A two-year look at building a Charles Street trolley line stretching from the Inner Harbor to University Parkway above Johns Hopkins University appears to be moving into the final phase of study.
The Charles Street Development Corp., which coordinated preliminary feasibility and economic impact studies during the last two years, currently is seeking to shore up $1.6 million in funding to complete a final in-depth research examination of engineering issues and other concerns, such as ridership estimates.
Kristin Speaker, a Charles Street Development Corp. spokeswoman, expects to make a formal announcement regarding the project in two months, but sounded optimistic Wednesday that the organization will receive the necessary funding for the last study.
“Yes, we?re looking to move forward,” Speaker said. “Phase I showed us this corridor is conducive for this style transportation. Phase II demonstrated this can help development, especially in the area north of Penn Station, help residents and students in the corridor move more freely, as well as bring tourists from the Inner Harbor to the Walters {Art Museum], the [Baltimore Museum of Art], the Maryland Historical Society, Hopkins and the other destinations.”
Ed Myers, a transportation engineer at Kittleson & Associates on South Charles Street, has been leading the project?s study. He noted funding for the final study is not yet complete, but said there has been a great deal of enthusiasm for the project in meetings with community and business groups. One hope is the project will provide the impetus for development in some underutilized sections of Charles St. above Penn Station.
“At this point we?ve estimated the cost of building at $100 [million] to $150 million,” Myers said of the traditional street car system, including overhead Catenary line, currently under consideration. “In the best possible scenario we?d begin construction in 2010 and, if the stars align, start running in 2111.”
Authorization for the plan must come from the mayor?s office and city council, though a city or government agency would not necessarily manage the system. In Portland, Ore., for example, Myers said, their trolley is owned by a nonprofit similar to the Charles Street Development Corp.
“We?ve just recently been briefed on the feasibility study,” said Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for Mayor Martin O?Malley. “It?s something we think sounds interesting.”
Kate Marker, a Guilford resident and associate director of the Walters, is excited by the prospect of a seven-day-a-week commuter trolley ? which she could take to work ? and bring Inner Harbor visitors to the gallery.
“All the institutions up and down Charles Street are happy with the idea,” Marker said. “There are millions of visitors to the Inner Harbor, but the challenge has been to get them to the Walters and BMA and everything else.”
