Comment on (Baltimore) Transportation Outlook 2035

Saul Wilson writes on the Envision Baltimore e-list:

The final, submitted version of the Movement of Organizations for Expansion of Regional Transit (MOREtransit)'s Comment on and Proposed Amendment to Transportation Outlook 2035 is now online at http://www.bmoremobile.org/. It is now a public document.

If you or your organization has not yet signed on, you are welcome to do so by replying to this e-mail and telling me (1) what parts of the document (or its entirety) that you are prepared to sign onto; (2) your address; and (3) your organizational affiliation, if applicable. No sign ons will be accepted after 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday 29 August 2007.
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This is an impressive response.

The MPO or Metropolitan Planning Organization for Baltimore has produced an anemic transportation "plan" oriented to road widening. The MOREtransit response is more transit. Click here for the Baltimore Transportation Outlook 2035 Draft Plan

The MWCOG for the Washington region has produced a similarly flawed document. It's not a plan either, but like the Baltimore "plan" more a collection of extant planned projects, by jurisdiction, that aren't prioritized and aren't looked at strategically. (See the summary, What's in the Plan for 2030?, of the Comprehensive Long Range Transportation Plan for the Washington region.) Most are roads.

I made the same point as MOREtransit in my transportation paper last Spring that the DC regional transportation plan barely lists any transit expansion, and little significant transit expansion for DC proper. (The streetcars, yes, but not subways.)

Note that DC is still preparing its Transportation Plan as required by the US Department of Transportation, but that the Transportation Element in the Comprehensive Plan could be a lot stronger, although it does mention the important things, it doesn't stand up strongly enough for investment in heavy rail and regional railroad expansion.