Baltimore/Washington Transit News & Proposals

[NorthaBmore]

Baltimore/Washington Transit News & Proposals


image hosted on flickr

MARC Train Number 70 by Arvin Jay, on Flickr


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The proposal for a much expanded and combined MARC/VRE systemimage hosted on flickr


The Baltimore subway/light rail plan


The plan for the DC metrorail
image hosted on flickr


btw, I thought the silver line was supposed to follow the blue and orange lines from West Falls Church to Stadium/Armory instead of take it's own path through the center of the city

[PeterSmith]

That's the first time I've seen that proposal for the expanded commuter rail. I know there are plans in the works for a line linking Union Station with St. Mary's County. O'Malley promised it during his campaign, but so far nothing has some to fruition. The right of way already exists, so it shouldn't be to hard to get it going.

The long-term MARC plans also include running the Camden Line under Howard Street and up to a new Charles Village station. That would be cool, but not sure where it would go.

Speaking of MARC expansion: MTA growth plan stalls

Also, how come so many DC metro maps have that grey box that connects roughly Silver Spring, Columbia Heights, Eisenhower Ave., and East Falls Church? What's the point of it?

[PeterSmith]

Also, any more word on the light rail extension to York? I think commuter rail would be a better bet.

[NorthaBmore]

That grey box is the border of Dc north of the river and of arlington county south of the river, since arlington county used to be part of dc

[NorthaBmore]

As someone who long ago learned to love the idea of light-rail service that would connect York County to Baltimore and Harrisburg -- then add Gettysburg, Lancaster, Hanover, the West Shore area and perhaps even Washington, D.C., for a perfect scenario -- I'm tickled to death that people seem to be taking it seriously.
A meeting held Monday in downtown York, attended by a half-dozen people, including two York City Council members, posed the question: Is it possible to bring light-rail train service back to York?

Not a novel idea: There was a time, after all, when York countians moved from one end of the county to the other either by light-rail train or trolley service. I have faint memories, in fact, of making the trip from York City -- my parents lived there at the time -- to Glen Rock and back on weekends to visit my paternal grandparents. And we did it by passenger train.

It was a terrific experience. And it must have been very useful for families throughout York County who didn't own a car -- my parents -- or didn't choose to drive. Or maybe they just enjoyed traveling by train.

Well, there is talk again about light rail here in York County.

Of course, right away there were comments about the economic-development aspects of light-rail service through York. York City Council member Joe Musso made the point that a light-rail line connecting York with Baltimore and Harrisburg would bring people into York City in droves. While here, of course, they'd

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spend all of their money.
More leaving than coming: Not to cast too big a shadow over that possibility, but I doubt that's going to happen in a big way. Certainly there will be people from Harrisburg and Baltimore who will come to York to shop, visit friends or whatever. I suspect, however, that it's more likely that York will be a pass-through for people going from Harrisburg to Baltimore and back or vice versa.

Sure, York countians will use the light-rail service as transportation to Baltimore or Harrisburg for business purposes, jobs or recreation. But a lot more Yorkers will be going to Baltimore or Harrisburg than people from Baltimore and Harrisburg will be coming to York.

Not to worry too much, though, because this is not a project that's going to happen anytime soon. It'd be great if trains were running in two or three years, but that's not likely. In fact, I'll be lucky to live long enough -- and I hope to live to a ripe old age -- to see it come to fruition.

But it's an idea with merit because mass transit is going to become more and more important to society as years go by. There's a limit, after all, to the number of fossil fuel-guzzling cars we can put on York County highways -- now, and 30 years from now.

There are plenty of obstacles to light-rail use in York County, of course -- land acquisition, funding, community support and coordinating the various transit authorities in two states, a half-dozen communities and dozens of related agencies, just for a start.

But like anything else, it can be done if we want it badly enough. There must be a sense of urgency about this project to get it moving forward -- something unrelenting like we've had with the baseball stadium project in York City, for example.

Can there possibly be anyone who seriously believes a light-rail system isn't more important to the future of York County than an independent-league baseball stadium?

It's laughable to even suggest such a possibility in a county that has grown 25 percent since 1990. You can build only so many roads, expand so many highways to accommodate traffic in and through York County.

An alternative transit system, such as light-rail, seems an intelligent partial solution to that problem.

If only we care enough to make it happen.



