BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Newsletter
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
March 14, 2003
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Contents:

*Baltimore Transit Plan Advances; Transit Rally Monday
*Report Shows Transit-Related Development Opportunities
*Urban League Releases Transportation Equity Study
*Bruce Katz Speaks on Smart Growth March 19

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BALTIMORE TRANSIT PLAN ADVANCES; TRANSIT RALLY MONDAY

Changing course after a week of vigorous lobbying by Baltimore-area
elected officials, business leaders, and transit advocates, Governor
Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and transportation secretary Robert L. Flanagan
announced yesterday that they would request both planning and
construction funds from Congress to begin implementing a new plan to
improve the region's transit system.  Secretary Flanagan had earlier
indicated they would seek only planning funds for a new "Red Line" from
Woodlawn to Fells Point and an extension of Baltimore's subway line from
Johns Hopkins Hospital to Morgan State University.  The two projects are
priorities in a longer term "Baltimore Region Rail System Plan"
developed last year by a 23-member advisory committee to the Maryland
Transit Administration.  The Ehrlich administration has since renamed
the initiative the "Baltimore Region Transit Plan" to remain open to bus
rapid transit (BRT) as a technology for some of the lines.  It also
listed the Red Line as a priority to receive construction funds under
the upcoming six-year reauthorization of federal transportation law.

All this comes just days before a Rally for Transit sponsored by CPHA's
Transit Riders League of Metropolitan Baltimore and scheduled for
Monday, March 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis.  The
gathering will support initiatives like the Baltimore rail plan, but it
was also spurred by potential near-term transit fare increases and
service cuts, which could come simultaneously, and by the Ehrlich
administration's decision to take $300 million from the Transportation
Trust Fund to balance the state's budget.  Rally sponsors encourage all
transit supporters to come.

For more information on the March 17 Rally for Transit:
http://www.cpharegionalcampaign.org/

More information on Ehrlich administration request to Congress:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.plan14mar14,0,4803586.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines


http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2003/03/10/daily34.html


Governor Ehrlich's press release:
http://www.gov.state.md.us/031303-transportation.asp#

Sun editorials:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/bal-ed.rail14mar14,0,418514.story?coll=bal%2Dopinion%2Dheadlines


http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/bal-ed.rail10mar10,0,6059203.story?coll=bal%2Dopinion%2Dheadlines


November 2002 final report of Advisory Committee:
http://www.baltimorerailplan.com

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REPORT SHOWS TRANSIT-RELATED DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Released at a December 2002 breakfast co-sponsored by the Greater
Baltimore Committee, a report by the Baltimore Regional Partnership
pulls together for the first time potential development opportunities
around the Baltimore Region Rail System Plan (recently renamed the
"Baltimore Region Transit Plan" by the Ehrlich administration).  The
survey of local government plans and concepts indicates that 44 percent
of the region's job growth to 2025 and one-fifth of the household growth
could be accommodated along the lines laid out last year by a 23-member
advisory committee to the Maryland Transit Administration.  More than
700 acres with no specific redevelopment plans show that even more than
that could be done.  The report also describes successes from the
Washington, DC and Denver, Colorado areas in combining economic
development with rail transit infrastructure.

Report available online at:
http://www.balto-region-partners.org/

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URBAN LEAGUE RELEASES TRANSPORTATION EQUITY STUDY

A February 2002 study released by the Greater Baltimore Urban League
(GBUL) finds that progress is needed to improve the region's
transportation equity, both in enabling job seekers in Baltimore City to
access growing job centers in the suburbs and in involving low-income
communities in transportation planning.  Given the growth of low-skilled
jobs mainly in the suburbs and the lack of a good public transportation
system, the report states, many welfare residents in Baltimore have
limited access to new jobs. The study shows that one-third of the
available low-skilled jobs are currently inaccessible by public transit
originating in Baltimore City and that access to many other jobs is
hindered by inadequate frequency of service and lack of connectivity
between city and county transit systems. It concludes with
recommendations on improving mass transit service to jobs, halting
sprawl in the outer suburbs, facilitating more affordable housing near
jobs, and improving public participation in transportation planning.

For more information:
http://www.bul.org/transportation_equity_program_hi.htm

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BRUCE KATZ SPEAKS ON SMART GROWTH MARCH 19

On Wednesday, March 19, Bruce Katz, founding director of the Brookings
Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, will speak in Baltimore on the
effects of sprawl development -- and alternatively, of smart growth
strategies and investments -- on various communities on their quality of
life.  The talk, "Smart Growth: What's in it for YOUR Community?" is
sponsored by 1000 Friends of Maryland and will be held 4:30-6:00 PM in
Plaza C at the Tremont Plaza Hotel.  The hotel is located at the corner
of St. Paul and Saratoga Streets.

The program is free and open to the public, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS
REQUIRED.  Please contact 1000 Friends at 410-385-2910 or at
friends@friendsofmd.org.

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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 Adam Gordon at adam@balto-region-partners.org.  Visit the
Baltimore Regional Partnership website at
http://www.balto-region-partners.org.