Red Line (Baltimore)
| Company type | Public transit project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Products | Light rail transit |
Red Line
The Red Line was envisioned as a light rail corridor in Baltimore, Maryland, initially advancing into preliminary engineering after about $300 million had been allocated for planning, design, and land purchases. Nonetheless, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan diverted state resources away from this initiative toward enhancing suburban roadways, effectively halting its development. The project's original budget was projected at $1.6 billion, with approximately $900 million anticipated from federal contributions. Construction was slated to begin around 2015–2016, aiming for completion between 2021 and 2022.
Governor Hogan labeled the project a "boondoggle" and shifted focus to road improvements near properties tied to his business ventures, leading to allegations of corruption. The decision to cancel triggered an inquiry by the United States Department of Transportation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 amid concerns that funding was being redirected from predominantly Black and low-income communities to wealthier neighborhoods; the investigation concluded with no findings of wrongdoing.
Although considered dormant for a time, renewed advocacy prompted the State under Governor Wes Moore to reactivate the project in June 2023. By November of that year, reassessments of routes and transit modes were underway, with light rail confirmed as the preferred option by June 2024.
Background
In 2001, Maryland Secretary of Transportation John Porcari convened a 23-member independent group known as the Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Advisory Committee to develop proposals for new rail lines and expansions. This plan introduced a color-coded system branding for existing and planned lines, inspired by the Washington Metro model.
The proposed network featured six color-designated lines spanning , with 122 stations that would connect Baltimore's current Metro SubwayLink and Light RailLink. The Red Line was designed as an east–west route beginning at the Social Security Administration complex in Woodlawn, Baltimore County; it would traverse West Baltimore with an intermodal connection at the West Baltimore MARC station, pass through downtown Baltimore—offering transfers to existing Metro and Light Rail services—and continue into East Baltimore neighborhoods such as Fells Point, Canton, and Patterson Park. The committee identified the Red Line as the foremost priority for development.
Among the various proposals, local officials strongly endorsed the Red Line. However, progress stalled due to disagreements between state Secretary of Transportation Robert Flanagan and city leaders regarding transit mode choice. Flanagan favored a bus rapid transit (BRT) system featuring dedicated lanes similar to Boston's Silver Line, while city representatives pushed for light or heavy rail alternatives and insisted on studying both options.
Heavy rail was rejected by Flanagan because of its steep estimated cost—between $2.2 billion and $2.6 billion—and concerns about ridership demand. At that time, Baltimore's Metro system averaged only 45,000 daily passengers, significantly below the 140,000–150,000 daily riders needed to qualify for federal funding on heavy rail projects.
Red Line alternatives
| No. | Alternative | Length (miles) |
Cost (millions) (2007 prices) |
Travel time end to end (minutes) |
Average Weekday Ridership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Build | 13.9 | n/a | 80 | n/a |
| 2 | TSM | 14.3 | $281 | 76 | 17,600 |
| 3A | BRT, surface only | 13.8 | $545 | 62 | 31,400 |
| 3B | BRT, downtown tunnel | 14.9 | $1,019 | 56 | 37,400 |
| 3C | BRT, downtown tunnel, Cooks Lane tunnel |
14.7 | $1,151 | 53 | 37,400 |
| 3D | BRT, maximum tunnel | 13.7 | $2,404 | 43 | 41,500 |
| 3E | BRT, surface only, Johnnycake Rd. alignment |
14.8 | $571 | 69 | 29,300 |
| 3F | BRT, TSM surface, downtown tunnel |
14.8 | $755 | 65 | 34,300 |
| 4A | LRT, surface only | 13.9 | $930 | 55 | 34,600 |
| 4B | LRT, downtown tunnel | 14.6 | $1,498 | 43 | 41,100 |
| 4C | LRT, downtown tunnel, Cooks Lane tunnel |
14.6 | $1,631 | 41 | 42,100 |
| 4D | LRT, maximum tunnel | 13.7 | $2,463 | 36 | 42,300 |
- TSM: Transportation systems management incorporating enhanced bus service
- BRT: Bus rapid transit
- LRT: Light rail transit
Governor selects revised alternative 4C
In August 2009, then-Governor Martin O'Malley, who previously served as Baltimore’s mayor, designated a modified Light Rail Alternative 4C as the "Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)." This revised plan eliminated two stations and a small parking area but increased parking capacity at the West Baltimore MARC station.
