BALTIMORE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER
Land Use and Transportation Issues Around the Region
August 29, 2001
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Contents:

*Final Draft 2001 Transportation Plan Released
*Partnership Comments on Regional Bike/Ped/Greenway Plan
*Sunday Subway Service to Resume September 2
*State Announces Collaborative Local Efforts
*MTA to Offer Transit Leadership Program
*Online Article Discusses Economics of Parking
*National Geographic Posts "New Urbanism" Web Site
*Job Opening: Partnership Seeks Organizer
*Calendar of Events

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FINAL DRAFT 2001 TRANSPORTATION PLAN RELEASED

On August 13, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, consisting of
the region's chief local elected officials and the Maryland Department
of Transportation, released the final draft of its 2001 Baltimore
Regional Transportation Plan.  The plan is a blueprint for $20 billion
of transportation projects in the region through 2025.  While $125
million in controversial rural road widenings, MD 152 and MD 22 in
Harford County, have been removed from original draft, others remain. 
The plan also includes transit investments and transportation demand
management projects.  The release of the final draft began a final
public comment period that runs until September 28.  During the comment
period the chief local elected officials will meet at the transportation
board's regular monthly meeting on September 11, and a public hearing
will be held on September 24.  (For details, see the Calendar of Events
below.)  For more information, go to www.baltometro.org, and click on
"What's New," or contact Ryun Papson, Baltimore Regional Partnership, at
ryun@balto-region-partners.org.

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PARTNERSHIP COMMENTS ON REGIONAL BIKE/PED/GREENWAY PLAN

On August 20, the Baltimore Regional Partnership submitted comments on
the draft Baltimore Region Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenway
Transportation Plan, praising the plan in particular for its education
components and for its discussion of the importance of local zoning,
development codes, and design practices.  The Partnership suggested,
however, that the plan be incorporated into the region's clean air
program, include the use and promotion of Maryland's Commuter Choice tax
incentives for employers, and set near-term goals for connections to
schools, transit stations, employment centers, and tourist destinations.
Full text of Partnership comments available at
www.balto-region-partners.org/01_bikeplan.htm.  Full text of plan
available at www.baltometro.org; click on "What's New."

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SUNDAY SUBWAY SERVICE TO RESUME SEPTEMBER 2

On August 20th Governor Parris N. Glendening announced the resumption of
Sunday metro-subway service after a nine-year hiatus starting September
2, with free service on Sundays during the month of September.  Joined
by Transit Riders League co-chair Rose A. Fleming and Baltimore Mayor
Martin O’Malley on the Milford Mill Metro stop platform, Glendening made
the announcement to a sizable group of transit advocates and state and
local officials.  Speaking at the ceremony, Rose Fleming applauded the
decision, thanked the governor, and congratulated members of the Transit
Riders League, who had been active participants in urging officials to
resume the service.  August 20 Sun story available at
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.transit21aug21.story.  Governor's
press release available at
www.mdot.state.md.us/cgi-bin/mdotnews/news_display_choice.pl?item=1.

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STATE ANNOUNCES COLLABORATIVE LOCAL EFFORTS

Earlier this month the Maryland secretary of planning Roy Kienitz
announced that the Glendening administration has offered assistance to
three local governments on efforts related to Maryland's Smart Growth
initiative.  In the Baltimore region the state has offered to play an
advisory role to the city of Annapolis in reviewing the Action Landing
project, a proposed conversion of the Anne Arundel Medical Center into
100 homes and a park.  The state will also side with Kent County in
fighting a proposed Wal-Mart store in the Eastern Shore community of
Chestertown and work with the city of Gaithersburg on its new Parklands
development.  August 24 Sun story available at
www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.md.growth24aug24.story.

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MTA TO OFFER TRANSIT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

This fall the Maryland Mass Transit Administration will initiate a new
leadership program seeking to "educate Maryland’s business community and
civic leaders about the opportunities and challenges of transit in
Maryland."  The program will run for 12 weeks on Wednesday evenings
beginning September 12 and include discussions of MTA's operations,
planning, and policy making with senior MTA staff.  In addition to
classroom sessions, the course includes opportunities to ride with an
MTA transit supervisor or police officer and to observe the MTA Call
Center and Bus Operations Control Room.  For more information, or to
apply, go to www.mtamaryland.com/docs/TransitLeadeshipBrochure.pdf, or
contact Jamie Kendrick, MTA, at jkendrick@mdot.state.md.us.

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ONLINE ARTICLE DISCUSSES ECONOMICS OF PARKING

In an article on the web site of the Michigan Land Use Institute, Alan
Durning of the Elm Street Writers Group discusses how a surplus of
parking spaces and historic government subsidies for car-based commutes
have helped lead to "the nations unquenchable thirst for gasoline." 
Durning presents community design ideas for using space now devoted to
parking and promotes "Cashing Out" employer paid parking, a program now
promoted by both U.S. and Maryland tax incentives. In a "Cash Out"
program, employers who subsidize employee parking also offer their
workers the cash value of the subsidy in return for not using the
parking spot.  Durning reports that test programs running in Los Angeles
show that as many as 2 out of 5 employees "take the money and leave the
wheels at home."  Article available at
www.mlui.org/projects/growthmanagement/sprawl/durnparkedit.asp.

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC POSTS "NEW URBANISM" WEB SITE

A new National Geographic web site offers an interactive tour of a "new
urbanist" neighborhood and a link to companion articles on sprawl.  Its
Photo Gallery includes a photo of Baltimore's light rail line, and the
site includes links to groups like the Urban Land Institute and the
Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse.  The page can be found at:
www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/sprawl/index_flash.html.

