BALTIMORE, MD—Governor Wes Moore has announced that light rail will be the preferred mode of transportation for Baltimore’s Red Line.

The light rail system is expected to provide an efficient and sustainable way to travel between East and West Baltimore, which officials say is currently underserved by public transportation. The new system is expected to improve transit efficiency, increase access to work and activity centers, provide connections to existing transit and other transportation modes.

The selection of light rail as the mode of transportation is based on a number of factors, including technical analysis, access, travel time, connections, reliability, and ridership. The cost-effectiveness of the light rail system was also considered, with the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration confirming that light rail is more cost-effective over the long term compared to alternative transit modes such as bus rapid transit.

“Transportation mobility and the access it affords is a foundation for economic vitality,” said Gov. Moore. “As the economic engine for our state, the greater Baltimore region deserves great transit—and together, we are investing in the infrastructure to make sure that everyone in the region can get from where they live to where opportunity lies. The Red Line will give Baltimoreans a convenient and sustainable way to travel and help unleash the full economic potential of this region.”

The Maryland Transit Administration is expected to release the preferred alignment for the light rail system by the end of 2024. Once finalized, the design will be reviewed by the National Environmental Protection Agency, and then the Federal Transit Administration will consider the project for federal funding. If approved, construction on the Red Line project is expected to begin in 2025.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via the Governor’s Office