November 2024 Community Meeting

Type of meeting: 
Community
Meeting date: 
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Status: 
DRAFT

Attendees:
Paul Rubensen
Gerri Salley
Farzana Muhib
Michael Dumont
Julia Dumont
Paul Koprowski
Warren Dungee
Nicole Dungee
Si Saluynas
Brian Panneton
Julia Lebherz
Bill Reuter
Sharon Reuter
Deb Oneill
Chris Conlon
Sandy Anderson
Sarah Gilbert
Syrus Rasavi
Greg Laub
Shayna __
Dana Coyne
(missed names of 2 additional attendees)

Need 9 People for Quorum – We have Quorum

  1. Redline Presentation:

Carlon Brown – civil engineer – project manager

Comms director

Michelle – downtown ambassador for redline

Went over history of the red line project

Latest update is the mode of transportation will be a light rail. This was decided as opposed to bus rapid transit.

An overview of how the mode of transportation was selected was provided. Reasons for light rail selection:

  • Ridership capacity
  • Less travel time/more reliability
  • More equitable – will serve more households without cars
  • Public favored light rail over bus

Public comment period ends November 25th 

Currently, considering 3 alternatives for the alignment of the red line. There is one alternative that includes two tunnels including through downtown. Two alternatives are surface only. Closest stop to Ridgely’s will be at the Convention Center.

Next Steps:

  • NEPA process – environmental impact statement
  • Pursuing federal funding
  • Risk/benefit analysis of three alignment alternatives – will select preferred alternative

Public engagement efforts:

  • Meeting with various neighborhood associations, have been focused in west Baltimore this year
  • Have formed a community advisement team of 23 people – there were over 200 applicants to be members
  • Survey/public comment online open until November, 25th 

By mid-2025, will have preferred alignment selected for federal funding efforts.

Question – will we get original federal funding? No, have to reapply – was $900 million

Question – how long will it take? Depends on federal funding and alignment – tunnel alignment takes longer to construct, probably 9-12 years after funding is secured. Are we using lessons learned from current light rail system – YES. They are replacing existing vehicles that are more accessible and the new system will have the same cars that are low to the ground and more accessible.

Question – are they doing a study of how this will impact traffic? Yes, but it’s not complete yet and will be shared with the public.

Question – what happens to the bus lane on Pratt St and Lombard St? Will they share lanes with cars now? Not sure yet, graphic shared is conceptual only.

Question – are they talking to people who ride the bus? Yes, meeting with community associations, talking to people at bus and MARC stops, etc. If people don’t like it, they won’t ride it so it’s very important to this effort.

 

2. BPD  Update

Lieutenant representative from Sgt Rivera came for crime report.

Generally crime is down in the neighborhood compared with last year.

Community members brought up drug dealing at a certain house on Washington Blvd. Not included in crime stats right now.

Also there was an issue with vans camping on Portland, Fremont, Dover during the Halloween Concert.

Question – how do we get a drug investigation team assigned to this issue? The Lieutenant will talk to the Sargent about it.

The Sargent may come to a Monday safety walk. Maia/Sharon to email the Sargent to invite.

 

3. Update on Conway Park from SBGP

Kadeen Grant – the new project manager of this project – lives in pigtown

Key Stakeholders:

  • Contractor – EnviroColab
  • Neighbors
  • City
  • SBGP

North plaza – brick area north of Conway St is owned by DHCD -> Need right of way access to be able to do improvements

Depart of forestry involved for tree removal and new tree plantings

DOT own everything that is “right of way” – sidewalk – so we need access to that area as well

CHAP approval process

Burgundy lot is excluded from the scope of this project.

Will have a raised crosswalk connecting north plaza to rest of park to make more ADA accessible.

Removal of each tree requires mitigation which means more trees will be planted in the city (not necessarily 1:1 for trees removed: trees planted) – Plan is to plant more trees along edge of park for more noise cancelling from Russell street and start of MLK. Design will consider limiting dark areas that encourage crime. Syrus (Baltimore tree keeper) has been working with Forestry and SBGP on this. Also, can we identify empty tree pits or other areas of the neighborhood where extra trees could be planted. Farzana pointed out there are tree pits along Portland.

Nicole planning to have a meeting with Forestry where we will discuss trees.

Will keep some bradford pear trees that are along the sidewalk but remove the ones in the plaza area. Roots will be trimmed and then sideway replaced/repaired to make even. This is for the phasing of the plan so that canopy remains while new trees are planted. May be replaced eventually. 

Key Site Improvements Include:

  • Electrical
  • Water spigot
  • New furnishing (benches, trash cans, etc)
  • New paving
  • New trees

Current status/Next Steps:

  • Negotiating right of entry with DHCD
  • Need to approve donation from SBGP through board of estimates
  • Set up account for electrical and water
  • Finalize crosswalk plan with DOT
  • Confirm tree mitigation plan with Forestry
  • Draft Request for Proposal and advertise for Bid in early 2025
  • Contract award mid-2025
  • Completion fall 2025

Plans on the website for community members to view.

 

4. Elections

Everyone is running unopposed. Write-in for James Wright as a member at large – nominated from the floor by Nicole Dungee. No additional nominations from the floor were made. Presented slate was voted in.