Baltimore Builds $120M Two-Track Light Rail System

Wed January 30, 2002 - Northeast Edition
Brenda Ruggiero

Due to a $120-million federal grant, work to complete a two-track light rail system in the Baltimore, MD, area will begin in the spring. An additional $33 million will come from the state of Maryland. The project will convert eight segments of track over 9.4 mi. (15.1 km) from the Warren Road station in Cockeysville to the Cromwell station in Glen Burnie. In addition, second platforms will be built at four stations. Plans are to complete the improvements by 2006.

The current system, which opened in 1992, covers 29 mi. (46.6 km), with 12.4 mi. (19.9 km) of single track from Hunt Valley to Glen Burnie. Riders are often delayed at stations or forced to wait on side tracks for oncoming trains to pass. With daily ridership projections growing from 30,000 to 44,000 in the next five years, there is a need to make the system faster and more efficient. Jack Cahalan, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Transportation, said, “The whole point is to maximize what this system can be.”

According to the Maryland Transit Administrator, Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening’s vision is to achieve 1 million daily transit trips in Maryland by 2020. He said, “To do that, we must complete our current projects and begin planning for our future needs. We’re creating a mass transit system for the next millennium.”

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) reported that construction will be carried out in stages to allow the continuation of regular rail service. However, when necessary, passengers will be shuttled between stations by bus.

Project Engineer Steve Silva of the MTA reported that the initial construction project will involve two bridges in Baltimore City — the Middle Branch Bridge and the Kloman Street Bridge. The bidding process is currently under way, with notice to proceed expected in the spring.

Silva noted that the overall project will involve approximately 10 construction contracts over the next four years.

Brenda Ruggiero

Brenda Ruggiero has written for CEG for over 20 years. She lives near the town of Accident in far western Maryland. Her favorite assignments so far involved interviews with Survivor’s Boston Rob and hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut. Both were involved in construction at one time.

Brenda holds a BA in Mass Communication with a writing focus from Frostburg State University and minors in Public Relations and Political Science. She works full time as a staff writer for a weekly newspaper, the Garrett County Republican. She enjoys feature writing the most, which gives her the opportunity to talk to people and share their stories.

Brenda and her middle school sweetheart, Reuben, have been married for over 34 years and have three grown children and four cats.

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