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Contact: Laura Van Wert, 410-732-9564
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$3 BILLION IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH OCTOBER 18
BRTB considers approval of the 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program;
amendments to Plan It 2035; and the Air Quality Conformity Determination report
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BALTIMORE (September 17, 2013) - The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB), as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Baltimore region, seeks public review and comment through October 18 on $3 billion in funding detailed in three major transportation documents: the 2014 - 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); amendments to Plan It 2035 - the region's long-range transportation plan; and an Air Quality Conformity Determination. BRTB is scheduled to vote on those documents on November 26.
Full details of these documents are available online at www.baltometro.org and in print at seven local planning offices and 20 area libraries. The 2014-2017 TIP also is available in an online database.
Those interested in commenting on the projects may do so publically during six meetings in September and October around the Baltimore region. Meeting dates include the BRTB's monthly meetings at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24 and October 22 at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council; by mail submitted to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, Offices @ McHenry Row, 1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21230; by fax at 410-732-8248; by email to comments@baltometro.org; or by tweeting @bmoreinvolved or @PlanIt2035, #BRTBlistens.
The public meetings will be held on:
- Wednesday, October 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m. during the BRTB's Citizen Advisory Committee policy subcommittee meeting at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council;
- Tuesday, October 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Owen Brown Community Center;
- Thursday, October 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Towson Public Library; and
- Thursday, October 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Patterson Park Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
The release of these documents coincides with the recent announcement by Gov. Martin O'Malley of major transportation projects in the Baltimore region. Highlights of the three BRTB transportation documents are as follows:
2014 - 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
The 2014-2017 TIP, which is the list of transportation projects requesting funding, includes more than $2 billion in proposed federal, state and local money for highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects throughout the region over the next four years. The funding goes towards maintaining, operating and expanding the transportation system. Select projects throughout the region in the TIP include:
- Regionally: Engineering for the Baltimore Red Line.
- Anne Arundel County: Repairs to MARC garages at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
- Baltimore City: Planning for the Bayview MARC Intermodal Station; Americans with Disabilities Act improvements near transit stops; Bicycle and pedestrian route improvements; and Phase I of the Kirk Bus Division modernization project.
- Baltimore County: Adding a lane on both loops of I-695 from MD 41 to MD 147 and the reconfiguration of a one-lane ramp from I-695 to MD 147; and resurfacing and rehabilitation on Belair Road at key intersections.
- Harford County: Bridge repair and deck replacement of the Robinson Mill Road Bridge #154 over Broad Creek; and plans to expand parking at the MARC Aberdeen station.
- Carroll County: Planning for the construction of the Governor Brown Trail.
- Howard County: Replacing diesel fuel buses with electric buses.
Plan It 2035 Amendments
The region's current long range transportation plan, known as Plan It 2035, will include four new highway projects and funding updates for one transit project. These updates are a result of additional revenue being generated in Maryland with the passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013. Plan It 2035 needs to be amended to reflect the proposed changes in order to receive this funding and to comply with the federal requirement for a fiscally constrained plan. The following projects are proposed changes to Plan It 2035:
- Regionally: the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) submitted a revised cost estimate of $2.6 billion for the Baltimore Red Line project and a year of operation as 2021. The new estimate includes adjustments to the scope of work and design development factors.
- Baltimore County: Adding a lane to both loops of I-695 from MD 41 to east of Providence Road ($228.2 million), year of operation, 2020; and adding a lane on the outer loop of I-695 from MD 144 to south of US 40 ($87.5 million), year of operation, 2019.
- Howard County: Provide an access road for MD 32 and from MD 144 to Nixons Farm Lane ($3.7 million), year of operation, 2030; construct an interchange at MD 32 and Rosemary Lane interchange ($76.1 million), year of operation, 2030.
Air Quality Conformity Determination Report
The Baltimore region does not meet Clean Air Act Standards and must review its current transportation plan and program to ensure conformity with the State Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP). The Air Quality Conformity Determination report details a comprehensive analysis of effects of the draft 2014-2017 TIP for the Baltimore region and the Plan It 2035 amendments listed above. The report demonstrates conformity to the national Air Quality standards relevant to the Baltimore region for ozone, fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide.
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