August 18 2005 

Planners from Portland, Los Angeles Share Techniques for Ensuring Communities Capture the Benefits of New Rail Projects

When the community is invited to participate in the planning process light rail projects can provide opportunities for redevelopment, according to experts from Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon speaking at a BTA workshop on August 1. Diego Cardoso from Los Angeles and Ann Becklund from Portland described how their respective transit agencies worked with businesses and homeowners along new rail lines to develop a detailed understanding of their needs and expectations. Becklund's case study, a six-mile light rail line known as "Interstate MAX," opened last year. The project was built in the middle of a busy highway lined with small retail businesses, and from the start the agency made the public commitment that "no business would go out of business" as a result of the project. This commitment was achieved through a combination of programs designed to meet the needs of business owners, including marketing assistance, low interest loans, and grants for storefront improvements. In Los Angeles, when planning the "Eastside Gold Line," Los Angeles County MTA convened a Review Advisory Committee comprised of community residents to help plan and design the project from its inception. The committee advocates for community residents on issues such as economic development, mitigation of community impacts, and linkages from the new stations to local destinations. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Market Center Merchants Association and attended by more than 60 residents, retail business owners, and Red Line project representatives. To see Cardoso's presentation, click here. To see Becklund's presentation, click here.

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Federal Funding Secured for Red, Green Lines

After two years of work and seven short-term extensions, this week President Bush signed a massive federal transportation authorization bill sent to him by Congress in late July. The $286 billion bill provides the basis for the annual appropriations process over the next six years. Thanks to the support and hard work of the region's Congressional delegation, Baltimore's Red and Green Line projects will receive $3 million for planning work to be followed by $102.3 million for engineering and construction. The transportation bill, known by ungainly title SAFETEA-LU, is the one of the largest ever, providing at least a 19 percent increase in highway funding for each state and more than $52 billion for transit projects nationwide. The transit funding level represents a 46 percent increase over the previous six-year bill, and more than $900 million for Maryland transit projects.

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Installation of "Smart" Light Rail Ticket Vending Machines Underway

As part of a multi-year effort to upgrade and integrate its fare collection equipment, MTA is installing new ticket vending machines at Light Rail stations. The new machines include a variety of technological and customer service enhancements, including support for the regional Smart Card expected to be available next year. The Smart Card is a rechargeable farecard that will be accepted on buses and trains throughout Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Northern Virginia. They Light Rail machines are also linked to MTA's Light Rail Control Center which can dispatch a repairman if the machine goes out of service for any reason. The existing machines were monitored manually. For more information about the Smart Card project, click here.

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