Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore city Mayor Catherine E. Pugh has launched the $27.3 million “North Avenue Rising” project to add key transportation and infrastructure improvements to revitalize the North Avenue Corridor in Baltimore city. Governor Hogan, Mayor Pugh, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn, and MDOT Maryland Transit Administration Administrator Kevin Quinn were joined by federal, state and local elected officials along with business and community leaders at Impact Hub Baltimore to celebrate the start of the design and public engagement phase of the project, which includes seeking community input.
“For far too long, a lack of reliable transit has crippled the North Avenue corridor, and beginning today, that is going to change,” said Governor Hogan. “By working with our federal, state and city partners, North Avenue Rising will have a transformational effect on this area and will make changes that will have the most direct impact on the services the citizens of Baltimore use and need the most.”
The $27.3 million project is a joint project between Baltimore city and MDOT, with state, local and federal funding, including: $14.7 million from MDOT, $1 million from the Baltimore city Department of Transportation, $10 million from a U.S. Department of Transportation Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant and $1.6 million from USDOT Federal Highway Administration.
Delivering on the Hogan administration’s commitment to growing Maryland’s economy and creating new jobs, the project will build on the public and private investment and revitalization that already has taken place along North Avenue through targeted improvements in transportation infrastructure. MDOT MTA will revitalize a five-mile stretch of North Avenue with improvements, including: dedicated bus lanes; transit signal priority, which allows buses to hold green lights longer and shorten red lights; bike facilities; enhancements to Light RailLink and Metro SubwayLink stations; improvements at major bus stops and sidewalks; streetscaping; and roadway repaving.
“I am proud to be part of the partnership with federal and state supporters to enhance our city’s roadways, mass transit system and bike facilities,” said Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. “Modern, comprehensive infrastructure improvements that support multi-modal transportation for city residents increases economic opportunity. An effective mass transit network will improve the quality of life of our residents.”
With the start of the design and public engagement phase of the “North Avenue Rising” project, the MDOT MTA will hold four public workshops to gather community input on the improvements planned for North Avenue. The first workshop will be held on November 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Impact Hub Baltimore, where today’s project launch was held.
“We encourage all Baltimore City residents to come out and help design this transformative project that will strengthen economic development efforts in the corridor and improve the quality of life for Baltimore communities for years to come,” said Transportation Secretary Rahn.
MDOT MTA’s CityLink Gold runs along North Avenue and connects Metro SubwayLink and Light RailLink systems. CityLink Gold is one of the busiest bus lines in Baltimore carrying nearly four million passengers a year.
“The transportation improvements linked to this project will get residents to employment hubs and entertainment centers faster and more efficiently,” said MDOT MTA Administrator Quinn.
The North Avenue corridor also is home to many important Baltimore institutions such as Coppin State University and the Maryland Institute College of Art. MDOT MTA and Baltimore City have worked closely together with the common goal of revitalizing North Avenue to its full potential.
