Action
Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) are issuing this notice to advise agencies and the public that, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the FTA and the MTA will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to assess the impacts of potential transit alternatives in the Green Line Corridor. This corridor extends from Johns Hopkins Medical Center north to Morgan State University. The Green Line Corridor Transit Project would serve older dense city neighborhoods in northeast Baltimore and would provide convenient and efficient access between Johns Hopkins Medical Center, the proposed East Baltimore Biotechnology Park, Morgan State University, and the Baltimore City Central Business District, as well as improved connectivity with other transit services in Baltimore and support economic development. The 23-member Advisory Committee to MTA that developed the Baltimore Region Rail System Plan identified growing traffic congestion in the Baltimore region, the need for improved access to jobs, improving air quality and the desire to keep the Baltimore region competitive as important concerns for the Baltimore Region. The Green Line Corridor Transit Project was identified as a priority project for addressing these issues. The project is also included in the Baltimore Region Constrained Long-Range Plan. The purpose of the Green Line DEIS is to examine the engineering feasibility, potential benefits, costs, and social, cultural, economic, built and natural environmental impacts of feasible alternatives in the corridor to improve transit mobility in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The DEIS will examine and evaluate rail, bus rapid transit (BRT), transportation systems management/transportation demand management (TSM/TDM), and no-build alternatives. Tunnel, surface and/or aerial alignment options will be considered for rail and BRT alternatives. Scoping Meetings: Public scoping meetings for the Green Line Corridor Transit Project DEIS will be held at times and locations to be held on: