BRTC Newsletter for February 2026

Commision News

BRTC at the Major League Transit Rally

BRTC staff attended the Major League Transit Rally on Monday, February 2, at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis to support calls for more frequent and reliable transit service in the Baltimore region. The rally brought together transit riders, students, community leaders, and elected officials to urge the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Moore to fully fund MTA’s BMORE BUS Plan. Free buses were provided from Baltimore to Annapolis, helping riders participate and share their experiences directly with decision-makers.

BRTC 2026 Transit Funding Priorities Campaign

The BRTC’s 2026 Transit Funding Priorities Campaign launched in January and is now underway as the Maryland General Assembly session continues. The campaign helps explain why strong, stable funding is needed to improve transit service across the Baltimore region, with a focus on core bus service, essential facilities, light rail modernization, and advancing the Red Line. Below, you can find links to the campaign website and a printable flyer with more details on the priorities and the transit plans they support.

BRTC 2026 Meetings

The BRTC has scheduled the dates for its bi-monthly meetings for this year: March 6, May 1,  July 17, September 11, and November 13. 

• When: Fridays from 10am - 12:30pm
• Where: Baltimore Metropolitan Council,1500 Whetstone Way, Suite 300, Baltimore, Maryland 21230
• Online Option: Register for Zoom invite

Materials from past BRTC meetings, including agendas, recordings, and presentation handouts, are available online. 

Transit Benefit of the Month: Cleaner Air

Shifting trips from cars to public transit reduces air pollution and protects public health. Public transit in the U.S. saves about 6 billion gallons of gasoline each year and prevents roughly 63 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, helping reduce smog and fine particle pollution. Cleaner air lowers rates of asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses. Communities with strong transit systems see healthier air, fewer pollution-related health problems, and a safer environment for everyone.

Fast-tracked Baltimore bus expansion left out of Moore’s transportation budget

Why Baltimore's transit system is getting low marks from transit activists, students and workers

Baltimore riders demand faster buses, more funding in Annapolis

This Month in Transit History

• February 13, 1828 – Maryland approved the charter for the Baltimore & Susquehanna Railroad, authorizing a rail line from Baltimore to York County, Pennsylvania. The project aimed to give farmers and merchants a fairer route to market and became an early building block of the region’s rail network.

• February 25, 2009 – The Federal Transit Administration launched its “Transit on the Cutting Edge of Clean Technology” initiative, encouraging transit agencies to adopt low-emission buses and cleaner technologies. The program helped push sustainability and climate goals into everyday transit planning nationwide.

• February 28, 1827 – The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was officially chartered by the State of Maryland, creating the nation’s first major commercial railroad. The B&O helped establish Baltimore as a key transportation hub and shaped rail development across the United States.