Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller applaud as the new logo for the proposed Baltimore Red Line light rail project is unveiled in June. Supporters fear that Republican gains in November’s elections will threaten the project. Photo by Elijah Pittman.
The ink was barely dry on last month’s election results when speculation about the future of the Red Line began. Presumably, a second Trump administration will be as transit-unfriendly as the first, jeopardizing the project.
The chatter had a familiar ring, reminiscent of 2014, when Larry Hogan was elected governor after campaigning on a platform that was skeptical of the Red Line. Spoiler alert: He canceled the project mere months after his inauguration.
Advocates were right to worry then — and they’re probably right to worry now. But why does so much of Baltimore’s transit future hinge on state and federal elections? Why can’t we, as a city and region, have more control over our own transportation destiny?
The price of dependence on state control
Baltimore’s reliance on the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), a state agency, to run its transit system is in stark contrast to how most cities and regions operate: with a local or regional agency. This prevents us from charting our own future and raising the funds to pursue it.
Across the U.S., voters consistently support local measures to fund transit projects. In 2024, according to the Center for Transportation Excellence, 85% of ballot measures to increase transit funding won. There were notable victories in San Francisco, Nashville and Columbus, regions with diverse political leanings and needs that demonstrate a growing recognition of transit’s importance.
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Meanwhile, Maryland’s leadership is failing Baltimore transit.
Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly are poised to approve a budget that underfunds the Baltimore-area transit system so severely that it violates state law. Not only does the budget lack funding to construct the Red Line project it is planning, it also lacks enough to take care of the transit we already have.
Basic needs being cut include items such as replacing aging escalators at Metro stations, replacing rail along Howard Street, rehabilitation and lighting upgrades and fixes to bus depots. This chronic underfunding underscores a deeper issue: Baltimore’s inability to chart its own path for better transit.
The case for a regional transit authority
One solution is clear: Baltimore needs an independent regional transit authority.
Similar to our neighbors in D.C. who have the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), people in the Baltimore region would gain numerous benefits, including local accountability, dedicated funding streams and greater flexibility to respond to community needs, from a regional authority.
An authority would give Baltimore area voters the autonomy to generate revenue through local taxes or bonds and invest in long-term transit improvements. It would also allow for an independent voice advocating for transit funding at the state and federal levels.
Yes, we would still need state and federal funding — as do transit agencies across the country — but an independent authority would be more insulated from the political winds changing each election cycle.
Under the current system, the MTA operates as a state agency, with its administrator constrained by the need to avoid publicly pressuring or embarrassing the boss – the governor. Compare this to WMATA whose general manager can publicly lobby for more resources. One result: In the state’s current proposed capital transportation budget, MTA’s funding is slashed by $672 million while WMATA remains whole.
The time is now
Sometime soon, the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission (BRTC), a new advisory body to the MTA, will release a study exploring how a regional authority could function. This is a pivotal moment for local leaders to step up.
Baltimore City, in particular, has an opportunity to champion this initiative and set the region on a path toward transit independence. Mayor Brandon Scott should, as he’s done before, rally our neighboring jurisdictions to this cause, form a team to review the BRTC’s report, develop a preferred alternative, and make his case to the General Assembly.
Improved public transit is not just a matter of convenience — it’s essential to Baltimore’s economic growth, equity, and sustainability. If we continue to rely solely on state and federal officials to prioritize our needs, we risk falling further behind.
Residents, employers, and riders across Baltimore need reliable and improved public transit, regardless of who occupies the governor’s mansion or the White House. The time has come to demand local control, embrace a regional transit authority, and ensure that the future of greater Baltimore’s transit is shaped by the voters with direct stake in its success.