Red Line Transit Study
Location: Baltimore Metropolitan Area, Maryland
Client: Maryland Transit Administration
JMT participated in the completion of a major transit study,
including full environmental documentation, for a new light rail
line.
The Baltimore Regional Rail System Plan
provided a 40-year blueprint to shape transit and transportation
throughout the region. JMT was chosen as part of a joint venture
team to perform the planning study for the highest and first
priority of the plan, the Red Line, along a west-east alignment
from the Social Security Complex in Woodlawn through downtown
Baltimore to Bayview.
The Team considered Transportation Systems Management (TSM), Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT), and Light Rail Transit (LRT) alternatives. The
Locally Preferred Alternative was LRT via a fully-dedicated
transitway along a 14 mile alignment and consisting of
approximately 20 stations. The Red Line will connect
residential, employment and commercial centers as well as
entertainment, schools and shopping along the corridor. In
addition, major park and ride facilities are proposed at both ends.
JMT planners, architects, and engineers led the station planning
assignments. An initial identification of over 50
potential station locations was reduced down to the ultimate 20
stations that were developed further. The 20 stations
identified in the Locally Preferred Alternative included at-grade
stations, tunnel stations, aerial stations, park and ride
facilities at six stations, and bus transfer facilities. The
efforts included demographic analysis, existing transit usage,
planned development activity and community master plans, transit
oriented development (TOD) opportunities, existing site
constraints, traffic, urban design principles, and input from
Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and the public.
Access to other transit system resources would be crucial to the
Red Line's viability. To that end, the proposed Red Line would
provide station connections to the three existing fixed-rail
transit services, including MARC for commuting between Baltimore
and Washington DC, the Metro, and the Central Light Rail
Line.
The Team identified and developed conceptual alignments
including median locations, outside parallel locations, and aerial
crossings. A range of operational concepts were analyzed, including
dedicated, exclusive and shared transitways and contra-flow
operations. JMT completed analysis of existing traffic, roadway
right-of-way, and lane configurations for the assessment of
alignments. Conceptual engineering for civil and structural
elements, systems, maintenance facilities, and rolling stock also
was completed.
As part of the management team for the planning study, JMT was
specifically responsible for station planning, mapping, demographic
analysis, alignment/engineering, land use activities and TOD,
landscape architecture, impact analysis, and ridership/traffic
analyses. JMT traffic engineers performed traffic data collection,
travel time analysis using GPS recorders, travel demand forecasts
using the Baltimore Metropolitan Council model, origin destination
studies, parking inventory, duration and turnover studies, traffic
analysis using VISSIM and SYNCHRO, and preparation of the traffic
section for the DEIS. JMT also helped lead an extensive
public involvement plan including preparation of graphics, leading
Community Working Groups, and attended public open house
meetings.
The Planning Team understood that in order to be successful, the
Red Line needed to address more than transportation needs. The
project incorporated TOD, community plans, Complete Streets,
pedestrian and bicycles, and environmental enhancements. JMT led
the effort in a pilot program for Green Tracks. Along the existing
light rail service, four locations were chosen to test and monitor
various plants and subsurface conditions so as to help "green" two
at-grade boulevards and improve water quality.
Eighteen NEPA and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Technical
Reports were completed. The quality of work was honored by the FTA
with its first ever "Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence
in Environmental Document Preparation for areas over 200,000 in
population". Subsequently, the Team worked with the client
and the FTA to develop the New Starts Application. JMT participated
in developing the total cost estimates for the improvements
(estimated at $1.7 billion in 2010 dollars) and development of the
Cost Effectiveness analysis for FTA.
Survey Services: JMT's survey
team established a control network for the entire corridor.
In the initial phase of the project, JMT established approximately
90 aerial targets to be used as the basis of control for the aerial
photogrammetry. During this phase we completed GPS static
observations per NGS guidelines and supplemented this data with
conventional traverse. We also completed digital levels
through all of our traverse points and set additional bench marks
throughout the project for future use. Later, JMT was
responsible for certain sections of topographic and boundary
surveys throughout the corridor. These surveys were
accomplished with conventional data collection methods and post
processed to develop base mapping that was then merged with aerial
photogrammetry.
Right of Way Services: JMT prepared a
right of way cost estimate as part of the project planning
effort. Other related services included negotiation and
processing sales of property acquired for transportation purposes
and conducting property management activities in a transportation
agency setting.
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