Details Start to Emerge for Revived Baltimore Red Line

Last week, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the return of the Red Line to Baltimore, but the announcement left many logistical questions open, writes Alex Holt in Greater Greater Washington. “Which mode would a new Red Line take? Will it include tunnels when entering Baltimore City and passing through Downtown and Harbor East? How much will the project cost? How much of the original plans are still usable, when exactly construction will start, and how long it will take?”

The details released so far, Holt writes, “reinforce how monumental the Red Line’s return is to the future of Baltimore transit.” Holt notes that the route, while still in development, closely follows the original plan, and that heavy rail as an option looks “increasingly unlikely” due in part to the high cost. Meanwhile, bus rapid transit (BRT) is “a definite maybe” and would likely offer the most cost-effective and efficient option.

“The biggest next steps for the Red Line are (1) applying for entry next year into the federal Capital Investment Grants Program and (2) updating the project’s 2012 environmental impact statement (EIS) which was approved by the federal government in 2013.” In any case, the line won’t begin construction until at least 2026, but the MTA will begin testing Red Line-related improvements with a new bus pilot between the North Bend Loop and the Essex Park-and-Ride on August 27.