Baltimore's Tumultuous Transit Story | THoTCast Episode 1

[@user-pi7sj4wm8p]

13:50 I’m from Orange County, California. Our transit agency, OCTA, colors and numbers their routes based on service patterns. Orange and in the 500s is an express service, 1-99 and blue means a ‘local route’ (which basically means ~30 minutes peak frequency), and brown and in the 100s means ‘community routes’ which is basically nonexistent frequency. LA Metro colors their bus lines on the map based on which transit agency runs them and the thickness/dotted lines for frequencies. 22:15 TRUST ME, as someone who has experienced the horrors of the C Line you DO NOT want an LRT line a freeway median

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

Huh, those parallels with the OCTA are interesting. While freeway median stations are often unpleasant, there are situations where they make sense to add. Sound barriers or other protections (see TTC’s Glencairn Station) can drastically improve the rider experience. Hopefully LA Metro will discover such improvements someday.

[@user-pi7sj4wm8p]

@@thehouseoftransit2719 Oh no, LA Metro DOES have sound barriers on its C Line stations, yet the sounds of speeding cars regularly are incessant and even able to create permanent hearing damage. Even if we were to disregard noise issues building within highway medians has several other major issues. The platforms, by nature of their location, are hostile to use, difficult to reach, and placed within car-centric zones that fail to attract ridership. The C Line, despite its interconnectivity, has the lowest ridership of all of LA Metro’s rail lines Here’s an amazing vid that uses Harbor Freeway Station, a major transfer hub for both LRT and BRT that’s miserable to use: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6fVgnuDnb9moZY

[@MJofLakelandX]

Keep in-mind, when the Light Rail was built, it was done on a "need it now!" basis by late Governor Schaeffer. He wanted the train done in time for the opening of Oriole Park @ Camden Yards, so the corridor was entirely on defunct WB&A and Central Maryland railroad corridors for cheaper cost. The difference between CityLink and LocalLink is... nothing. There is no difference. I have driven out of all but one division but have done at least 90% of the service in the region and service is just awful. Turnover rate is at an all-time low so service is taking a beating tenfold. Granted, these next four years is gonna be important because we either gonna push forward on improving our system OR fall-flat. Baltimore is a mess for anything positive to happen because we're competing with the surrounding counties who wants to keep the city confined from progression. It sucks hard.

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

Ah, politically motivated light rail. The classic recipe for low ridership! It is too bad to see the system in its current state and lacking the support it needs, even though it could quite easily be receiving more funding if the state wanted it to. Hopefully that will change soon.

[@The4905]

6:01, I was in Baltimore a couple days ago, they told me the shuttle hasn't run int 2-3 years 💀

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

Oh yikes…

[@The4905]

@@thehouseoftransit2719 yeahhhhh. The platform is still open to the public, and the guard at the station told me his “lrt is closed” signs keep getting taken down, so people end up waiting on hours on end for a train that is never arriving…

[@magicbarnicle]

I can confirm. They shut it down some time in 2019 for maintenance (I guess?) and it never reopened. There is a shuttle bus that will take people from Penn Station to the North Ave light rail stop, but that's it currently.

[@The4905]

@@magicbarnicle When I arrived w/ My mom, we were just like "screw it" and walked to the MICA/Mt. Royal Station. Hope the link gets restored, B/c its very convenient.

[@peabody1976]

The one bright spot: Gov-elect Wes Moore has vowed to revive the Red Line. I can only hope the entire MTA is gutted and redone. Martin O'Malley was not great at maintaining the transit infrastructure, and both Bob Garlic (sorry, Ehrlich) and Larry Hoagie (oops, Hogan) both were openly hostile to anything Baltimore. Under Hogan, the Light Rail was left to list. And yes, the buses are worse after the redo, but only because of the frequency; the revised structure of some of the routes is better, and if MdDOT could get its act together, it could make Baltimore even better.

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

The change of leadership is definitely a huge first step in getting things headed in the right direction

[@qjtvaddict]

The Ltd stop buses were eliminated and everything is slow local service

[@joncohen6059]

@11:20, the MTA bus system didn't have high frequency10 minute rush hour lines (Color routes) until the 2015 rebranding of the system to "Link". So I'm pretty sure the 90's, although had more coverage, ran less frequently. It definitely didn't have high frequency routes when I took the buses in high school in the early 2000's. @17:11; Owings Mills is a park and ride station. The lot---yes likely probably had to meet the existing minimum parking lot requirement--which was sized originally for the mall that used to be there and for peak demand for the subway (aka ravens games). And since the station was built there is a pedestrian tunnel that goes under 795. But it was quite the shlept through the mall parking lot.

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

This is all good to know, thanks!

[@stephencruise6556]

The Art bus that need to be Baltimore Maryland next project Perkins on. And we need a better Metro subway system

[@arhanmenon1526]

Imo the Red Line should be a light metro. Then we could get more for the investment

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

It’s too bad the MTA isn’t considering automated light metro as an option for east-west transit, because it would certainly help them get the most bang for their buck

[@qjtvaddict]

@@thehouseoftransit2719 and link with DC metro if extended further

[@qjtvaddict]

@@thehouseoftransit2719 light rail is stupid and this failed experiment that is light rail needs to end.

[@LrdZanny]

Aaaa someone else thought of the Towson light rail spur. Makes so much more sense than tunneling all of York Road.

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

It would definitely be easier to implement, though a line down York Road could prove highly beneficial in the long run

[@qjtvaddict]

Red line should be the same tech as WMATA DC metro

[@GenericUrbanism]

Cool video on Baltimore.

[@pokemonred2005]

I see this acronym and regret not thinking what "the house of transport" would have an acronym of 😅

[@apollotransit6711]

Regret nothing!!!!

[@TheLIRRFrenchie...]

You guys are so hilarious!! More videos please 😁💪🏿!!

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

Thank you!!

[@GrafEisen1]

32:00 Don't slander Games and Stuff! It's probably the biggest board game store in Maryland, with excellent customer service and a wide selection of items (with also some Warhammer stuff) Even if you aren't a fan of board games I'd recommend visiting it, it's a pretty neat place and the staff will be happy to demo some random games with you

[@ChristopherMartin-e8r]

I have a crazy idea that just might work. Why don't we save both the purple and Baltimore red lines and not build a stupid, good-for-nothing expansion of the capital beltway. Just saying🤔

[@qjtvaddict]

In NYC you pay directly with your credit card

[@qjtvaddict]

The strongest corridor can be an automated metro that if extended south west via Washington blvd can replace the MARC Camden line then link with WMATA green line it can run driverless operation

[@williamerazo3921]

Any episode’s for Cleveland

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

It’s a tempting idea…

[@brendanu1680]

Forgot The Marc Train.

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

If only MARC were actually centered around Baltimore as much as around DC

[@brendanu1680]

@@thehouseoftransit2719 Can You Mention Former Commuter Rail Service(Like Pittsburgh's PATrain) When You Do Cities That Lost It After '71?

[@thehouseoftransit2719]

@@brendanu1680 When we make our way around to Pittsburgh, we’ll certainly mention them!