BRTC Newsletter for August 2026

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. 

Provider News

Leadership Change at Maryland Transit Administration

On July 28th, MTA Administrator Holly Arnold announced that she will step down on September 1st. Arnold joined the MTA in 20212, overseeing its capital investment program, and held several agency roles before becoming administrator in 2021.

Governor Wes Moore appointed Tony Bridges as the next administrator. Bridges is a former state delegate from West Baltimore who previously served as MTA chief of staff and held senior roles a the Maryland Department of Transportation focused on equity, public engagement, and agency policy. He will return to MTA as the agency works to improve service reliability, modernize aging assets, and advance major transit projects across Maryland. 

MTA Moves Forward with Fifth Bus Division

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved MTA's purchase of a 22-acre property in East Baltimore for a future fifth bus division. The $16.5 million acquisition follows a four-year search for a site that can support more bus parking, maintenance space, and charging equipment for zero-emission buses. The property can immediately accommodate up to 250 buses and will help MTA operate service more efficiently in eastern and northeast Baltimore. The added capacity will also be vital to carrying out the BMORE BUS plan, which calls for more frequent service, new and extended routes, and a larger bus fleet across the Baltimore region.

Anne Arundel County Breaks Ground on New Transit Facility

In July, Anne Arundel County has broken ground on a new $17 million transportation operations facility in Glen Burnie expected to open in summer 2027. The facility will provide a permanent home for transit operations, maintenance, and administrative staff while allowing the County to expand its fleet and support electric vehicles. The investment comes as local transit ridership has grown by nearly 270% in five years, rising from roughly 112,000 trips in 2020 to nearly 415,000 in 2025. The new facility will help the County continue expanding reliable transit service while improving operations and supporting cleaner transportation.

Transit Events

Screenings of the Not in Service documentary

The new documentary Not in Service examines Baltimore’s long struggle to build a stronger regional transit system. The film traces the city’s unfinished rail plans, the 2015 cancellation of the Red Line, and the political divisions that have shaped transit investment across Maryland. Through interviews with residents, advocates and local leaders, it shows how decades of delayed and abandoned projects have affected Baltimore communities.

Two upcoming screenings are scheduled:

• September 12: Columbia Film Festival at the Maryland Innovation Center
• September 29: University of Baltimore at the Student Center

DVDs are also available for purchase through the film’s official website linked below.

Engagement Opportunities

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.

Transit Benefit of the Month: Public Health

Taking transit can turn an everyday trip into an opportunity to be active. Research shows that transit riders add roughly 8 to 33 minutes of walking to their day, while one commuter study found train riders took about 2,000 more daily steps than people who drove. Those built-in walks to and from stops and stations can help people meet physical activity needs to support heart health, healthy weight, and overall well-being.

The benefits extend beyond individual riders. By reducing car travel, public transit can also help lower air pollution and reduce traffic crashes. A strong transit system does more than connect people with jobs, services, and communities. It helps create a healthier and safer Baltimore region.

Former Baltimore delegate will take over as leader of Maryland Transit Administration

Open fare gates, staffing raise concerns about Baltimore's Metro Subway

Metrobus network redesign was a catalyst, but full story remains untold

This Month in Transit History

• August 10, 1885 - America’s first commercially operated electric streetcar began running in Baltimore. The new system replaced horse-drawn cars on the Hampden line and drew power from an electrified third rail. At its peak in the 1920s, the streetcar network boasted over 400 miles of track. Baltimore streetcars continued serving riders until November 1963 being fully replaced by buses.

• August 18, 1858 - The Northern Central Railway completed its route between Baltimore and Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The line carried passengers and goods between the Port of Baltimore and communities along the Susquehanna River.

• August 20, 1992 - In its first year, Baltimore’s Light Rail system expanded south from Camden Yards to Westport, Cherry Hill and Patapsco. Later additions extended service to Glen Burnie and BWI Airport.