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Xanny t1_ix03v0o wrote

Reply to comment by gaytee in First time seeing the 2002 Baltimore Region Rail Map. Moore, make it happen! by A_Damn_Millenial

Which is just fuck em. I think one of the greatest failings in Baltimore transit planning is the persistent need to keep trying to make it a commuter system, that every line needs to have termini in exurbs near or past the beltway. In most proposals the lines are only financially solvent to build in the city core and the 60%+ of the line that goes through the suburbs out to these termini are extraordinarily expensive to build and would have a fraction of the ridership.

The original Red Line proposal is a great example of this. From the MARC interchange past Bayview through the city and up route 40 it all makes great sense. You even get a dedicated right of way tunnel through most of the city to make up for the failings of the existing light rail. But then they propose an expensive as hell tunnel under suburbia at Cooks Lane through the nowhere that is i70 just to get it to the car sprawl malls and government buildings at Security Square. That whole leg of the route is about half its cost but its realistic ridership would be dreadful compared to the rest of the route.

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colive4 t1_ix19taz wrote

While I agree with you on the matter of cost, I can counter with an amazing single data point of one, me. I would LOVE to be able to get downtown from my Baltimore County home easily and without having to drive. A stop in White Marsh isn't too far from me and would make it incredibly easier for me to go to things like O's games, the casino, and restaurants. (20ish years ago I would have said downtown bars too but I've aged out of that demographic).

I hear what you're saying though for sure. I'm just one person fighting against the racists out here.

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Xanny t1_ix1csri wrote

Yea at some point the impetus has to be on the individual to live near transit if they want to use it. Like definitely advocate wherever you are to build transit, but most of the suburbs exist to get away from the city. That is why I advocate for building up transit in Baltimore itself, so that people who want to live car free have that as an option, because its really the only place in the state that can be truly realized.

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Cheomesh t1_ix2qq9g wrote

I get you, but if the city has to foot the bill for these why should it subsidize suburban lifestyles?

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colive4 t1_ix4hruq wrote

Fair point, but two things:

  1. The influx of $$ into Baltimore City from surburbanites with easy access to all the stuff there isn't nothing.
  2. Fund it at the state level, not just the city. Failing that, a joint counties/city project.

Just back of the napkin thinking, I'm not a budgeting guy!

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