FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS:          

Sandy Arnette                                     Paul Shepard                                  Adrienne Barnes

MDOT MTA                                          MDOT MTA                                      Baltimore City

410-767-8367                                      410-767-3935                                410-361-9296

sarnette@mta.maryland.gov           pshepard@mta.maryland.gov       adrienne.barnes@baltimorecity.gov

New Dedicated BaltimoreLink Bus Lanes

Coming to Downtown Baltimore

Starting Week of May 15

BaltimoreLink Bus Lanes To Deliver More Efficient Transit Service

BALTIMORE, MD (MAY 10, 2017) – In an effort to transform public transportation in Baltimore, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) are rolling out the next phase of dedicated bus lanes in parts of the city beginning the week of May 15. These dedicated bus lanes are a key element of the Hogan Administration’s BaltimoreLink plan to transform transit in the Baltimore region.

“These dedicated bus lanes will help our system’s reliability by allowing our buses to move faster through the downtown area,” said MTA Administrator and CEO Paul Comfort. “These new lanes will complement the existing bus-only lanes on Pratt and Lombard streets and allow us to continue to deliver on our promise of transforming transit in Baltimore.”

Working between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., crews expect to paint each street beginning on or around the following dates:

• Week of May 15 – Baltimore Street (from Arch to Gay streets); 
• June 5 – Fayette Street (from President to Arch streets);
• June 28 – Gay Street (from Baltimore to Forrest streets);
• July 17 – Guilford Avenue (from Pleasant to Fayette streets);
• July 17 – Hillen Street (from Forrest to Front streets);
• July 31 – Lombard Street (from Howard to Penn streets and from President Street to Market Place);
• August 14 – Pratt Street (from Greene to Howard streets);
• August 21 – Charles Street (from Madison to Oliver streets); and
• September 25 – St. Paul/Light Street (from Monument to Redwood streets).

Dedicated bus lanes will be painted red to make them clearer to the public. In areas with a solid red marking, only buses, bicycles, emergency vehicles and school buses can travel. All vehicles can enter areas with dashed paint in order to make a right turn at the next intersection. In some areas, the dedicated bus lanes are for peak periods only and will not be marked with red paint, but simply with signage and markings on the pavement.  Each dedicated bus lane will serve at least 18 buses an hour in the peak periods and will move the same number of people as the adjacent travel lane.

“Roadways for dedicated bus lanes were evaluated based on traffic volumes, the number of buses operating on each street, and the proportion of people being moved by transit versus private vehicles,” said BCDOT Acting Director Frank Murphy. “By separating transit vehicles from mixed traffic, we’ve committed to making transit a more viable transportation option in Baltimore.”

During September and October of 2016, the MTA Police Force, Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City Transportation Enforcement Officers undertook a large, two-month public education campaign to inform the public about dedicated bus lanes in Baltimore. There was a grace period during this time where the public was issued warnings for driving in a dedicated bus lane. Anyone who violates state law and drives in dedicated bus lanes will receive a $90 fine and one point on their driver’s license. Baltimore City Transportation Enforcement Officers, the Baltimore Police Department and MTA Police are handling enforcement.  

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation provides Baltimore City with a comprehensive and modern transportation system that integrates all modes of travel and provides mobility and accessibility in a convenient, safe and cost-effective manner. To learn more, visit http://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/.

MDOT MTA is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States operating Local and Commuter buses, Light Rail, Metro Subway, Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Train service, and a comprehensive Paratransit (Mobility) system. MDOT MTA also manages the Taxi Access system, and directs funding and statewide assistance to Locally Operated Transit Systems (LOTS) in each of Maryland’s 23 counties, Annapolis, Baltimore City and Ocean City. MDOT is a customer-driven leader that delivers safe, sustainable, intelligent and exceptional transportation solutions in order to connect our customers to life’s opportunities. MTA’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. To learn more, visit mdot.maryland.gov  or mta.maryland.gov, check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.

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