TRANSPORTATION 

What We’re Working On:

East-West Metro Rail - planning and advocating for a new Metro (subway) option for the East-West Rail corridor, forcing government and transportation leaders at both the City and State level to address difficult questions about the vastly inferior plan for light rail to cover this corridor, a mode of transportation that’s been dubbed “Snail Rail”. Visit the dedicated “Smart Line” website to dive deep in the Metro proposal and design.

 
Baltimore Smart Line
 

  • See the ECO team discussing the proposal on Maryland Public Television’ “State Circle” Program here (hit playlist, then look for 7/14/23 at 13:25).

  • Read an article about the proposal in the Baltimore Sun here.

  • Read an article that in part discusses the proposal in the Baltimore Banner here.

  • Read an article about the proposal in Maryland Matters here.

  • See a recording of a June 1st presentation to Transit Choices here.

 

Comparison of the Governor’s Redline light rail redux to a potential Smart Line Metro east west line. The latter would better utilize the existing Metro tunnel under downtown.

Master Plan rendering of a potential Metro under Franklin Plaza with true multimodal connectivity to the MARC entrance. This station would be 6 minutes from downtown.

 

MARC Station Multimodal & Economic Development Optimization - the current MDOT / Amtrak design of the new MARC Station (due 2031), has major glaring deficiencies and inefficiencies. We work to make those better, with years of advocacy under our belts pushing for changes there. After getting next-to-no traction with Amtrak, MDOT or any of the local elected leaders, we have pivoted, at this late stage, to looking at other solutions that could unlock the potential development and multimodal power of the station. We’re now advocating for W. Franklin Street to be closed for the block around the station, and a pedestrian plaza created there. This would solve multimodal, drop-off, commercial and other space issues, and also allow the station to be the true center of multiple West Baltimore communities - a role it was always destined to play.

Rendering of the door-to-door multimodal connections made available by closing Franklin Street for one block at the station.

Rendering of how the pedestrian-only Franklin Plaza could serve as a multi-community gathering and reconnection zone.