FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Community Input on Phasing Options and Alternative Mode Selection Critical
as Agency Looks to Maintain Progress
BALTIMORE, MD (April 16, 2026) – Due to federal funding uncertainty, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) today is announcing a series of public open houses to determine a fiscally responsible path forward for the Baltimore Red Line. The agency will engage community members in May to evaluate alternative delivery strategies, including project phasing and revisiting transit mode, to help ensure the long-awaited east-west connector continues moving forward toward construction.
“The Baltimore Red Line is long overdue, and we remain committed to providing a reliable east-west transit line across the region,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “Amid rapidly evolving federal priorities and limited financial resources, we are working with communities throughout the Baltimore region to find solutions to these barriers that will lead to getting shovels in the ground as quickly as we can for this critical project.”
The Red Line open houses will engage the public in open conversations on ways to continue to advance the project, while recognizing current federal realities and state headwinds. Discussions will include presenting the results of the light rail alternatives analysis, exploring new delivery strategies and reimagining the recommended mode of service that will maintain a realistic path forward to deliver improved regional mobility. Topics discussed will also include the financial considerations for three options:
- Proceeding with the full 14-mile light rail project
- Phasing the light rail project by splitting it into smaller portions over time
- Revisiting bus rapid transit
“The Red Line represents an opportunity to improve east-west travel, increase access to opportunity and create a more connected Baltimore,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “Community input is essential as we move towards selecting the final implementation strategy.”
The public is invited to attend, ask questions, and share input at the scheduled open houses:
- Baltimore County: Saturday, May 2 from 10 am – 12 pm, Woodlawn High School
- Downtown Baltimore: Tuesday, May 5 from 3 pm - 5 pm, Baltimore War Memorial
- West Baltimore: Thursday, May 7 from 6 pm - 8 pm, Edmondson High School
- Southeast Baltimore: Saturday, May 9 from 11 am – 1 pm, Southeast Anchor Enoch Pratt Library
These locations are accessible for people with disabilities. For more information or to request accommodations such as an interpreter, information translated or in an alternate format, please email outreach@redlinemaryland.com at least one week prior to the open house date. For those unable to attend the open houses in person, recorded presentations will be available online at redlinemaryland.com in both English and Spanish, with opportunities to complete a survey or submit a comment.
Transit Funding Background
Recent changes at the federal level have introduced increased uncertainty for transit projects in communities across the nation, related to funding availability, evolving scope requirements and extended timelines for approvals. Additionally, in recent years, rising material costs, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions have significantly increased uncertainty around large infrastructure budgets nationwide. With limited funding flexibility requiring careful, fiscally disciplined planning for major new investments, financially sustainable paths forward for the Red Line are critical.
Financial Considerations
The current cost estimate to construct the full 14-mile light rail transit line is $4.7 billion to $9 billion. By comparison, a proposed first phase of the light rail project from Edmonson Village to the Shot Tower is estimated to cost approximately $2.2 billion. Project costs will continue to rise given current market conditions, including costs for design, labor, materials and construction. Up to half of the total Red Line project cost is expected to come from federal sources, with the State and local sources funding the remaining balance.
Proceeding with the full 14-mile light rail project, connecting Bayview and Woodlawn through downtown Baltimore City, carries much higher costs and greater risks and is likely to take longer to reach construction readiness than bus rapid transit.
A mode change to bus rapid transit for the entire alignment could reduce costs to an estimated $750 million to $1 billion. Once construction funds are secured, delivery of a bus rapid transit project can be achieved in as little as three years, reducing the time to deliver a high-frequency east-west transit line with fewer community disruptions and substantial cost savings.
To learn more and to sign up for Baltimore Red Line updates, please visit https://redlinemaryland.com. You can follow the Red Line's progress on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Threads. To contact the Red Line team, email outreach@redlinemaryland.com.
The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, and operates local and commuter buses, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service, and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. The goal of the Maryland Transit Administration is to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook or YouTube and follow us on Twitter/X and Bluesky Social.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Courtney Mims
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 667-392-0157
cmims@mdot.maryland.gov
Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov
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