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JOB OPENING: PARTNERSHIP SEEKS ORGANIZER

The Baltimore Regional Partnership is looking for a motivated and
energetic field organizer to work with communities, businesses, public
officials, and the media to promote innovative and equitable land use
and transportation solutions to our region's sprawl problem. 
Announcement available at
www.balto-region-partners.org/job_openings.htm.  For more information or
to apply, contact Dan Pontious, Baltimore Regional Partnership, at
danp@balto-region-partners.org.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 6
*Carroll County Commissioners Meet with State Environment Secretary,
2:00 PM, County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster. 
Meeting is slated to cover the Maryland Department of the Environment's
objections to the county's controversial permit request for a drinking
water facility at Piney Run.  Check
http://ccgov.carr.org/commiss/agenda.htm, after Friday afternoon, August
31, to confirm.  Comments on the topic by Commissioners Julia Gouge and
Robin Frazier available at http://ccgov.carr.org/commiss/issues.htm.

September 11
*Baltimore Regional Transportation Board monthly meeting with local
elected officials, 5:30 PM, Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700
Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston
St. in Canton, directly above Blockbuster Video).  Members of the public
will have an opportunity to comment directly to the region's chief local
elected officials on the draft 2001 Regional Transportation Plan and
other topics.  For more information contact Joan Gorsuch, BMC, at
jgorsuch@baltometro.org, or Ryun Papson, Baltimore Regional Partnership,
at ryun@balto-region-partners.org.

September 12
*Smart Choices for Smart Growth Bus Expo, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Fleet
Reserve Club on the Annapolis Waterfront, 100 Compromise St.  Sponsored
by the Annapolis Department of Transportation for Try Transit Week 2001.
New buses and other public transportation technology on display.  The
Annapolis public transit system has doubled ridership in the past five
years.  For more information, contact Sonny Hinton at
hintons@ci.annapolis.md.us.

*Harford County Rt. 1 Revitalization Meeting, 6:30 PM, Fallston High
School Auditorium, 2301 Carrs Mill Rd., Fallson.  The results of Harford
County's planning effort to revitalize the Rt. 1 corrider will be
presented.  For more information, contact Joe Kocy, Harford County
Planning Director, at jkocy@co.ha.md.us.

September 13
*Forum on Transportation Connections and Alternatives in Anne Arundel
County, 7:30 - 9:00 PM, Large Group Meeting Room, Magothy River Middle
School, 241 Peninsula Farm Road, Arnold.  For more information, contact
the Arnold Preservation Council at APC@riva.net.

September 15-16
*Jones Falls Valley Celebration.  A weekend series of events and
activities that focus on the natural and recreational highlights of the
Jones Falls Valley.  More information available at www.jonesfalls.com.

September 24
*Public Hearing on the 2001 Baltimore Regional Transportation Plan, 7:00
PM, Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston St. in Canton,
directly above Blockbuster Video).   For more information, contact Lisa
Sirota, BMC, at lsirota@baltometro.org.

September 28
*Close of Public Comment Period on 2001 Baltimore Regional
Transportation Plan.  Comments should be sent to J. Craig Forrest,
Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21224, or email Regina Aris, Baltimore
Metropolitan Council, at raris@baltometro.org.

September 30
*Baltimore County Quality Community Survey, 2:00 to 6:00 PM
(registration begins at 1:30), Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, 245 Shawan Rd,
Hunt Valley.  All residents of Baltimore County are invited to attend
and express views on non-rural residential development. Event will
feature community design consultant Tony Nelessen of A. Nelessen
Associates.  Free, but space is limited.  For reservations contact Becky
Hart at (410) 887-3495 or rhart@co.ba..md.us.

October 23
*Baltimore Regional Transportation Board monthly meeting, 9:00 AM,
Baltimore Metropolitan Council offices, 2700 Lighthouse Point East,
Suite 310, Baltimore (on the 2700 block of Boston St. in Canton,
directly above Blockbuster Video).  Designees of local elected officials
are expected to approve the 2001 Baltimore Regional Transportation Plan
at this meeting. For more information contact Joan Gorsuch, BMC, at
jgorsuch@baltometro.org.

*4th Annual Maryland Conference on Housing, Hyatt Regency, Baltimore. 
Presented by the Maryland Homebuilders, and including a Maryland
Department on Housing and Community Development Awards Luncheon.  $55
registration fee includes conference, luncheon, awards program, and
reception.  For information or to register, contact Cathy Lysaught,
Maryland Homebuilders, at cathy@homebuilders.org.

October 26-27
*Summit V The Economics of Place, Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, Tawes Building Cafeteria.  Summit V is the start of a
dedicated process toward dramatic change in land use patterns.  Effort
seeks to can save rural land and money increase property values, and
establish settlement patterns that work for people and the environment. 
Key participants include David Morris, Ed Risse, and Michael Shuman. 
Cost: $45 includes Friday Dinner, Saturday lunch and coffee breaks.
Space is limited.  To register or for more information contact Anne
Pearson, Alliance for Sustainable Communities, at 410-956-1002 or
aplace@toad.net.

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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.CPHARegionalCampaign.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
www.balto-region-partners.org/news.htm.

Has this newsletter been forwarded to you, and you would like to receive
it yourself?  Email Dan Pontious at danp@balto-region-partners.org 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 Ryun Papson at ryun@balto-region-partners.org. 
Visit the Baltimore Regional Partnership website at:
www.balto-region-partners.org.