One-Year Anniversary of BaltimoreLink Launch
The Hogan Administration has marked the one-year anniversary of the BaltimoreLink launch by highlighting the new services for the Baltimore region and outlining additional projects now underway. With an array of state, local and civic leaders on hand, Governor Larry Hogan first announced BaltimoreLink in October 2015 at the West Baltimore MARC Train station. He laid out a robust, transformative plan designed to fix Baltimore’s broken transit system by improving connections to key job centers and linking residents to where they want to go from jobs and schools to healthcare and entertainment. Since that day, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has been busy making good on Hogan’s promise by reaching key milestones with significant improvements to the region’s transit system. Full implementation is planned for next summer with the launch of CityLink and LocalLink.
“Last year, our administration made a long-term commitment to transform Baltimore’s antiquated and broken transit system,” said Governor Hogan. “With the one-year anniversary of BaltimoreLink, the people of Baltimore City are well on their way to having a more reliable and timely transit experience and better connections to where they live and work, with more improvements to come.”
BaltimoreLink is the multi-phase plan to create an interconnected transit system by redesigning the entire local and express bus systems throughout Baltimore and adding 12 new high-frequency, color-coded bus routes that improve connections to jobs and to MARC Train, Metro Subway and Light Rail. BaltimoreLink transforms Baltimore’s half-a-century-old and outdated transit network with implementation of bus-only dedicated lanes, installation of transit signal priority, construction of a transfer hub network, rebranding and replacement of more than 6,000 transit signs, expanded commuter bus service, new shared bicycle availability, access to car-sharing options and more. New Express BusLink launched its suburb-to-suburb service in June 2016. As promised, expanded and new Commuter Bus service has seen launches in the summer and fall of 2016 with more coming this spring. High-frequency CityLink routes launch in the summer of 2017.
In addition to MTA’s more than $800 million annual operating budget, BaltimoreLink harnesses the value of $795 million key capital investments to upgrade the system with: real-time location and arrival information, 172 new buses, new Metro Subway vehicles and signaling system, and mid-life overhaul of the entire Light Rail fleet and MARC bi-level railcars.
“Rolling out BaltimoreLink is very exciting as we see the real-time transformation of transit into a true network that connects the entire Baltimore region to life’s opportunities,” said Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.
Recently launched MTA Express BusLink routes – 102, 106 and 107 – have greatly improved suburb-to-suburb connectivity in the region. Average weekday ridership increased for the new Express BusLink routes by 24 percent since the first week of operation.
The MTA also has enhanced QuickBus 40 (QB 40) service between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid in Baltimore County and City Hall in Baltimore City as a part of the BaltimoreLink plan. In addition to increasing frequency and reliability on the QB 40 line, other amenities include the installation of new shelters, new colored destination signs on buses and a dedicated staff to keep the buses clean and well-maintained.
MTA Commuter Bus routes 310/320 from Columbia to Baltimore also were enhanced, and a new reverse commute bus Route 425 between Baltimore to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford County’s largest employer, began service.
In addition to more robust services, residents also have witnessed other noticeable transit improvements. The first painted dedicated bus lanes were installed on Pratt and Lombard streets to allow buses swifter passage through congested traffic in downtown Baltimore.
With the help of a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, MTA will complete a $27 million revitalization along a key five-mile corridor of North Avenue that will include dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, bike facilities, enhancements to Light Rail and Metro Subway stations, improvements at major bus stops and sidewalks, streetscaping and roadway re-paving.
“The transportation improvements linked to this project will help jumpstart economic growth for this key section of Baltimore City – connecting people to major economic and entertainment centers while getting people where they want and need to go faster and more efficiently,” said MTA Administrator and CEO Paul Comfort.
A key aspect to the past year of BaltimoreLink activities has been the public dialogue designed to receive community feedback about the plan. In gatherings with community groups, elected officials, public workshops, pop-up events and meetings with MTA bus operators, the MTA received more than 2,000 comments and suggestions about the BaltimoreLink plan at over 200 meetings.
“Through our public outreach process, we received a wealth of information and invaluable ideas on how to make this transformative plan even better for our customers,” said Administrator Comfort.
