As you drive down East Fort Avenue, the colorful signs adorned with the Charm City Circulator logo couldn't be more visible. But ever since the Banner route was put on the chopping block — it's scheduled to be eliminated on July 20th — these signs serve only to further upset those of us who live on the south Baltimore peninsula and believe that, without the Circulator, our neighborhoods are grossly underserved by public transit. We've been fighting back, but the city's only response has been to fulfill a requirement by scheduling a public hearing seven days before the route will be eliminated. We deserve better.
Over the last month, the Locust Point Civic Association has rallied with our neighbors on the peninsula around this issue. On June 9th, we sent a letter to the mayor that included signatures from three community organizations, heads of cultural institutions, large corporations, local business owners and developers representing hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. An online petition, which now has more than 1,200 signatures, and a strongly-worded letter from Democratic legislators — Sen. Bill Ferguson and Dels. Brooke Lierman, Luke Clippinger and Pete Hammen — soon followed.
The message has been clear and consistent: We believe that the Banner route increases our access to the downtown area and that without it, our local businesses and tourist attractions will suffer. At a time when residents are in a constant search for value in their tax dollars, cuts like these are unpalatable.
The mayor has set a goal of bringing 10,000 new families to Baltimore within the next 10 years. It is a noble goal, and one that is necessary to expand the tax base and address many of the city's challenges, which recently have been displayed on a national stage; it is also a goal that is incompatible with cuts to public transit. Neighborhoods on the South Baltimore peninsula represent some of the most desirable real estate in the city. As we continue to undergo a rapid expansion in commercial and residential development, public transit must be a top priority in order to attract and retain young professionals, families and businesses in areas with chronic parking and traffic issues. Residents are looking for solutions to these problems and genuinely want to be a part of the city's growth. Reducing access to public transit is a step in the wrong direction and it must be reconsidered.
Greg Sileo is a resident of Locust Point and president of the Locust Point Civic Association.