The main elements preserved from the original Alternative 4C included:
- The route passing through West Baltimore via the U.S. Route 40 freeway segment—originally designed with a transit median—offering grade-separated travel. The western portion of the former I-170 was removed in 2010 to facilitate additional parking and median access for the Red Line. Plans also involved converting the MD 122/Security Boulevard interchange into an at-grade crossing with a new Park & Ride lot replacing an existing facility east of that interchange. While some adjustments were still pending, I-70 east of MD 122 was decommissioned in 2014 and now ends at I-695.
- The alignment running underground beneath Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard before surfacing near Boston Street to avoid congested downtown areas. Furthermore, a tunnel bypassing Cooks Lane was included; initially designed for single track in the LPA but later updated to accommodate double track.
Preliminary engineering received Federal Transit Administration approval in June 2011—marking the project’s first advancement beyond conceptual planning—with an anticipated daily ridership of approximately 57,000 and a total projected cost of $2.2 billion accounting for inflation. The estimated cost for preliminary engineering stood at $65 million with the possibility of federal reimbursement for initial state expenditures.
Termination and federal inquiry
Governor Larry Hogan, who took office in 2014, declared on June 25, 2015, that funding for the Red Line would be discontinued. Throughout his campaign, Hogan labeled the Red Line's expenses as a "boondoggle," grouping it with the Purple Line in Maryland's Washington, DC suburbs; nevertheless, he later permitted the Purple Line to continue with a reduced budget.
Federal inquiry
On December 21, 2015, the NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, and Baltimore Regional Initiative Developing Genuine Equality (BRIDGE) submitted a Title VI complaint to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights. The complaint contended that Hogan’s cancellation unfairly targeted Baltimore’s largely African American population who stood to gain from the project. It also claimed that funds were diverted from public transit riders toward highway developments predominantly serving white rural and suburban communities.
By January 19, 2017, the DOT broadened its review of Hogan’s decision and MDOT’s programs to evaluate possible breaches of federal law. The DOT highlighted that state officials failed to consider federal civil rights statutes or the impact on African American residents and noted that the Governor did not consult MDOT prior to halting the project. In July 2017, the DOT concluded its investigation without identifying any infractions.
Planned alignment and stations
The Red Line was designed to run east to west with principal stations positioned as follows:
Highlandtown/Greektown none Template:Rint bus 1 22Template:Rint bus CityLink Navy Eastern Av / Janney St Southeast Anchor Library Branch; Greektown; Highlandtown; Kresson; Markets at Highlandtown Bayview Template:Rint parking 1 F {{rint bus 1}22}Template:Rint bus CityLink Orange Blue Alpha Commons Dr / Bayview Blvd Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (JHBMC); Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center; National Institute on Aging East Baltimore/Bayview MARC Template:Rint parking {{rint bus 1}22 ,59 ,63}Template:Rint bus CityLink Orange BlueTemplate:Rint us railTemplate:MARC Penn Line E. Lombard St (east of Bioscience Dr) East Baltimore/Bayview station; Pulaski Industrial Area; Joseph E. Lee Park; Patterson High School Eastern Avenue none {{rint bus 1}22 ,40 ,59 ,63}Template:Rint bus CityLink Orange Blue Eastern Av / Dundalk Av Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center vicinity O'Donnell Street none {{rint bus 1}63}Template:Rint bus CityLink Navy Dundalk Av / O'Donnell St Amazon Warehouse; Mt. Carmel Cemetery Dundalk Center Place Template:Rint parking 1 R {{rint bus 1}62 ,63 ,65 ,163}Template:Rint bus CityLink Navy Dundalk Av / Center Pl Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC Dundalk); Downtown Dundalk; St. Helena Park| Station Name | Parking | Connection | Station Location | Nearby Landmarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | none | Template:Rint 79, 78, 31 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
Security Blvd / CMS Entrance | CMS, HHS, GSA |
| Security Square Mall | Template:Rint | Template:Rint 79, 31, 37, 107 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
Security Blvd / Belmont Av | Security Square Mall, Security Station Shopping Center |