It sounds like it's probably not going to happen, but maybe the commuter rail project will end up going through eventually

[PeterSmith]

I find it surprising that there is no rail link between Baltimore and Annapolis...or between Annapolis and anywhere for that matter. I imagine that at one time Annapolis was connected by rail - does a right of way still exist?

[Gsol]

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

I find it surprising that there is no rail link between Baltimore and Annapolis...or between Annapolis and anywhere for that matter. I imagine that at one time Annapolis was connected by rail - does a right of way still exist?

At one time it did. The now defunct Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis RR (WB&A) connected the three cities. I have a book on this. These were interurban cars (commuter trolley cars), riding on tracks that ran between the downtowns of each city, then over a right-of-way in between in route to the other. The B & W Parkway was one of the former rights-of-way (ROW) between Balt. and DC. The ROW between Annapolis and Balt., I believe, is the present light rail portion. The only thing missing a bridge over the South River that was washed away in the 40s or 50s. Aparently, after that service was discontinued. I would have linked to experience this. Maybe we have a poster old enough to remember it. The photos are amazining. We can certainly use this today, what the future could be lies in the past.

[Maudibjr]

Originally Posted by Gsol

At one time it did. The now defunct Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis RR (WB&A) connected the three cities. I have a book on this. These were interurban cars (commuter trolley cars), riding on tracks that ran between the downtowns of each city, then over a right-of-way in between in route to the other. The B & W Parkway was one of the former rights-of-way (ROW) between Balt. and DC. The ROW between Annapolis and Balt., I believe, is the present light rail portion. The only thing missing a bridge over the South River that was washed away in the 40s or 50s. Aparently, after that service was discontinued. I would have linked to experience this. Maybe we have a poster old enough to remember it. The photos are amazining. We can certainly use this today, what the future could be lies in the past.

Most of the ROW is now a bike path, like the Northern Central trail.

I have never seen the silver line as anything more than an extension from Falls Church. The east end of the silver on that map is part of the current Blue line. I have never seen that brown line before either.

Frankly I would like to see the size of the ass that top MArc plan was pulled from

[Darryl]

I can't believe the regional rail proposal doesn't have a link from Frederick to Baltimore! To me, that seems to be a glaring omission!

[MDguy]

holy crap! Extending the rail all the way to Frederick and Hagerstown would be AMAZING!!! something like 25% of Fredericktonians commute every day so that'd be amazing to have like 1/2 the traffic here because it gets pretty bad. Hope the proposal goes through

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Originally Posted by Darryl

I can't believe the regional rail proposal doesn't have a link from Frederick to Baltimore! To me, that seems to be a glaring omission!

yeah, i know right? especially with frderick's population growing the way it is....

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

That's the first time I've seen that proposal for the expanded commuter rail.

yeah, 1st time i've seen it as well. it's pretty massive. i hope it comes into fruition soon.

[Darryl]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

yeah, 1st time i've seen it as well. it's pretty massive. i hope it comes into fruition soon.

Soon?? You mean like within the next 25 years?

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Originally Posted by Darryl

Soon?? You mean like within the next 25 years?

umm, perhaps....lol. i'm 27 now & i would atleast like to see it happen before i leave this god-green earth.

[Ty Doggie]

This would be a major plus for the region. I know Baltimore could use a serious overhaul considering that MTA's reach in the greater Baltimore area is very poor.

[NorthaBmore]

here's another map of the commuter rail proposal i found that looks about the same except it has a line between baltimore and frederick. image hosted on flickr

sorry the station names are so small

[rockin'.baltimorean]

i think i like THIS one better......

[jeremai]

Originally Posted by NorthaBmore

here's another map of the commuter rail proposal i found that looks about the same except it has a line between baltimore and frederick.

sorry the station names are so small

Very interesting. I found the full size version here:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_IleclKMZ1Mg/...-h/RegRail.JPG

Along with an insane Metro expansion map:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_IleclKMZ1Mg/...xportTest1.png

Taken from the following blog:
http://tracktwentynine.blogspot.com/

[NorthaBmore]

That metro expansion map is insane. Other than the silver line and the purple line, i've never even seen anything about most of those proposals.

[ValenciaSon]

Originally Posted by NorthaBmore

That metro expansion map is insane. Other than the silver line and the purple line, i've never even seen anything about most of those proposals.

How much of all this is wish list vs. seriously considered proposal/work in progress?