Baltimore Red Line Underground

Did they fudge it?

MTA uses math tricks to fudge the federal formula.

Governor O’Malley completed the state’s expected pantomime Tuesday, choosing the $1.6 billion-plus Red Line Alternative 4C as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). It was chosen partially because it’s the most “viable,” meaning that it’s closest to meeting preferred cost standards for Federal money. Their numbers have improved 24% since than the last time the project was formally evaluated.

But you have to wonder – what did the MTA do to 4C to approach that preferred standard?

One way was to cut corners on the project. Making a single-track “Death Trap tunnel” under Cooks Lane is reckoned to save perhaps $70 million. But single tracking is an option the MTA rejected before because it causes, in their own words, “Longer travel times – this is due to the need to wait for trains in the opposing direction; Less frequent service – resulting in a less convenient, attractive service; Lower passenger capacity due to less frequent service, not allowing for future ridership growth, and overall operational and maintenance flexibility.”

What all that means is that the system is less reliable and slower. The end-to-end travel time has now increased to a sluggish 44 minutes, an average speed of 19mph.
Read more…

A vote by a citizen’s transportation advisory council to oppose Red Line Alternative 4C was shut down on a technicality by the State appointed chair.

On July 9th, 2009, The Red Line Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC) met at the Holy Rosary Church. On the agenda was a vote to rescind the CAC’s December 11 recommendation of Alternative 4C.

A majority of 6 members voted to rescind the recommendation. However, because of a technicality, a majority was not enough to pass the vote.

The discussion was put on the agenda at the previous meeting without a formal motion. Under those conditions, a 2/3 majority was required to rescind, according to Robert’s Rules of Order . The CAC Chair Ms. Angela Bethea-Spearman, who supports 4C, ruled that the motion to rescind failed. The CAC canceled its August monthly meeting, staving off the vote once again.

The CAC was formed by Maryland law in 2007 amid controversy to involve communities in planning stages of projects that would effect them. Public meetings are held monthly. The Council includes community members, officials from Baltimore City Departments of Transportation and Planning, and an official from Baltimore County.

Opposition to 4C has increased exponentially, said one CAC member. Community members of the CAC said that to continue to block the vote was to ignore the public’s voice to the MTA.