By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) gathered at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, an expected stop for the Red Line, to announce that the transit line will be a light rail instead of a rapid bus system on June 28.
“Over two decades ago, leaders from around the city and around the state got together and first started working on the first iteration of the Red Line project,” said Moore to the crowd gathered in support of the project. “The work began with an understanding that you cannot have economic mobility if you do not have physical mobility.”
Moore did his best to reassure those who are skeptical about completion of the Red Line, an east-west Baltimore transit line proposed, but then axed in 2015 by former Governor Larry Hogan’s administration.
“I understand the frustration that a lot of you might feel. It’s difficult to have hope if you feel like hope is going to be dashed,” said Moore. “The promise of today, the promise of this team and the commitment that we’re making is that everyday we’re going to make sure that we’re fulfilling this promise.”
Moore said the state is going to continue working with the community, federal and local partners throughout the process and echoed that the Red Line is a priority for his administration.
According to the Baltimore City Department of Transportation, because the line is being built as a light rail, it will operate similar to a subway, providing swift and reliable transit.
“We are one step closer to a time when our patients and their loved ones will find it easier to get to their appointments,” said Kevin Sowers, president of the Johns Hopkins Health System. “We are one step closer to ensuring that our staff members have safe, reliable means to get to and from our campuses each and every day.”
The 14-mile transit route will connect Baltimoreans from Woodlawn in Baltimore County, Md. to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
“The next, largest phase is the alignment study. That means where you are physically going to put the alignment of the light rail,” Paul Wiedefeld, secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). “What we’re going to do now is work with the community on that, do some environmental documentation to support that and hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll be able to say that’s the alignment.”
Wiedefeld said the completed rail alignment plans will allow MDOT to move forward with seeking federal funding. He said the mode of transportation and alignment must be determined to compete against other cities for the funds.
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