Baltimore's mass transportation is at a crossroads and a very important fact is being overlooked.
The majority of traffic into Baltimore runs north and south. When commuters, business travelers and shoppers hit the bottom of I-83 they come to a literal dead end. Those heading south to I-95 or I-295 have to wind their way through city streets with many stoplights. I have experienced this frustrating waste of time hundreds of times.
Why not design a downtown connector joining I-83 and I-95 to divert cars traveling through Baltimore? The waterfront area around the Inner Harbor is just going to become more congested. The city would get less traffic, less pollution and more room for bikes and pedestrians. Everybody wins.
The Red Line could be a boondoggle. How many people entering Baltimore for work come from Woodlawn? Is $2.4 billion really a good use of taxpayer money to transport such a relatively small number of passengers?
Blake Goldsmith, Baltimore