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July 6, 2004
BTA Convenes Yellow Line Workshop The short term goals of the Baltimore Transit Alliance include enhanced bus service in the Yellow Line rail corridor from downtown to Towson along Charles Street and York Road. Several bus lines operate on Charles and parallel streets today, but we would like to see these organized into a coherent "family" of services that would benefit both Mid-Town and Charles Village residents, as well as unite the institutions and activity centers in the Towson area. To prepare a consensus service plan to present to the MTA, BTA will conduct a workshop this fall with representatives of the principal parties.previously announced, the BTA Board of Advisors will meet September 29, 2004 from 8 to 10 AM at GBC's offices, 111 S. Calvert Street. Board members will receive an agenda in mid-September.
GBC's Fry Meets with Key Elected Officials GBC President Don Fry is using the summer season to meet with the chairmen of General Assembly committees to discuss business perspectives on key issues, including transportation planning and funding in the Baltimore region.
Legislative Leaders Urge Funding for Rail Studies In recent letters to Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan, Senator Nathaniel McFadden and Delegate Maggie McIntosh reiterated their support for on-going rail studies as well as their expectations for project funding. Both legislators told the Secretary their support for Governor Ehrlich's transportation revenue bill was predicated on his promise of additional funding for the planning and engineering phases of the Red and Green line projects.
MTA Initiates Station Area Planning for Red and Green Lines In preparation for fall public workshops on alternatives, MTA is initiating a station area planning process. This includes mobilizing consultant assistance, formalizing relationships with Baltimore City and Baltimore County agencies, and researching current planning and development initiatives in the corridors such as biotechnology developments on the Red and Green lines and the redevelopment of the Uplands apartments.
MTA Completes First Phase of Light Rail Double Track On June 27 MTA re-opened Light Rail stations from Camden to North Linthicum that had been closed since February for construction of a second track. Stations south of North Linthicum, including BWI Airport, remain shut until October. While the original construction staging plan called for weekend closures only, MTA determined it could complete the project more quickly if the contractors could remain mobilized during an extended shutdown. Stations were served with shuttle bus service, and The Sun reported that riders were confused on the first days after re-opening. Riders north of downtown, so far unaffected by the project, will experience the same process as new tracks are tied in next year. For more information, click here.
New and Extended Light Rail Lines Open in Houston, San Jose, Sacramento, Portland, and Pittsburgh This summer communities across the country are opening of new and extended rail transit lines. Houston joined the the rail "club" Janaury 1, 2004 with METRORail, a 7.5 mile light rail line running from south of Reliant Park to Downtown Houston. See www.ridemetro.org. Since then, San Jose, Sacramento, and Portand have all opened extensions to the their systems. Portland's Yellow Line reports average weekday ridership of 12,000 in its first month which is nearly as much as it expected after a full year of operation and 67% higher than the bus line it replaced. See www.trimet.org. Pittsburgh re-opened the 5-mile Overbrook Line on June 2 after a 13-year hiatus. The line was closed in 1993 due to unsafe track and bridges. The project is part of a $386 million program that includes extending the line to the North Shore under the Allegheny River. See www.portauthority.org/ride/overbrook
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