Sep 12, 2008 8:00 pm US/Eastern
New Light Rail Line Coming To Balt. City
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
It's years in the making, but another light rail line is on the way.
Gigi Barnett reports before it comes, neighbors and community groups had to sign off on the project.
With soaring gas prices, public transportation is how many people choose to travel.
It saves money, gas and the environment, and in a few more years, Baltimore will have a new line--the red one.
"You look at what D.C. looks like and how you can use the subway system. We have to create a better transportation process, and this is a way to get there," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.
But before that happens, the people who live and work closest to the proposed 14-mile line pledged their support Friday.
"It's not something we should do, we need to do it," said Jason Filippou.
Filippou lives in Greektown in East Baltimore. He says the east-west line, which starts near I-70 on the west side and ends in Turners Station on the east side, would bring more customers to help ailing businesses.
"We think that it's not getting enough foot traffic you'd see in Washington and New York," said Filippou.
Neighbors in Baltimore's west side are seeing red too. In addition to the businesses and homeowners the line can bring, neighbors there want better transportation so they can save on travel to and from work.
"Parking is expensive, and you and I know gas is outrageous. This system will provide a place where they can park their car and go to their jobs," said Arlene Fisher.
But there is one drawback. After the city and state secure funding from the federal government to the tune of $1.3 billion, then the construction begins.
There will be at least three years of construction before the line is slated to open in 2015.
"In the past, it's been a lack of communication. We want to make sure that it's going to happen but that we can connect and communicate," said Dixon.
More than 40,000 people are expected to use the red line once it's up and running.
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