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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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Preparations
are in place for kids around the world to track Santa's flight online
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Transportation Outlook 2035 Draft Amendment Open For Public Review
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Harford
Transit Now Offers On Demand Response Transit
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Baltimore
City Releases Draft Sustainability Plan
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Share Your
Priorities for Transportation
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MTA Offering
Additional Service for Inauguration Day
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In the News
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| ALL PREPARATIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR KIDS AROUND THE
WORLD TO TRACK SANTA'S FLIGHT ONLINE |
| Santa
Receives Flight OK, Web Site Will Track His Trip |
 Each year for the last 50
years, NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, has tracked
Santa's progress throughout Christmas eve. This week, NORAD is gearing
up to track Santa Claus using powerful radar and satellites to find Rudolph's
bright red nose; digital cameras to snap pictures and videos of Santa; and
last but not least the NORAD jet fighter to check in on all of Santa's
reindeer. The real-time Santa info is available in seven
languages and includes games, videos, a countdown clock, and of course the
SantaCam and radar maps to track Santa's progress. Also, new this
year, visitors to the site can also track Santa using Google Earth or even
track Santa on their cell phone! Track Santa's progress! Call
1-877-HI-NORAD or visit the link below.
>> Track Santa's progress at www.noradsanta.org |
| OUTLOOK 2035 DRAFT AMENDMENT OPEN FOR REVIEW |
| BRTB
seeking public input on preferred alternative for TO2035 amendment
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 After several months of public
outreach and involvement, the BRTB is pleased to present, for public review and
comment, the draft preferred alternative for the amendment to the Baltimore
region's long-range transportation plan, Transportation Outlook 2035: Creating a Blueprint for
the Baltimore Region's Future.
This draft preferred alternative
proposes $225 million in funding for regional transit projects, beginning in the
year 2020.
The mix of projects includes:
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Green Line Transit - Preliminary
engineering
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Park-and-Ride spaces - Averaging
$10,000/space for 2,000 spaces in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, and Howard
counties
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Carroll County - Transit vehicles
and amenities
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Intermodal Facilities / MARC
stations / Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
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$10 million/facility average, 3
of 4 (smaller type facilities such as bus to bus: Central Maryland Transit
Operations Facility (CMTOF), Columbia, Snowden Square, Parole)
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$20 million/facility average
(larger type facilities such as rail to rail or bus: Lexington Market, or
other Baltimore City location)
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MARC station(s) not currently
included in TO2035, i.e. Odenton, West
Baltimore, or East Baltimore Development Initiative (EBDI))
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Dedicated bus lanes - In
congested corridors such as I-695, MD 152, US 29,
MD 2
In response to public comment, the projects included
in this amendment focus on ways to make the regional transit system more
user-friendly and attractive to a broader segment of the region's population and
workforce. This amendment will not affect currently funded projects in Transportation Outlook 2035 which was adopted
in November 2007.
A public input period will be held from Tuesday,
December 16, 2008 through Friday, January 23, 2009. During this time,
public comments will be accepted by mail, fax, online using our public comment form.
Comments may also be submitted in person at a
public meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2009 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. or 5:30
to 7 p.m. at the BMC offices located at 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310,
Baltimore, MD 21224.
All comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m.
on Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Details about how to submit comments can
be found by clicking on the link below.
>> Learn more about
Transportation Outlook 2035 |
| HARFORD TRANSIT NOW OFFERS DEMAND RESPONSE TRANSIT
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| New
service helps seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents |
 Harford Transit has
started a new Demand Response Service for eligible senior citizens, individuals
with disabilities and low-income wage earners.
The service is available
from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays in parts of Aberdeen, Bel Air, Edgewood and Havre
de Grace, and areas in between.
Reservations must be made by 2
p.m. the working day before travel is planned.
>> View a map of the service area or learn more |
| BALTIMORE CITY RELEASES DRAFT SUSTAINABILITY PLAN |
| Plan
seeks to reduce the City's greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2015 |
 Earlier this month, Mayor
Sheila Dixon was joined by elected officials, residents and community leaders to
introduce the draft recommendations of the Baltimore Sustainability Plan. The
plan was prepared by the Baltimore Commission on Sustainability, created in
August of 2007.
Seven theme chapters have been identified based on the
priorities articulated by the community: Cleanliness, Pollution Prevention,
Resource Conservation, Greening, Transportation, Education & Awareness, and
Green Economy.
Within these chapters, the Plan articulates 31 goals to
improve the sustainability of Baltimore. Examples include reducing the City's
greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2015 and seeing that all Baltimore residents
live within ¼ mile of public green space. Near term initiatives of the Plan
include greening Baltimore City schools, cultivating urban agriculture, reducing
energy use throughout the City, and creating jobs for Baltimore residents in the
emerging clean economy.
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| SHARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR TRANSPORTATION
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| Web site
offers public chance to share ideas with new president and Congress |
 The American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently launched a new
web site to allow members of the public to submit their ideas on what
President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress should take action to improve
transportation next year.
A major challenge facing the new Administration
and Congress will be to pass a new transportation bill before the current
federally funded highway and transit programs expire on September 30, 2009.
Visitors to the site can read hundreds of posted messages or watch
videos from drivers, transit users, and transportation experts voicing their
concerns about traffic congestion, safety, air pollution, state budget cutting,
and project delays due to funding shortfalls.
The traveling public is
urged to go to www.IToldThePresident.org through inauguration day on January 20,
2009 and post comments and videos about their transportation concerns.
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| MTA
OFFERING ADDITIONAL SERVICE FOR INAUGURATION DAY |
| Public
encouraged to reserve MARC tickets early
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 The Maryland Transit
Administration recently announced special MARC Train and Commuter Bus services
for events surrounding the Martin Luther King Holiday on January 19, 2009 and
the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.
Although it is a federal holiday, on Monday,
January 19, 2009 the MTA will offer regular MARC Train service on the
Penn Line and limited "S"services on the Brunswick and Camden Lines. Commuter
Bus shuttle service will be offered from designated park-and-ride locations to
Metrorail stations.
On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, all MARC
service will operate as reserved trains on special schedules, tickets must be
purchased in advance.
Individuals interested in attending inauguration events are encouraged to buy
tickets early, as sales have been brisk and some MARC trains are reported to
have already sold out.
>> Visit the MTA's inauguration web site for tickets or more
information
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| IN THE NEWS |
| Recent
articles and links of interest |
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Monica Haines
Baltimore Metropolitan Council
410-732-0500 x1047
mhaines@baltometro.org
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Baltimore Metropolitan Council | 2700
Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310 | Baltimore | MD | 21224
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