Revive the Red Line Presentation
Encourage by the support the project has been receiving. Minister Glenn Smith and Samuel Jordan are founders of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition after the Red Line was cancelled.
Biden administration has informed them that they are looking at the civil rights complaint filed after the Red Line cancellation.
Cancellation of the Red Line was an action of structural racism on public transportation but the benefits of the Red Line are regional–it would provide construction jobs, better transportation, and transit orientated development money. Light rail has been the number one economic driver in terms of transportation in the country. Improved transit would increase not only the city’s connectivity but also food security, employment, environmental efforts and attract residents back to the City. The only forms of transportation less polluting than light rail are walking and biking.
They are seeing a growing swell of support. The Red Line was shoveled ready when it had been cancelled–it was scheduled to be completed in mid-October.
Regional transportation authorities are the best way to see the Red Line completed–the City cannot do it alone. Only by replacing the MDOT model will the Red Line be able to be completed. BTEC has a petition drive to amend the City Charter to compel the City to take the first steps to creating a regional transportation authority. A regional transportation authority would allow the City and the surrounding counties to control their own transit.
Are asking SWP and other community organizations to engage in a petition campaign–need to collect and submit 10,000 ballot petitions by August 1 2022, in order to get on the ballot in November. Also need to signal to the gubernatorial candidates that the City wants the Red Line built.
See the Red Line as the first installment in their plans to have a multi-modal regional transit system. Maryland already supports WMATA (Washington DC transit authority) and so this wouldn’t be a new idea. Services already provided by MTA would remain and be transferred to the regional transit authority along with their funding.
Maryland’s Senators (Van Hollen and Cardin) have been able to get language in the Biden infrastructure bill that would direct funds to Maryland for the completion of the Red Line–this depends on the state being the sponsor and so would rely on a transit friendly governor being in office.
Minister Smith emphasized that the negative impacts of the building of the Highway to Nowhere and the necessity of transit for economic growth.
Scott: What can we do? What do you need from us to move this forward? We need to win the ballot petition campaign–need a systematic approach to getting signatures for the ballot campaign. Looking for volunteers–can provide a piece work approach–using affordable housing trust fund approach. Would be able to compensate circulators. Also want a network between Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition and the community associations along the corridor–need to show that associations are actively endorsing the Red Line. Have to demonstrate that there is definitive support in Baltimore for completing the Red Line. Also a need for stories to post on social media about the impact that the Red Line would have. Petitioning has to be in person.
Bill: hopes the SWP can do something–wants to be sure that they understand the SWP cannot speak for the neighborhood associations. Would also like to see the route changed to go through Canton, and wonders if the Maglev is an ally or a competition? To complete the Red Line there does need to be a completion of the environmental study–the ultimate alignment that was chosen by the federal government has the environmental study–so if the alignment changes would need a new environmental study. Maglev can’t help most of the folks who would benefit the most from the Red Line–there are big issues with the Maglev–it is not bringing a lot of development and shouldn’t get Baltimore’s priority.
Facebook and web page talk about the petition campaign.
Abigail: Wants to invite them to the Education Committee meeting to present. How do the in person petitions work? Would like the SWP as an organization to advocate on this issue. For the SWP to endorse the work of the BTEC and to be actively involved in their work would need to be approved by the Board and have the approval of the most impacted neighborhood associations (Franklin Square and Poppleton).
In terms of petitions–are taking every precaution–use gloves, hand sanitizer, mask wearing, and as much social distancing as possible. Petition has to be signed by Baltimore City voters and signed in person–using an established form.
Ms Paulette is interested in distributing the petition.
Susan: Barre Circle has events coming up that could be good opportunities for petitions
Scott made a motion to endorse the work of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition and to provide a letter of support of the priorities of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition and to support the Red Line, to support the Baltimore Regional Transit Authority, and to collect signatures for the ballot petition contingent on the support of the all the SWP neighborhoods, including the two in Poppleton, for a total of eight neighborhood associations.
Bill seconded the motion and asked to amend it to include the recognized Poppleton group–so adding or all seven neighborhoods if there is a recognized Poppleton voice.
David: asked about State Senators who are backing the effort–Jill Carter is one of the sponsor and there are many other Senators or Delegates who are supportive.
The Committee discussed supporting the BTEC–Ms Edith and Ms Paulette say that they and their communities are supportive.
Scott withdrew his motion
Bill made a new motion: the Vibrant Streets Committee supports the construction of the Red Line project and the creation of a Baltimore Regional Transit Authority and calls on the Southwest Partnership to provide support provided that the seven communities (recognized SWP Communities) support it.
David asked about the details of the proposed Regional Transit Authority vs other efforts–no one really knows about the difference.
6 ayes (Bill, Scott, Edith, Paulette, Laura, Donnell) 2 abstentions (Thomas, David)
Small Neighborhood Grants
Board approved motion to move forward with existing grants in Poppleton and allowing people to allow for grants in Poppleton, Small Neighborhood Grants will open tomorrow (hopefully).
SubCommittee Updates
Bikes: not too much, would like to bring Matt Hendricks to the December meeting at the earliest–asked Scott to share what he mentioned at Public Safety about bikes. Nia and Meghan are working on a bike event at Carroll Park in October, Public Safety Committee is planning an event in the Spring. Scott was at a small DOT meeting-working on traffic calming under the Carey St bridge–will be flex posts to narrow the travel lanes and Scott suggested putting a cycle track to support biking under the bridge to get to Carroll Park. Committee discussed the feasibility of bike lanes to Carroll Park. Donnell would like to invite someone to attend the upcoming meeting. Elizabeth will reach out to Jeff LaNoue and Sandra Matier about updating the Committee. Saturday 25th Bikemore is sponsoring a Family Bike Event at the Peabody Heights Brewery from 12-2pm
Signs: Diana’s report is below:
#1 – I have made a connection with Kris and the B&O and it is possible to consider (no promise or commitment) that the Restoration Department at the B&O may be able to straighten and paint the sign posts white. I never heard back from JR and Thomas – to see if the locals who made the gates, might be able to do it.
#2 – I have reached out to Andrea to secure the name of the company who might be able to make the ‘skins’. I have not heard back from her. Maybe Donell could help connect Andrea and I. I’m not sure if I have the correct email and not sure if he had a personal conversation or an email conversation with her. When I get that figured out, I can get an estimate on the cost of one sign.
#3 – I haven’t thought about how we will pay for this.
#4 – I also haven’t heard back from Patty and Biff to verify that they do NOT want us to include the 2 Mencken signs.
Public Art: Commercial meeting next Tuesday will have a speaker on Arts and Entertainment Districts on Tuesday at 7pm
Comfort Station: working with Councilman Bullock on getting the Comfort Station and the sign project moving–waiting for a reply from the office.
Scott–has started doing some work in the front of the Lord Baltimore Theater–if people are interested they could speak up and form a subcommittee to do the work. Donnell would like the committee to support the efforts to beautify the front of the Theater.
Scott:October 6th is National Bike/Walk to School Day. Requires a volunteer at each school to hand out the stickers. Elizabeth will connect Scott with Jeff Johnson.
Donnell: please share Halloween events with the Committee–Hollins Roundhouse will try to do a Halloween movie night
