A map showing the corridor to be examined to define the exact route for the east–west Red Line. (Baltimore DOT
On 28 June Maryland governor Wes Moore announced that the east–west line planned to link Bayview and Woodlawn (John Hopkins Medical Center) will be light rail. 
 
The original plans for the 23.3km (14.5-mile) line envisaged light rail to be built in 2016-2022 at a cost of USD 1.6bn, with USD 900M coming from the federal government. Heavy rail was ruled out due to the projected cost of USD 2.6bn. 
 
When Republican Governor Larry Hogan was elected in 2014, he cancelled funding for the project, calling it a ‘boondoggle’. The FTA were to investigate a complaint that this decision discriminated against the African-American population, who stood most to benefit. However with the Obama administration replaced by one led by President Trump in January 2017 the FTA closed the investigation. 
 
In June 2023 Democrat Governor Wes Moore announced he would restart efforts to build the line and after studies against limited-stop bus services 28 June saw the announcement that the line would be built as light rail. The decision was data driven and three-quarters of respondents to consultation expressed a strong preference for light rail. The next step will be to define the exact route. The cost is now expected to be in the range USD 3.2-7.2bn. Ground-breaking could be in late 2026 or early 2027. 
 
Baltimore has had a north–south light rail line since 1983 and recently secured funding of USD 200M to replace 55 LRVs. The Red Line decision means this order could now increase to 90. 
 
Governor Moore said, ‘Bringing back the Red Line is nor just an opportunity, but an obligation. You cannot have economic mobility without physical mobility. We know that we have the resources for the phase we are in right now’. 
A map showing the corridor to be examined to define the exact route for the east–west Red Line. (Baltimore DOT)
A map showing the corridor to be examined to define the exact route for the east–west Red Line. (Baltimore DOT) 
 
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