Md. high court weighs whether MTA violated Fourth Amendment
An assistant Maryland attorney general and a defense lawyer battled before the state’s top court Tuesday over whether transit officers violated the constitutional right of light-rail passengers to be free of unreasonable seizures when the agents conducted sweeps of the Baltimore train cars to ensure fares were paid. Arguing for the state, Jer Welter defended […]
MTA police violated Fourth Amendment, appeals court says
The Maryland Transit Administration violated the constitutional rights of light rail passengers when MTA officers put on a show of force in conducting a sweep of the train cars to ensure fares were paid, the state’s second-highest court held Thursday in overturning the gun- possession conviction of a passenger caught in the sweep. In its […]
Light rail service resumes in stretch damaged in July
Light rail trains resumed running Monday between Oriole Park at Camden Yards and North Avenue in Baltimore. A section of the Convention Center light rail stop collapsed July 8 after a water main broke under Howard Street. Trains resumed traveling the two-mile stretch of track that serves six stations through downtown Baltimore on Monday morning, […]
Sinkholes shut down downtown Baltimore streets, light rail
Sinkholes have indefinitely shut down parts of two downtown Baltimore streets and interrupted light rail service. News outlets report city officials announced Sunday that sinkholes at the intersection of North Howard and West Lexington streets have resulted in the closure of four blocks of the former and two blocks of the latter. The Maryland Transit […]
Flooding damage closes southern end of light rail system
Flood damage has closed the southern end of the Baltimore region's light rail system for at least two weeks.
Chao and Hogan sign Purple Line agreement
HYATTSVILLE — U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan have signed an agreement to build a 16-mile light rail project in the traffic-congested Maryland suburbs of the nation’s capital. They held groundbreaking ceremony on Monday in Hyattsville. Chao commended the fact that the project is a public-private partnership. She says the department […]
Maryland board approves $5.6B Purple Line contract
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved a $5.6 billion contract to build the Purple Line in the suburbs of the nation’s capital. The contract was approved 3-0 on Wednesday for the light rail project in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. A team of private companies has been chosen to design, build, […]
Red Line anger simmers ahead of transportation meeting
Baltimore officials are making it clear they remain upset about the decision to kill the Red Line light rail route ahead of a meeting with transportation officials to discuss improving mass transit. Officials, including Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn, are scheduled to meet Monday morning at Maryland Department […]
MTA to close three stations for Cold Springs emergency work
The Maryland Transit Administration announced today that recent heavy rains and soil erosion will require emergency repairs of tracks and land around the Cold Spring Station beginning Friday, June 20, 2014.
Red Line lifeline
If the proposed $2.6 billion Red Line light rail route is built, it has two ways to go. It could be a catalyst in transforming West Baltimore from an economically distressed area with an abundance of vacant properties into a revitalized urban area. Or it could be just another poorly thought-out transportation project that fails to capitalize on its potential.
Md. officials cheer funds for light rail projects
Maryland officials on Wednesday praised initial federal funding announcements for two light rail projects in the president's budget proposal, saying their inclusion puts the state in a strong position to build the projects in the Washington suburbs and the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Union seeing red over possible low Purple Line wages
Union leaders say they want to ensure a public-private partnership meant to lower the costs of the proposed Purple Line doesn’t mean lower wages and benefits for future employees.