Baltimore Transit Lagging Behind Other Systems

State-run buses and subway trains in Baltimore have breakdown rates far higher than systems in other cities.

1 minute read

March 29, 2020, 7:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


Baltimore MTA Bus

m01229 / Flickr

"Maryland Transit Administration vehicles [in Baltimore] fail or break down far more often than in most other comparable cities, according to the most recent Federal Transit Administration data," writes Luke Broadwater.

State legislators are proposing $500 million of funding per year for the MTA over the next six years.

"One reason why Maryland has fallen behind other cities, [MTA CEO Kevin B. Quinn Jr.] said, is that several years ago the agency missed a deadline to make its annual purchase of new buses to replace those that are falling apart," reports Broadwater.

MTA officials say they have a $211 million plan to replace aging buses over the next five years. The agency also will fund a $160 million overhaul of the Light Rail train fleet and spend another $400 million to replace signals and railcars in the Metro SubwayLink system.

[Update: For reporting on how the Maryland Transit Administration is responding to the coronavirus, including one driver testing positive for the virus, see an article by Alex Holt, published by Greater Greater Washington on March 25.]

Saturday, March 7, 2020 in The Baltimore Sun

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

May 21 - San Francisco Examiner

Electric car charging station with several Chevy Bolts charging in parking lot of store in Bellingham, Washington

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth

Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

May 21 - GovTech

Top view new development riverside residential and commercial neighborhood with vacant land in Texas, USA.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas

Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

May 21 - The Texas Tribune