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This month's newsletter is about 1,075 words long, or a 5-minute read.
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BRTC Newsletter for July 2026
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About the BRTC
The Baltimore Regional Transit Commission (BRTC) works to improve public transit in the Baltimore region. The BRTC provides input and support to transit providers and strives to improve service and make it more accessible for all. The BRTC is set to sunset later this year, with its responsibilities transitioning to the new Board of Directors for the Baltimore Core Transit Service within the Maryland Department of Transportation.
To provide online feedback for the BRTC, please visit our community engagement page.
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BRTC Meetings
The BRTC’s final public meeting is scheduled for Friday September 25th.
- When: Friday September 25th from 10 am to 12:30 pm
- 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.
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Engagement Opportunities
The Red Line 2026 Values Survey
The Red Line 2026 Values Survey closes July 31. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is asking the public to share their priorities for the Baltimore Red Line. Feedback will help MTA understand community preferences related to cost, project timing, service quality, accessibility, and how the project can best serve the east-west corridor. Take the online survey to help shape the future of this major transit investment in the Baltimore region.
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Transportation 101 Applications Being Accepted
The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance (CMTA) is accepting applications for the 2026 fall workshop series. The fall 2026 class of Transportation 101 will meet on Wednesdays for seven weeks, beginning on September 16 and ending on October 28. Sessions will be held at the offices of Baltimore Community Foundation (11 E. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21202) from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. To help make participating a little easier, dinner and refreshments will be provided for each session.
CMTA believes that engaged and informed citizens are integral to building the region's transportation future. Graduates learn the basics of regional transportation issues, how transportation affects the quality of life, why investment matters, and how to carry out their own advocacy action plans. Applications are being accepted until August 26 and can be accessed at the link below.
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Legislative Round Up
House Committee Advances FY 2027 Transportation Funding Bill
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. The committee-approved proposal would provide $16.5 billion for public transit, 22% less than the fiscal year 2026 enacted level, and $737 million for Capital Investment Grants, a 78% reduction. It would also provide $3.1 billion for passenger and freight rail while redirecting $5.1 billion in previously approved intercity passenger rail funding to other programs. As Congress continues the annual appropriations process, Baltimore-area transit supporters can urge Maryland’s congressional delegation to protect federal investments that support transit service, system modernization, major expansion projects, and passenger rail.
House Committee Advances BUILD America 250 Act
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act by a 62-2 vote, advancing the next federal surface transportation authorization bill. The committee-approved version includes reforms intended to speed up transit and passenger rail projects and give agencies more flexibility in fleet management and procurement. However, it would authorize about $103 billion for public transit and $64 billion for passenger rail from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, reductions of 14% and 43%, respectively, compared with inflation-adjusted levels under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Transit supporters in the Baltimore region can follow the bill as it moves through Congress and encourage Maryland’s congressional delegation to support stronger, guaranteed funding for public transit and passenger rail.
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Transit Events
MTA Riders Explore the Region Through Ride & Seek
From July 10–12, MTA hosted its first Ride & Seek Scavenger Hunt, inviting participants to solve clues, visit transit-accessible destinations, and scan QR codes as they explored the Baltimore region by bus, Light Rail, and Metro Subway. Participants earned points through the Eventzee app and competed for prizes, including MTA merchandise, a customized bus stop sign, and a Visa gift card. The event had concluded by the time this newsletter was published, and MTA will soon be announcing the winners.
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July Transit Choices Meeting
The July Transit Choices meeting will be held virtually on Zoom on Thursday, July 30, from 8:30 to 9:30am. David Zaidain, MDOT Chief of Transit-Oriented Development, will provide an overview of Maryland’s transit-oriented development initiatives and the recently passed Transit and Housing Opportunity Act. Todd Lang, Staff Director to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, will also discuss the outlook for federal transportation funding as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act approaches its September 30 expiration. Anyone who would like the Zoom link should reach out to robin@transitchoices.org.
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Transit riders help support the neighborhoods and business districts they visit. According to the American Public Transportation Association, 87% of transit trips directly affect the local economy, including 21% made for shopping and 17% involving recreation or entertainment spending. Riders may stop at restaurants, stores, and other businesses while commuting, running errands, or attending events. By connecting more people with commercial areas and generating steady foot traffic, reliable transit can help small businesses attract customers and strengthen downtowns and neighborhood shopping districts.
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This Month in Transit History
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July 4, 1828 - Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, laid the first stone of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad during an Independence Day ceremony in southwest Baltimore. The event launched construction of the B&O Railroad, a landmark in the development of American passenger and freight rail.
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July 9, 1964 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, establishing a permanent federal program to support public transportation. The law authorized $375 million for transit capital projects over three years and laid the foundation for the federal, state, and local partnerships that continue to fund transit systems nationwide.
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July 20, 1987 - Baltimore’s Metro Subway opened a six-mile extension north from Reisterstown Plaza to Owings Mills. The expansion added Milford Mill, Old Court, and Owings Mills stations, creating a direct rail connection between northwestern Baltimore County and downtown Baltimore.
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