Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Report of the Advisory Committee August 2002 Advisory Committee Imagine the possibilities. In September 2001, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari appointed 23 a system of fast, convenient and elected, civic, business, transit and community leaders from throughout the Baltimore region to reliable rail lines running throughout serve on The Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Advisory Committee. He asked them to recommend the region, connecting all of life's a Regional Rail System long-term plan and to identify priority projects to begin the Plan's implemen- important activities. tation. This report summarizes the Advisory Committee's work. Imagine being able to go just about everywhere you really need to go…on the train. 21 colleges, 18 hospitals, Co-Chairs 16 museums, 13 malls, 8 theatres, 8 parks, 2 stadiums, and one fabulous Inner Harbor. You name it, you can get there. Fast. Just imagine the possibilities of Red, Mr. John A. Agro, Jr. Ms. Anne S. Perkins Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple, and Orange – six lines, 109 Senior Vice President Former Member We can get there. Together. miles, 122 stations. One great transit system. EarthTech, Inc. Maryland House of Delegates Building a system of rail lines for the Baltimore region will be a challenge; no doubt about it. But look at Members Atlanta, Boston, and just down the parkway in Washington, D.C. They did it. So can we. Mr. Mark Behm The Honorable Mr. Joseph H. Necker, Jr., P.E. Vice President for Finance & Dean L. Johnson Vice President and Director of It won't happen overnight. But we start with a plan. Administration Mayor* Engineering Bold and visionary… but doable. Piece by piece over University of Maryland City of Annapolis HRD/The Rouse Company Baltimore County the next forty years, we will build and fine tune our sys- tem, expanding from the center. We'll work together to Mr. Roy Kienitz Mr. Bruce Campbell The Honorable James Ports create a system that is fast and reliable. Secretary Senior Vice President Republican Whip Maryland Department of Planning Maryland House of Delegates Nottingham Properties This is an enormous challenge, but an even bigger opportunity. It's a chance to change the way that we get Mr. Joseph Kocy Dr. Earl Richardson Ms. Barbara T. Cutko around, the way that we shape our communities, the Director President Vice Chairwoman way that we relate to one another and connect. New rail Harford County Department of Morgan State University Transit Riders League of Planning & Zoning lines will bring new jobs, new opportunities, and a new Metropolitan Baltimore The system is all about giving way to connect regionally. Our region has the beginnings Mr. Christopher Ryer The Honorable you a choice in how to get to of a first class rail system. Ms. Carol Filipczak Executive Director * James E. Malone, Jr. work, to school, and to play. With this plan, we can do Howard County Public Washington Village-Pigtown Vice Chairman Neighborhood Planning Council even more! Transportation Board No more sitting in long lines of traffic on I-95. You're Baltimore County Delegation Maryland House of Delegates Ms. Marjorie Slater-Kaplan going 50 miles per hour while everyone else fumes in Mr. Alfred Foxx the back-up. No more endless circles around crowded Director President The Honorable Nathaniel mall parking lots. No more paying $15 a day to park at Baltimore City League of Women Voters Office of Transportation McFadden of Baltimore County the Inner Harbor. You can get there and back for $3. If Budget & Taxation Committee you think traffic is bad on the Beltway now, just imagine Maryland State Senate Mr. Donald C. Fry Mr. C. William Struever what it will look like in a few years! CEO Executive Vice President Reverend Douglas Miles Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse We have the foundation of a rail system in place. Greater Baltimore Committee Koinonia Baptist Church Already, you can get from Owings Mills to downtown Ms. Michelle Whelley Baltimore in just 26 minutes. From BWI Airport to Mr. Michael Iati Mr. Robert Moore President downtown in just 27 minutes. Just imagine when our Director of Architecture and President Downtown Partnership of Baltimore rail system goes to even more places, even faster…to Planning Service Employees International The Johns Hopkins Hospital Union, Local 1199E-DC Fells Point, Towson, Columbia, Mt. Vernon, and Arundel Mills. And with better connections…at Penn Station and Camden Station, in East and West Baltimore, and at * Affiliation at time of appointment BWI Airport. II REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 1 Message from the Co-Chairs Message from the Secretary The Advisory Committee for the Baltimore Region The State of Maryland is grateful to the members of the Rail System Plan is pleased to present its report and Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Advisory Committee for recommendations for a comprehensive and visionary their hard work. This report on creating a Baltimore region 1999 rail transit system to serve the greater Baltimore © rail system will serve as a blueprint for generations to metropolitan area. We believe the Baltimore region come as new rail transit projects are developed in the deserves and requires a system of fast and reliable rail Baltimore region. Such a rail system will be important to lines that serves our citizens and the region's important the continued economic vitality of the region. It will activity centers. make a significant contribution to improving air quality for citizens of the Baltimore area, and will continue the legacy Continued increases in traffic, the need for Smart of Smart Growth throughout Maryland. Growth, the need for mobility choices for our citizens, © 1999 and degradation of air quality must receive a significant We are proud of how hard our Committee has worked When Governor Parris N. Glendening and Lt. Governor and sustained response from our local and State leaders. since September 2001 to develop and seek consensus Kathleen Kennedy Townsend established the goal of doubling Built upon a strong foundation of Committee interaction on a Regional Rail System Plan. Throughout our months transit ridership in Maryland, they recognized that a building and public input, this rail system plan for the Baltimore of hard work, the commitment of the 23 Committee block approach was necessary to reach the goal. Their region represents a major investment in our continued members and the staff of the MTA to the success of this commitment to improved bus service, new neighborhood renaissance, the economic growth of our region, and project was without question. We pledge, on behalf of shuttles, better customer information and a seamless fare Table of Contents the quality of life of our people. the Committee, to continue to work with you, the payment system throughout the State has laid a solid Administration, and the elected leadership in the foundation for even larger projects to come. The objectives of our Plan are simple: 1) to establish, Baltimore region to advance this Plan. It is critical to Executive Summary ...........................................4 over the next 40 years, a true system of rail lines that the continued economic vitality and quality of life of Working with the Baltimore region's elected officials, the Baltimore Region Rail System Plan .............6 provides fast and reliable rail service between major the Baltimore area that the State of Maryland make Maryland Department of Transportation is committed to life activity centers in the region; 2) to serve areas with investments now in building a regional rail system taking the next steps toward doubling ridership by Map and Points of Interest..............8 the greatest concentration of population and employment; for the future. developing a rail system that is fast, reliable, and cost- Red Line................................................11 and 3) to make the most of our prior transportation effective for the Baltimore area. There is much work to be Green Line...........................................12 investments. In order to achieve the greatest benefit We are pleased that the extensive public outreach done in developing such a system, and it will not be done from future investments, separating rail lines from activities, in connection with the development of this overnight. This plan can be accomplished only with steadfast Yellow Line .........................................13 Plan, have generated significant interest in, and street traffic will be of the utmost importance, as will an leadership from the region's elected officials and the support Blue Line...............................................14 excellent bus system to complement the rail system. discussion of, the importance of rail transit for the of the business and civic communities. As we move forward, future of the Baltimore area. This public dialogue and I invite you to work with us and help implement this vision. Purple Line..........................................15 We urge the Maryland Department of Transportation increased awareness must continue in order for this Orange Line ........................................16 (MDOT) to begin working now with the region's elected rail system to become a reality. Many thanks to John A. Agro, Jr. and Anne S. Perkins for officials to implement this Plan, and to seek congressional their leadership and commitment to this effort and to the Serving Our Region Well...............................18 authorization and federal funding beginning in