| Social Security Administration | Template:Rint (A) | Template:Rint 79, 31 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
Woodlawn Dr / Parallel Dr | SSA, Southwest Academy, Woodlawn |
| I-70 Park and Ride | Template:Rint | Template:Rint 79 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
Parallel Dr / Ingleside Av | East SSA, Gwynns Falls Trail |
| Tunnel portal at city/county boundary beneath Cooks Lane; resurfacing along Edmondson Avenue | ||||
| Edmondson Village | Template:Rint | Template:Rint 78, 77, 38, 150 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
Edmondson Av / Swann Av | Edmondson Village Shopping Center, Enoch Pratt Free Library Edmondson Branch, Uplands, Westside Skills Center |
| Allendale | none | Template:Rint 77, 38 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
Edmondson Av / Allendale St | Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park, Lyndhurst Park |
| Rosemont | none | Template:Rint 78, 29, 77, 38, 80 Template:Rint CityLink Blue |
W. Franklin St/Poplar Grove St | Franklintown Road Business Area, Rosemont Park, Western Cemetery |
| West Baltimore MARC | Template:Rint | Template:Rint 77, 80, 40, 163, 150 Template:Rint CityLink Blue, Orange, Green, Pink Template:Rint MARC Penn Line |
W. Mulberry St / N. Smallwood St | Bentalou Recreation Center, Grace Medical Center |
| Harlem Park | none | Template:Rint CityLink Navy | U.S. Route 40 / Carey St | Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, Franklin Square Historic District, Harlem Square Park, Lafayette Square |
| Poppleton | Template:Rint (R) | Template:Rint 80 | N. Fremont Av / W. Baltimore St. | Baltimore Center Medical Examiner Office, Perkins Square, Lexington Terrace, Little Lithuania Park, Lithuanian Hall, University of Maryland, Baltimore BioPark |
| Tunnel portal along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Baltimore) | ||||
| Howard Street/Baltimore Arena station | Template:Rint (P) | Template:Rint 65, 76, 120, 160 Template:Rint CityLink Navy, Purple, Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange Template:Rint Baltimore Light Rail |
W. Lombard St / S. Howard St | Bromo Arts District, Camden Yards, Royal Farms Arena, University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB), Westside Baltimore |
| Inner Harbor | Template:Rint (P) | Template:Rint 65, 51, 54, 91 Template:Rint CityLink Red, Navy Baltimore Metro Subway Charm City Circulator: Orange, Purple |
W. Lombard St / S. Charles St | Downtown Baltimore Financial District; Harborplace; Market Place; McKeldin Square; National Aquarium; Power Plant Live!; Pratt Street Power Plant; World Trade Center Baltimore |
| Harbor East | Template:Rint (P) | Template:Rint 31 Charm City Circulator: Orange, Green |
Fleet St / S. Central Av | Harbor East Shopping District; Harbor Point; Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology; Little Italy; Pier Six Pavilion; Reginald F. Lewis Museum |
| Fells Point | none | Template:Rint CityLink Gold, Navy | Fleet St / S. Broadway | Broadway Market; Fells Point; Maritime Park; Thames Street Park; Upper Fell's Point |
| Tunnel portal along Boston Street | ||||
| Canton | Template:Rint | Template:Rint 65 Template:Rint CityLink Navy |
Boston St / O'Donnell St | The Can Company; O'Donnell Square; Patterson Park; Saint Casmir's Park |
| Canton Crossing | Template:Rint | Template:Rint 65 Template:Rint CityLink Navy |
Boston St / Conkling St | Brewers Hill; Canton Crossing Shopping Center; Burns Arena; Canton Waterfront Park; Charm City Skate Park |
| colspan=5 Viaduct connecting Highlandtown and Bayview MARC station | ||||
| colspan=5 Planned extension toward Dundalk | ||||
- NOTES
- A designated employee parking exclusively
- F facility-specific parking only
- P paid parking available
- R residential parking only
Characteristics of the Red Line System
| Attribute | Planned route |
|---|---|
| Total length | 14.5 mi (23.3 km) |
| Length at surface level | 9.8 mi (15.8 km) |
| Length underground | 3.9 mi (6.3 km) |
| Length elevated | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) |
| Number of stations | 20 in total (15 surface-level, 5 subterranean) |
| Parking availability | Parking provided at 6 stations |
| Estimated travel duration | 44 minutes (from Woodlawn to Bayview) |
| Fleet size | 34 light rail vehicles |
| Frequency of service | Every 8 minutes during peak hours, every 10 minutes off-peak |
Formation
In 2006, the Maryland General Assembly created the "Citizens' Advisory Council for the Baltimore Corridor Transit Study - Red Line." Initially, Governor Robert Ehrlich vetoed this legislation and instead established a 15-member "Red Line Community Advisory Council" appointed exclusively by himself.
