Green Line (Baltimore)
Encyclopedia
The Green Line is a proposed mass transit line for the Baltimore, Maryland area in the United States
. It is still in the planning stages and its construction is not guaranteed.
and many other transit agencies do. In the committee's report, the existing Baltimore Metro Subway
was renamed the Green Line, and was to be extended northeast of its current terminus at Johns Hopkins Hospital
, past Morgan State University
and Good Samaritan Hospital in the northeastern part of the city, and ultimately on to White Marsh
in Baltimore County
.
The proposed extension of the Metro Subway was taken up by city and state officials as one of two proposals, from the advisory committee's long-term plan, that would be actively pursued (the other being the Red Line
). Although the report used the name "Green Line" to refer to the entire expanded Metro Subway, the term is currently being used to refer to the extension under consideration. As the existing Metro Subway is currently marked in green on the Baltimore Regional Transit Map, it's possible that the term might someday refer to the entire line.
might make the project untenable. Therefore, the ongoing scoping process is also considering bus rapid transit
and light rail
options as a possibility for this corridor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is still in the planning stages and its construction is not guaranteed.
Concept
In March 2002, the Baltimore Region Rail System Plan Advisory Committee, an independent commission appointed by Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari, developed suggestions for new lines and expansions of existing lines as part of a long-term regional rail system plan for the Baltimore area. The committee applied a unified branding scheme for the existing lines and the proposed new lines, identifying each line by a color, as the Washington MetroWashington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
and many other transit agencies do. In the committee's report, the existing Baltimore Metro Subway
Baltimore Metro Subway
The Baltimore Metro Subway, known locally as the Metro Subway, The Subway, or Baltimore Metro is a rapid transit line serving the greater Baltimore, Maryland, United States area and operated by the Maryland Transit Administration...
was renamed the Green Line, and was to be extended northeast of its current terminus at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
, past Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
and Good Samaritan Hospital in the northeastern part of the city, and ultimately on to White Marsh
White Marsh, Maryland
White Marsh is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,485 at the 2000 census.- History :...
in Baltimore County
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
.
The proposed extension of the Metro Subway was taken up by city and state officials as one of two proposals, from the advisory committee's long-term plan, that would be actively pursued (the other being the Red Line
Red Line (Baltimore)
The Red Line is a proposed east-west mass transit light rail line for Baltimore, Maryland. It is still in the planning stages and has been granted federal approval to enter the preliminary engineering phase...
). Although the report used the name "Green Line" to refer to the entire expanded Metro Subway, the term is currently being used to refer to the extension under consideration. As the existing Metro Subway is currently marked in green on the Baltimore Regional Transit Map, it's possible that the term might someday refer to the entire line.
Extension from Hopkins to Morgan State University
The current Green Line study focuses only on the 4-mile section of the proposed line from Johns Hopkins Hospital to Morgan State University. While an extension of the existing Metro Subway might seem like the most logical mode for this line, the expense of building several miles of underground heavy rail rapid transitRapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
might make the project untenable. Therefore, the ongoing scoping process is also considering bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
and light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
options as a possibility for this corridor.
Current status
Selection of a "locally preferred alternative" from the various transit options under consideration was originally scheduled for "Spring 2009 - Winter 2009." However, a selection was not announced during 2009 and the project schedule had still not been updated by the end of Summer 2010. As of October 2010, project planning for the Green Line is on hold for the foreseeable future. No funding was allocated for the line's planning as of fiscal year 2011.See also
- Red LineRed Line (Baltimore)The Red Line is a proposed east-west mass transit light rail line for Baltimore, Maryland. It is still in the planning stages and has been granted federal approval to enter the preliminary engineering phase...
- a proposed rail line from WoodlawnWoodlawn, Baltimore County, MarylandWoodlawn is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 36,079 at the 2000 census. It is home to both the headquarters of the Social Security Administration as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...
, in Baltimore County (west), to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterJohns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterJohns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, formerly known as Francis Scott Key Medical Center, is a hospital and medical office center in East Baltimore.It is located along Eastern Avenue near Bayview Boulevard...
in Baltimore City (east). - Yellow LineYellow Line (Baltimore)The Yellow Line is a mass transit line proposed by the Baltimore Regional Rail Plan in March 2002 for the Baltimore, Maryland area. It would begin at Columbia Town Center in Columbia, Maryland, and end in Hunt Valley, Maryland at Shawan Road....
- a proposed rail line from Hunt ValleyHunt Valley, MarylandHunt Valley is an affluent unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It lies just north of the city of Baltimore, along Highway 145 off Interstate 83. Loch Raven Reservoir...
to Columbia Town CenterTown Center, Columbia, MarylandTown Center is one of the ten villages in Columbia, Maryland, United States, first occupied in 1974. It is a non-contiguous, diverse area, and the most urban-like, ranging from multi-level high density apartments homes and office buildings, to single family homes....
. - Charles Street TrolleyCharles Street TrolleyThe Charles Street Trolley is a proposed trolley line running through northern portions of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Kittelson & Associates, a consulting firm hired by trolley advocates, estimates that the line would be likely to carry 2.5 million riders per year .The proposal is backed...
- a proposed trolley line in northern Baltimore, backed by a non-MTA group.