[Baltimore, MD, April 22, 2021] 

The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) will host a virtual public forum and panel discussion to inform and garner public feedback on the Baltimore Region Transit Governance & Funding Study on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 6 pm.

The panel discussion will feature transit professionals and experts from organizations across the nation who will discuss their experience and insight into the transit operations, funding and related issues as well as share their knowledge on issues related to transit governance.

Panelists include:

• David Bragdon, Executive Director of TransitCenter
• Naomi Doerner, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Nelson\Nygaard
• Paul Lewis, Vice President of Policy and Finance, Eno Center for Transportation
• Diane Jones Allen, Professor, University of Texas, Arlington

The public forum will provide attendees an opportunity to hear directly from national experts and to better understand how Baltimore can take lessons learned to propose changes that better meet the region’s goals. The public will also be offered the opportunity to share their thoughts after the presentation.

Registration is now open at https://publicinput.com/e1101.

Those who cannot make the virtual public forum and panel discussion, but would like to offer input, can complete the online survey by visiting publicinput.com/e1101 or by texting X032 to 73224. Comments will also be accepted by email at: X032@PublicInput.com or Twitter @BaltoMetroCo, @BmoreInvolved, or #BRTBlistens. 

What is the Baltimore Region Transit Governance and Funding Study?

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) is one of the few state run transit systems in the country and is facing funding challenges.

The Baltimore Region Transit Governance & Funding Study will develop potential alternatives for the structure, organization, and funding of public transit in the Baltimore region including scenarios to enhance and balance local jurisdiction engagement and potential contributions to achieve regional and local public transit performance goals. These scenarios will be developed and considered in the context of public transit funding structures in the State of Maryland.

The study is being developed through a collaborative process between the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) members and regional stakeholders, and is supported by research and analysis.

The goal is to develop four (4) potential governance options that are:

• Based on an understanding of transit’s historical development in the region
• Realistic about constraints
• Creative in providing opportunities for change

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The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve the quality of life and economic vitality. BMC, as the Baltimore region’s council of governments, hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB), the federal metropolitan planning organization (MPO), and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.
BMC’s Board of Directors includes the executives of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties, the mayor of the City of Baltimore, a member of the Carroll County and Queen Anne’s County boards of commissioners, a member of the Maryland State Senate, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, and a gubernatorial appointee from the private sector.