Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
Maryland Transit Administration sends Red Line environmental statement to FTA

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has submitted its Red Line project's Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for consideration, MTA officials announced Dec. 14.

A favorable decision by the FTA would permit the MTA to begin final engineering and move ahead with land acquisition needed to begin construction of the $2.5 billion, 14.1-mile light-rail line, MTA officials said in a prepared statement.

They anticipate the FTA will issue a record of decision by March 1, following a 45-day public review period ending Jan. 28. The document is being reviewed under expedited procedures previously announced by President Barack Obama's administration, MTA officials said.

Submitting the FEIS to the FTA "marks a critical milestone that keeps the Red Line on track to break ground in early 2015," said MTA Administrator Ralign Wells.

Plans for the Red Line call for building 19 stations between Woodlawn, downtown Baltimore and Johns Hopkins Bayview; five of the stations will be built underground from the University of Maryland Biopark to Fell's Point.