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This month's newsletter is about 950 words long, or a 4-minute read.
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Introduction
Welcome to the first edition of the BRTC Newsletter. Each month, the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission will share updates about our work, highlight upcoming meetings and public input opportunities, and bring you news and stories about transit in the Baltimore region. Our goal is to make it easier for residents, riders, and community leaders to stay informed and engaged in shaping a stronger regional transit system.
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About the BRTC
The Baltimore Regional Transit Commission (BRTC), created by the Maryland State Legislature in 2023, works to improve public transit in the Baltimore region. Its members include state and local officials, transportation professionals, riders, advocates, labor groups, and business leaders. The BRTC offers input and support to transit providers and strives to make service better and more accessible for all. To provide online feedback for the BRTC, please visit our community engagement page.
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Commission News
The BRTC has reviewed and approved MTA’s 2025 Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan after a series of meetings this summer and fall. This 25-year plan lays out how public transportation in Central Maryland will grow and improve. It covers traditional services like buses and trains while also looking at new mobility options and emerging technology.
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Legislative Round Up
Workgroup on the Re-Organization of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
The Workgroup on the Reorganization of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), created by HB 517 this past year, is studying whether and how to reorganize the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and MTA. The group includes legislators, regional officials, MDOT and MTA representatives, and MTA riders, with staff support from MDOT and the Department of Legislative Services (DLS). Its tasks include evaluating alternative reorganization models, assessing costs and benefits, identifying existing MTA contracts and transfer requirements, estimating costs, and analyzing effects on federal funding and compliance. The study will also consider options for:
- Keeping MTA responsible for core Baltimore transit services
- Creating a statewide transit unit within MDOT's Secretary's Office
- Adjusting governance to give Baltimore City greater oversight
Their final recommendations are due December 1, 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, at 1:00 PM and is open to the public or can be viewed online.
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Transit Provider News
As part of Baltimore City's Transit Development Plan, the Charm City Circulator Green Route will expand and improve its free service beginning December 7, 2025. The new route will reach farther into East Baltimore neighborhoods, create stronger connections between Johns Hopkins and North Avenue, and provide access to more key destinations and landmarks seven days a week.
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Engagement Opportunities
West Baltimore United — “Let Us Know What You Think” Survey
This planning project seeks to reconnect neighborhoods damaged by past highway construction and reimagine transportation, housing, equity, and more. Community input will steer every phase of the plan.
You can take part right now via an online survey. It asks questions like:
- How are you connected to or impacted by West Baltimore?
- What you envision for the area's future?
- Which topics interest you most (transportation, housing, public safety, etc.)?
- How you prefer to engage (in-person meetings, virtual public meetings, email updates, posted info)?
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Baltimore Traffic Safety Survey
Does traffic safety in Baltimore affect your daily life? The Baltimore City Department of Transportation wants to hear from residents about their experiences on city streets and ideas for making them safer. The online Traffic Safety Survey asks how traffic issues impact you, where you feel unsafe walking, biking, or driving, and what changes you think would improve safety. Your feedback will help shape recommendations in the City's Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.
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Transit Choices Survey Results
Transit Choices recently surveyed 1,225 residents in the Baltimore region over three weeks (mostly from Baltimore City and County) about transit priorities. Their responses showed:
- Frequency (49%) and reliability (40%) are the biggest factors that would make people ride transit more, with safety, access, cleanliness, and cost cited by the rest.
- When asked about capital projects, 65% prioritized the Red Line, 28% favored the BMORE BUS plan and a fifth bus division, and 7% pointed to rail, technology, or other improvements.
- For funding, 46% preferred statewide revenue, 43% backed a regional sales tax, and 11% suggested alternatives like corporate taxes, development fees, or increased farebox recovery.
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Transit Benefit of the Month: Road Safety
Riding transit is far safer than driving a car. Transit modes have much lower crash rates per mile. For example, riding a bus is 75 times safer and commuter trains are 25 times safer than driving. Since U.S. roads see around 40,000 traffic deaths every year, this safety gap is vast. Every transit trip taken instead of driving cuts the chance of a deadly crash, helping to make all roads safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
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This Month in Transit History
- November 3, 1963 – Baltimore ran its final electric streetcar, Car No. 7407, arriving at the Irvington car barn that morning, marking the end of the city's trolley era.
- November 1966 – The Baltimore Regional Metro System Plan was adopted, providing an early blueprint for what would become the Metro SubwayLink and setting a vision for regional rapid transit.
- November 21, 1983 – Baltimore's Metro Subway began revenue service between Charles Center and Reisterstown Plaza, launching the city's return to rail transit via a 7.6-mile, 8-station line.
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