Gov. O'Malley Announces FTA Gives Baltimore Red LIne the Green Light to Move Forward

Preliminary engineering is expected to take approximately two years and is followed by final design, during which plans are finalized and put out to bid. The Maryland Department of Transportation's (MDOT) capital budget includes funding for the preliminary engineering, final design phases and rightof-way phases, and construction funding will be addressed by 2015 when it is first needed. Assuming state and federal funding is available and following the award of contracts and construction, the Red Line is expected to be completed around 2020. Information prepared during preliminary engineering forms the basis of FTA's decision to fund a project which typically occurs during final design.

Maryland's rapid transit expansion initiatives also include the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway, both located in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The Purple Line is at a similar level of development, and is expected to receive approval to advance to preliminary engineering later this summer. MTA is nearing completion of planning work for the Corridor Cities Transitway, and preparation of materials for FTA review will start later this year.