Nevertheless, during a special legislative session in June 2006, the veto was overridden. The reinstated Council consisted of 15 members: two appointed by the Governor, five by the Senate President, five by the House Speaker, two by Baltimore City's Mayor, and one by Baltimore County's Executive. Two co-chairs were selected either by the Governor or the Maryland Transit Administrator from candidates nominated by legislative leaders.
On July 30, 2007, Governor Martin O'Malley restored the Council's original designation through an executive order.
Initial Annual Report
The Council unanimously approved its inaugural report to the General Assembly on September 9, 2008. It advocated for commencing a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), recommending a cooperative approach between MTA and stakeholders to direct investment exceeding one billion dollars toward Baltimore's transportation infrastructure consistent with the vision outlined in the 2002 Plan.
Disagreement within Council Regarding Alternative 4C
At the Citizens' Advisory Council meeting held on December 11, 2008, a recommendation endorsing Alternative 4C—which includes light rail with tunnels downtown and at Cooks Lane—was passed by a vote of five in favor to two against, with two members abstaining.
Local Resistance to Alternative 4C
Starting in late 2008, Baltimore City endorsed the "4C Alternative," which received support from Governor O'Malley in 2009 as well as Mayor Sheila Dixon. Despite this, the Council’s 2008 annual report documented opposition from local community organizations to surface rail routes traversing residential neighborhoods.
The Allendale Community Association opposed both Alternative 4C and any surface rail along Edmondson Avenue; this position was conveyed through a letter presented at the December 2008 Citizens' Advisory Council meeting.
Formed in June 2009, the West–East Coalition (WEC) Against Red Line Alternative 4C brought together community groups, businesses, and faith-based organizations that opposed this routing due to concerns about its effects on neighborhoods. In July 2009, WEC addressed a letter to state and local authorities outlining problems related to double-tracked surface rail operations, increased traffic congestion, and safety hazards. That same year, WEC organized a petition drive in Canton that gathered 1,350 signatures opposing the surface Red Line route and submitted it to Governor O'Malley.
Support from Red Line Now Political Action Committee
During the summer of 2011, the Red Line Now Political Action Committee (PAC) was formed to promote the financing and development of Alternative 4C. Comprised of volunteers residing or employed along the proposed corridor, the PAC focused on backing local elected officials who supported the initiative. Its nine-member board represented neighborhoods including Midtown, Edmondson, Canton, Fells Point, Patterson Park, and Greektown.
Project revival
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act contains a clause instructing the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to reevaluate projects seeking updated assessments after periods of dormancy—an effort led by Maryland Senator Ben Cardin aimed at reinstating halted transit projects such as the Red Line.
On June 15, 2023, Governor Wes Moore, together with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, announced the relaunch of Red Line development. The Maryland Department of Transportation intends to examine various routing possibilities, engage with the public for feedback, and conduct cost-benefit analyses throughout the year. Concurrently, starting August 2023, MTA will introduce a limited-stop bus service connecting Catonsville and Essex.
In September 2023, MTA unveiled six alternative route options for the project; two of these featured tunnel sections similar to those in the discontinued 2009 design. While officials initially did not disclose whether bus rapid transit or light rail would be employed, it was confirmed in June 2024 that light rail service will be implemented.
See also
- Green Line – planned rail corridor linking Johns Hopkins Hospital and Morgan State University.
- Yellow Line – proposed rail route from Hunt Valley to Columbia Town Center.
- Charles Street Trolley – envisioned northern Baltimore trolley line supported by a non-MTA organization.