BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
January 3, 2004
___________________________

Contents:

*O'Malley, Duncan to Speak on Rail Plan, Transit Jan. 6
*1000 Friends Highlights Revitalization at Annual Meeting
*Houston Gets First Leg of Light Rail

___________________________

O'MALLEY, DUNCAN TO SPEAK ON RAIL PLAN, TRANSIT JAN. 6

As part of the Citizens Planning & Housing Association's "Hot Topics"
speaker series, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, Montgomery County
Executive Doug Duncan, and other officials will gather at the University
of Maryland School of Law on Tuesday, January 6 to address "Baltimore's
Regional Rail Plan and Maryland's Transportation Future."  The 5:30 PM
forum is particularly timely with transportation funding a key issue
heading into the 2004 General Assembly.  The Maryland Department of
Transportation has said virtually no new expansion projects will move
forward after 2005 without new transportation revenue.  While many
groups and legislators support a balanced transportation program of
transit and highways, some state lawmakers have said they will only
support a gas tax increase if it is all used for highway building. 
Governor Robert Ehrlich has not yet stated his position.

The Maryland Transit Coalition, a co-sponsor of the event, is an
alliance of transit advocates that has formed to promote a
transportation program that includes new transit initiatives like the
Baltimore Region Rail System Plan and DC-area Purple Line.  In addition
to Mayor O'Malley and County Executive Duncan, other local executives
and Governor Ehrlich have been invited.  The University of Maryland Law
School is located at 500 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore.  The event is free
and open to the public.  RSVPs are encouraged, but not required. 

For more information or to RSVP, contact Dan Pontious at
danp@cphabaltimore.org or 410-539-1369 x226.  Flier with transit and
parking information available at:
http://www.cpharegionalcampaign.org

December 29 Sun City/County Digest article:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.briefs29dec29,1,7258457.story

___________________________

1000 FRIENDS HIGHLIGHTS REVITALIZATION AT ANNUAL MEETING

The statewide land-use organization 1000 Friends of Maryland held its
annual meeting December 15 in downtown Silver Spring, highlighting that
area's transit-related rennaissance.  About 125 people gathered for the
event at the new Discovery Communications headquarters near the Silver
Spring Metro station.  1000 Friends presented an award to Whole Foods
Market, whose new nearby store helped catalyze Silver Spring
revitalization there and who has invested in urban Baltimore locations
as well.  Attendees took tours of the new Discovery facility, heard
Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan speak on the revitalization of
Silver Spring, and also took in a keynote address by new U.S.
Representative Chris Van Hollen.

For more information on 1000 Friends of Maryland, visit:
http://www.friendsofmd.org

___________________________

HOUSTON GETS FIRST LEG OF LIGHT RAIL

After a long, contentious process, Houston, Texas opened its first 16
miles of light rail on New Year's Day.  Crowds waited for hours to ride
the first trains, which run from the south of downtown to Reliant
Stadium, where the Houston Texans play.  While controversial, the light
rail project has ultimately proved politically popular in the
smog-plagued southern city that also suffers from substantial traffic
congestion.  Houston's outgoing mayor Lee Brown was a strong champion
and guided the first train along the new tracks on Thursday.  Houston's
mayoral election in 2003 featured a strong light rail supporter vs. a
strong opponent, and the supporter won.  In addition, this past November
voters approved up to $640 million to build an additional 22 miles of
track.  Before the vote young professionals supportive of light rail had
demonstrated at City Hall with signs like "Don't Make Me Move to Dallas"
-- a city that has seen $1 billion in private investment along its
existing and planned tracks. 

January 2 Los Angeles Times story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-houston2jan02,1,4733900.story


_____________________________

ABOUT THE BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND NEWSLETTER

The Baltimore Regional Partnership is an alliance of five civic,
environmental, and anti-sprawl groups:1000 Friends of Maryland
(www.friendsofmd.org), Baltimore Urban League (www.bul.org), Chesapeake
Bay Foundation ( www.savethebay.cbf.org), Citizens Planning and Housing
Association (www.CPHARallyForTheRegion.org), and Environmental Defense
(www.environmentaldefense.org).

This newsletter explores current issues, recent and upcoming events, and
ongoing deliberations that affect the region's quality of life through
transportation, economic development, and land use policy and planning. 

We hope to link citizens in the region who are working to fight sprawl,
promote clean and efficient transportation, protect valuable farm and
forest lands, and revitalize urban areas, older suburbs, and historic
towns. You can view past issues at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm.

Has this newsletter been forwarded to you, and you would like to receive
it yourself? Go to
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm to sign up.

Send us information, too. Let us know about your work on land use and
transportation decisions that are affecting the Baltimore region. Email
information to Dan Pontious at danp@cphabaltimore.org.  Visit the
Baltimore Regional Partnership website at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org