It has been a little over a year since the Red Line Steering Committee made up of
representatives from communities, businesses, non-profits, schools, and city and
state government began to implement the goals and strategies laid out in the Red
Line Community Compact. So what have we accomplished? This month, the City's
Red Line office has released the first annual report on the status of the Compact and
what we can look forward to in the coming months. A quick glance at the highlights
show that we are off to a great start!

PUTTING BALTIMORE TO WORK

• The Baltimore City Department of Transportation established a Red Line
  Economic Empowerment Office and completed a job study of the corridor.
  Results show that construction of the Red Line will generate $2.1 billion in
  economic activity and create or support an estimated 9,800 jobs.
• An effort is underway to get Baltimore firms certified as DBEs with the state
  (disadvantaged business enterprises), giving them an edge on construction
  contracts — and local schools have become partners in a strong effort to
  prepare young people to work in the building trades.

MAKING THE RED LINE GREEN

• Partners from the city, state and several environmental groups have
  begun to compile a set of green design guidelines for Red Line engineers
  to incorporate into their plans.
• Schools in the Red Line corridor have been targeted for Safe Routes
  to School funds to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, and increase safety
  programming in the classroom.

COMMUNITY CENTERED STATION DESIGN

• The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development
  is leading an effort to preserve housing and acquire vacant properties
  in the corridor — they have already set aside $150,000 in next year's
  budget to begin studies to redevelop the area around West Baltimore's
  historic Ice House.
• Last summer, the Southeast Community Development Corporation (CDC)
  and Greektown CDC co-sponsored a new plan for transit-oriented
  development from Canton Crossing to Bayview.

MANAGING CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS

• The State Legislature adopted SB-614 during the 2009 session:
  this law prohibits MTA from taking any residence for construction
  of the Red Line if the homeowner does not wish to move — a major
  assurance for communities.
• Committee members also developed a complete list of hiring criteria
  for Red Line Community Liaisons, who will serve as the critical links
  between MTA, construction crews, and residents and business
  owners before, during and after construction.

To read the complete annual report — and see what's up ahead —
please click here.