MDOT MTA and partners to evaluate seven alternatives for East-West Transit Corridor
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and its regional partners have completed the first phase of a feasibility study for the development of an East-West Transit Corridor for the region. MDOT MTA, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County will now seek input from stakeholders on the seven alternative options that include bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail and heavy rail.
The corridor study was conducted as part of the Regional Transit Plan (RTP), a 25-year plan released in October 2020 to improve public transportation in Central Maryland.
“Completion of the feasibility study’s first phase is a significant step in the advancement of MDOT MTA’s mission to provide safe, efficient and equitable transit to the residents of the region,” said MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold. “I want to thank all of our partners and encourage our riders to share their thoughts on this exciting study.”
The East-West Transit Corridor study is one of several elements being implemented under the RTP, which aims to increase equitable access to jobs and opportunities across the region through the implementation of new transportation services. The study took a fresh look at prioritizing equity while establishing regional connections extending from Howard County through Baltimore City to Baltimore County. Local jurisdiction support such as Baltimore City’s Complete Street policy is enabling multiple options that prioritize transit access across the corridor.
The East-West Transit Corridor study area includes Essex, Bayview, Downtown Baltimore, West Baltimore, Woodlawn and Ellicott City. The alternatives were developed utilizing stakeholder feedback and a market analysis of travel patterns, transit ridership, land use and market conditions. Travel modes considered included heavy rail , light rail and BRT.
The proposed alternatives include:
1. BRT from Bayview to Ellicott City via Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA),
2. BRT from Bayview to Ellicott City via Johns Hopkins Hospital and US 40,
3. Heavy rail (Metro SubwayLink) Transit from Bayview to Edmondson Village, BRT from Edmondson Village to Ellicott City,
4. Light rail from Essex to CMS/SSA via Bayview and Johns Hopkins Hospital,
5. BRT from Essex to CMS/SSA via Bayview and Johns Hopkins Hospital,
6. Light rail from Bayview to CMS/SSA via the waterfront, and
7. BRT from Bayview to CMS/SSA via the waterfront.
The study compares each of the alternatives using numerous measures of effectiveness, including reliability, travel time, type of guideway, ridership, access to households, students’ needs, future jobs potential, equity, cost risk and implementation time. The wide variety of measures allows stakeholders an easy and effective way to compare the various strengths and weaknesses of each alternative.
MDOT MTA and its partner jurisdictions are seeking stakeholder feedback on the results of the analysis by the conclusion of a 60-day comment period that ends Aug. 1, 2022. Comments will be gathered through the project website, two virtual public meetings on June 23 and June 29, and at pop-up events at transit stops and other locations. MDOT MTA and partner jurisdictions will utilize the feedback as a basis for determining which alternatives will be retained for future study under the Alternatives Analysis Phase before one option is selected to apply for funding.
The Alternatives Analysis Phase is planned to begin this fall. A North-South Transit Corridor study is also in development, expected to be released in late summer.
Additional information on the first phase of the feasibility study and the seven alternatives is available through MDOT MTA's East-West Transit Corridor website.
