"The state has submitted a $1.6 billion Red Line proposal to the federal government and is awaiting a decision on funding."

Can you unpack this please? I was not aware that a New Starts application was already in. Is this a different funding mechanism? When did the state make the application?

It is my understanding the application is not in, however some in MTA have been vague as to the status of the submission and it's process over the last year.

Last year, IIRC, the MTA was permitted to enter a phase where the LPA was overlooked by a Project Managment Oversight Committee that must approve the LPA so that it can be submitted to be approved to enter Preliminary Engineering.

Anyhow, the answer is that the information in the post in incorrect. MTA does not have an application in and it is not awaiting a decision on funding for the $1.8 billion project. For those concerned about accuracy. There are preliminary documents being reviewed by the FTA, but nothing in the sense alluded to.

I am not sure what this group wants. Is it jobs with the engineering firms doing the design? Construction jobs? Jobs manufacturing the trains? Jobs operating the trains? Someone please explain.

The BRIDGE access to opportunity campaign calls for: a legally binding community workforce agreement that ensures the Red Line project employs Baltimore residents and provides opportunities to small businesses and minority-owned businesses; proven workforce development ensuring that 30 percent of the work is completed by low income, women and minority workers; investing 0.5 percent of federal highway funds in job training programs, as federal law allows; accountability to community and low-income people; improved connectivity in public transportation; and equity in building and development that enforces Baltimore's inclusive zoning law and ensures mixed-income development.

The BRIDGE Red Line jobs campaign will make the road to nowhere a road to somewhere better

The BRIDGE access to opportunity campaign kicks off on Wednesday, August 4, from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Pulaski Street between Mulberry and Franklin Streets.
Congressman Elijah Cummings will speak, joined by city, state and county officals, and leaders in transportation, planning, labor and community development..
BRIDGE (Baltimore Regional Initiative Developing Genuine Equality) is a congregation-based organization for social justice. BRIDGE works with more than 60 congregations in the region.

The BRIDGE campaign kickoff rally will be held at Pulaski Street where the proposed mass transit Red Line meets the West Baltimore MARC train line. The beautiful mural on Pulaski Street is also the end wall of the “road to nowhere,” the aborted highway project that destroyed so much of West Baltimore.
The proposed mass transit Red Line running West to East through Baltimore from Security Square to Bayview Hospital is a chance to bring jobs to economically depressed neighborhoods and build creative community development. BRIDGE members say we can reclaim the path of destruction left by the road to nowhere. The Red Line can be a road to somewhere better for families and neighborhoods in its path.
BRIDGE members believe that by joining forces early in the planning process we can shape lasting changes that will benefit Baltimore neighborhoods. Congressman Elijah Cummings, member of the Congressional Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Representative for much of Baltimore City and County, wants to bring jobs and sustainable economic development to the neighborhoods of the Red Line. Congressman Cummings will speak about his vision for the Red Line, a vision he shares with BRIDGE.
Let's make the Red Line work for the people in the neighborhoods the line passes through. The Red Line is Baltimore's chance for job training that leads to lifetime, family-wage careers and construction that creates lively economic centers in safe, beautiful and accessible neighborhoods.

Can the neighborhood really contribute 30% of the engineers and surveyors for the design of the project? Can a construction contractor have nearly one in three workers be trainees? If the Red Line is constructed under a Project Labor Agreement how does a contractor control what workers the lcoal labor unions send to work on the job? Are the local construction unions committed to supplying the 30% while their long time members sit home and collect unemployment?

The Maryland Department of Transportation has an aggressive minority contractor program in place with goals so high they can be achieved only by having contractors "supply" (as in tack on a percentage for the paper work passing through their office) items like structural steel and asphalt. How mush higher percentage is BRIDGE proposing for this project? Will there be a new split goal category for contrators whose offices are located along the route? If not how will it help the local community to have MBE/WBE contractors from PG county come in and do the work?

Based on past experience all BRIDGE and Elijah Cummings are going to do is drive up the construction cost by 10 to 15 percent. I think the key to this is where will the 0.5% (this is $8,000,000.00) for "job training" end up? As Ron Smith always says "Follow the money."

Thank you to Mark for your comments on the BRIDGE to opportunity campaign for economic activity along the Red Line. Many people in the region want to see the Red Line succeed as an economic opportunity for the people the line passes through. That means employment and good design. BRIDGE wants to get the conversation started and keep the focus on economic opportunity for the people along the Red Line. The planning stage is the time to raise these issues. We need the help of experts to make our goals a reality. Maureen Daly