Serving Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties and the Cities of Annapolis and Baltimore.
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Thank you for subscribing to B'More Involved! B'More Involved is
designed to provide you with helpful information on transportation
planning, citizen involvement, and environmental justice. This
important information is e-mailed out on a regular basis and is a great
way for you to learn more, stay up-to-date on important events and
news, and of course let you know how you can B'More Involved! In this issue: |
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U.S. DOT WANTS YOUR TAKE ON REGION'S PLANNING
PROCESS |
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Share your thoughts at a public meeting on June 24th |
 The
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) wants to know how well the
Baltimore region conducts its transportation planning process. If
you're interested in how transportation investment decisions are made
in the Baltimore region, you should plan to attend a public hearing
with the U.S. DOT on Tuesday, June 24th.
The
meeting, which is part of the quadrennial federal certification process
of the Baltimore region's metropolitan planning organization (MPO),
will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, in the Canton area of southeast Baltimore City.
As
the local MPO, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is
responsible for several key products as part of a continuing,
comprehensive and coordinated (3-C) process. These products include a
long-range transportation plan, a short-range program or implementation
plan, an annual work program, air quality assessments, and a congestion
management process. The BRTB undertakes this work in coordination with
state agencies and other partners. An important part of the planning
process is providing for public participation.
If you cannot attend the meeting, you may submit written comments by mail, fax, e-mail, or online using the public comment form.
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BMC LAUNCHES NEW
"DRIVE SAFE BALTIMORE" CAMPAIGN |
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3 million crashes occur every year as a result of distracted driving
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On June 11th, the region's elected officials joined together to launch a new regional highway safety campaign. The Drive Safe Baltimore
campaign seeks to reduce the number of crashes, deaths and severe
injuries caused by distracted driving - especially among teens.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among
American teenagers, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths per year. In
the Baltimore region alone distracted driving accounted for over 500
fatalities and 95,000 injuries during the 10-year period between 1997
and 2006. What can be done? Parents play a big role.
Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds,
an age group that is increasingly using devices that may contribute to
distracted driving, such as cell phones, mp3 players and other
hand-held devices. Statistics
show that laws, and rules set by parents, influence teen driving. But,
parents can also influence their teens by acting as a good example.
Here are a few actions parents can take to positively influence
their teen drivers:
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Put down your cell phone.
Wait to make calls and don't pick up incoming calls while driving. Cell
phone distractions also include checking messages and texting. If there
is an emergency, pull over to the side of the road before making a call. -
Pre-set your electronics. If you are using a GPS or DVD system, set it
before you leave or pull over to a safe spot to enter data or adjust
settings. -
Set family rules. Make sure all family members know what the rules are
for driving without distractions and what the consequences are for
breaking those rules. In addition to the tips above, set curfews and
passenger limits. -
Use your car's audio system wisely. Keep the volume at a level that is
not distracting and allows you to hear sirens on emergency vehicles.
Change the station, CD or tape only when the car is not moving.
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BALTIMORE CITY SEEKS CYCLISTS FOR NEW PARKING FACILITY
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Want secure bicycle parking?
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 The Parking Authority of Baltimore City (PABC) wants you to get out of your car and onto a bike!
To
help make this a reality, PABC is considering converting 2-3 spaces of
the Baltimore Street Garage into secure bicycle parking for 20-30
monthly contract holders.
For $5 a month, you can have covered, secure bicycle parking in a manned parking garage that opens early and stays open late.
Bicycle parking is also being considered for Penn Station.
If
you are interested in participating in this exciting new program,
please contact Tiffany James at Tiffany.James@baltimorecity.gov or
443-573-2800.
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PLANT A TREE, SAVE MONEY
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Save on air conditioning costs and save $10 through the Growing Home campaign
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 Did you know that shade from trees reduces the need for air-conditioning in the summer? In fact, well-placed trees can reduce summer air-conditioning costs by 15% to
30%.
That's
just one reason why the Growing Home Campaign is offering $10 coupons
to area residents wishing to plant trees in their yards.
In addition to the coupon, the Growing Home web site also has valuable
information about the value of adding a tree, which kinds of trees to
plant, and how to plant a tree. Growing Home brochures and coupons are
also available at all Baltimore City and Baltimore County libraries,
senior centers, and recreation and parks facilities.
The
Growing Home campaign is an innovative way homeowners can help increase
the tree canopy in our region. As part of Baltimore County's Green
Renaissance and Baltimore City's Tree Baltimore Initiative, the Growing
Home Campaign is a partnership between Baltimore County, Baltimore
City, local retail nurseries and garden centers, and homeowners to
encourage planting new trees on private residential land.
If you have been thinking about adding a tree to your yard, this may be a good time to do it!
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MTA TEAMS UP WITH GOOGLE FOR PLANNING TRANSIT TRIPS
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| New tool allows users to get step-by-step transit directions |
Last week the MD Transit Administration added a new online trip
planning tool to their web site. The new tool is powered by Google
Transit, a branch of Google's mapping site.
Visitors to the site can use the service to:
- Get step-by-step transit directions
- Find transit stops in your area
- View station information & schedules
Transit
options listed in the system include MTA light rail, Metro, and
commuter and local bus lines. Search results also include walking
distance and time.
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PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON MD 198 PROJECT PLANNING STUDY |
View maps, ask questions, and submit comments at this public workshop
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 The
MD State Highway Administration (SHA) has initiated a project planning
study to evaluate ways to improve travel and safety along MD 198 (Ft.
Meade Road) from MD 295 to MD 32.
In an effort to share
information with the public about this project and to accept public
comments, SHA will host a public workshop on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Maryland City Elementary School (3359 Crumpton South, Laurel, MD 20724).
The
purpose of the workshop is to familiarize interested residents with the
project planning process, potential environmental impacts, and
preliminary alternatives. Displays and maps showing the
planned improvements will be available for viewing and SHA team members will be available to answer your project-related questions and concerns during the workshop.
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AS GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, SO DOES TRANSIT USE |
As gas prices reach $4 a gallon, transit ridership surges in Baltimore and beyond
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 A
recent report issued by the American Public Transportation Association
and an article on MSNBC.com reported on how the rising price of gas is
shifting many commuters to mass transit.
Baltimore is helping to lead the way with both light rail and heavy rail percentages of riders increasing. Here are some quick stats:
Light rail
Overall streetcars and trolleys had the highest percentage increase, at 10.3%. The biggest increases:- Baltimore, 16.8%
- Minneapolis, 16.4%
- St. Louis, 15.6%
- San Francisco, 12.2%
Heavy rail
Subways and elevated train ridership rose by 4.4%. The biggest increases:- Staten Island, 12.3%
- Boston, 8.8%
- Jersey City, 6.5%
- Los Angeles, 5.4%
- New York City, 5%
- Baltimore, 4.9%
- San Francisco, 4.5%
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Monica Haines
Baltimore Metropolitan Council
410-732-0500 x1047
mhaines@baltometro.org |
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