Gov. Moore announces updated plans for Baltimore’s Red Line transit project (2024)

• By: WBAL-TV 11
• June 29, 2024

Declaring this a big moment for Baltimore, Gov. Wes Moore announced Friday that the Red Line will consist of light rail transit rather than a rapid bus line.

The governor provided the update Thursday evening on social media and at a news conference Friday morning.

The move fulfills a campaign promise he made to bring back the east-west Red Line transit project, which herelaunched in June 2023after formerGov. Larry Hogan halted the project in 2015.

I RELATED: Data shows Red Line would significantly improve access to jobs in Baltimore

Leaders said expanding public transit in Baltimore, specifically the Red Line, is expected to make Baltimore more inclusive and equitable.

During his announcement, the governor spoke directly to city residents.

“I want to thank Baltimore. I want to thank Baltimore for always believing in Baltimore, and always believing that this was going to be an important moment for our city to lead.

“And, I want to spend just a second speaking directly to Baltimore because when I say this is going to be Maryland’s decade — and I want to be clear when I say it’s Maryland decade and people are like, ‘Oh, that sounds cute.’ But no, we’ve got receipts. This really is going to be Maryland’s decade. People see this now. We weren’t playing — but in order for this to be Maryland’s decade, it’s got to be Baltimore’s time.

“And, when people say that, ‘Of course you’d say that, you know, you’re a Baltimorean.’ I don’t say that because I’m a homer. I say that because I’m very good at math. It’s the state’s largest city; you cannot have a thriving state if the state’s largest city isn’t thriving.

“And, this is a time that I know for a lot of folks in Baltimore that we’ve been told over and over that we need to temper our expectations. That I know that we’ve been told that, ‘You know what? We just need to wait our turn. You all get too much.’ That sometimes we oftentimes don’t even dare to be hopeful because we know it’s too painful to watch hope pulled from you. That we know sometimes it’s sometimes just easier to be subtle and humble and not to dream.

“Well, I just want to say this to Baltimore: Those days are done. We’re dreaming big. And, we’re getting big things done because we are getting them done together.”

.@MayorBMScott has taken the podium…speaking passionately about the Red Line…saying the former Governor who cancelled the project “took baltimore off the map…literally and figuratively…he thought we didn’t need public transit…just because he thought that…we paid the price”

— Chris Cichon (@TheBigCheeShow) June 28, 2024

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Before Moore provided updates Friday alongside federal, state, local and Johns Hopkins leaders, he launched the news Thursday night on X, saying:

“Tomorrow is a celebration because Maryland chooses to be bold. We listened to communities, stakeholders, and leaders across the state — they were clear, this is what they wanted. We are proud to announce the Red Line will bring light rail to Baltimore!”

The Maryland Department of Transportationheld several community meetingsto hear input from residents about whether the Red Line should be a light rail or transit buses.

“The Red Line will get the green light, and today, we stand here to say we have listened to the community, the people have spoken, and Baltimore wants the Red Line to bring light rail to Baltimore,” Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said. “The long overdue transit system will provide access to employment, education, social inclusion while reducing disparities — a vital transportation system that the city has long awaited and rightfully deserves.”

As planned for years, the Red Line is slated to travel from Woodlawn in western Baltimore County, east through the city and terminating at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center campus.

“Today marks a significant milestone for the people of Baltimore and for the continued mission of this campus in southeast Baltimore,” said Jennifer Nickoles, president of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.