Baltimore Metropolitan Council

The BRTB members, including local jurisdictions and state agencies, have submitted their draft list of projects to be considered for Plan It 2035.

The projects were submitted in one of two categories: as regionally significant or as a candidate project. Regionally significant project submissions include basic information about the project. Each candidate project submitted for consideration includes basic information as well as additional information. This information must address: which goals the project supports, how it relates to the six federal livability principles, scoring for a policy evaluation in seven categories, what congestion management strategies might be included in the project, and any other plans this project is included in.

A summary of the projects submitted for inclusion on this draft list of project are as follows:

Regionally Significant Projects

• 8 highway, including 3 widening projects, 2 bridge reconstruction projects, 1 interchange reconstruction project, and 2 projects that would significantly improve freight access and movement in Baltimore City
• 4 transit, including the Red Line light rail project and 3 projects involving improvements to the MARC system (updated 06/15/11)

>> View more information on the submitted regionally significant projects (pdf, 25 kb)

Candidate Projects

• 27 bike/pedestrian, including both on-road and off-road facilities
• 7 transit, including an extension of the Metro system, light rail system extensions, and bus service improvements (updated 06/15/11)
• 79 roadway, including 49 widening projects, 7 new roadways or extensions of existing roadways, 14 projects involving new or reconstructed interchanges or intersections, 8 roadway reconstruction projects, and 1 project that would improve freight movement and access in Baltimore City; many of these projects include in their scopes improvements to adjoining bike and pedestrian facilities

>> View these projects on a map (pdf, 502 kb) 

Once candidate projects are submitted, BMC staff undertakes a technical analysis that will comprise a portion of the overall score. The scoring ranks projects relative to their effectiveness in meeting regional transportation goals and strategies. The BRTB will then begin to consider the projects for inclusion in the final Plan It 2035 based on the scores, funding availability, and how well individual projects work together for the region.

The BRTB is currently reviewing the scores for the following projects

• Bicyle and Pedestrian (pdf, 50 kb)
  
• Highway (pdf, 56 kb)
  
• Transit (pdf, 40 kb)

* Note: There will be periodic updates to this list as project information is clarified and as preliminary policy and technical scoring is completed. An "as of" date will be added to this web site and to the project list when changes are made.

What types of projects are eligible for inclusion in a long-range plan?

The types of projects that are generally included in a long-range regional transportation plan are capital projects adding capacity to the system. This plan will include projects that are open for use between the years 2016-2035. Examples include:

• a new transit line or station
• new bicycle facility (i.e., new trail, a bicycle path)
• new highway interchange
• new or widened highway (i.e., widen from 2 to 4 lanes)

Smaller projects such as the ones listed below are not included in detail in the regional long-range transportation plan:

• sidewalk improvement
• streetscapes
• bus replacement
• bike racks
• potholes/resurfacing

Rather, these kinds of projects are generally addressed in short-range programs. In addition, funding for operating and maintaining the transportation system is in a separate category within the long-range plan and is not part of this list of projects.

What happens next?

The BRTB members have submitted projects and BMC staff have started the technical analysis of each project in a process called Prioritization. Estimated costs for each project and a consideration of all estimated available funds is also being developed. The current draft list is not constrained by costs.

These projects are also being entered into the regional travel model and being considered for their potential impact on the region’s air quality.

Once the projects are reviewed and ranked, a draft plan will be released following which there will be a formal public comment period including a series of public meetings around the region.

The draft plan is expected to be released in late summer 2011. The final plan is scheduled to be adopted by the BRTB in November 2011.

For more information:

Terry Freeland, tfreeland@baltometro.org, 410-732-0500 x1028