operate on the line. cars or short trains. LRT understand issues and concerns ■ Reduce traffic congestion and air pollution can operate in mixed traffic ■ No information is available at this time about the ■ or in the median of a roadway on a separate effect of the Red Line on homes and businesses. Provide opportunities for transit oriented development This knowledge will come later as project planning ■ Provide a transit option through heavily traveled corridors right-of-way. A growing list of cities in the US and preliminary engineering progress. One of the in the Baltimore area and Europe have LRT systems including Baltimore, goals of the project is to avoid or reduce as many Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, and San Diego. The MTA effects as possible. The agency has begun a thorough The 10.5 mile corridor would connect the Woodlawn area of is considering smaller vehicles for the Red Line analysis that will identify environmental resources in the Baltimore County, Edmondson Village and West Baltimore commu- than Baltimore's existing LRT system as a viable study area.