Maryland to receive $213 million grant for replacement of Baltimore light rail fleet

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration will receive more than $213 million in federal funding to help replace its entire light rail fleet, Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday.

The $213,696,341 from the Federal Transit Administration’s Rail Vehicle Replacement program will go toward MTA plans to replace the 52-vehicle light rail fleet. It comes after Baltimore’s Light RailLink line was shut down last Dec. 8 to Dec. 22 for emergency repairs to the railcar fleet, addressing wiring issues [see “Baltimore light rail service to resume …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 22, 2023].

“Maryland’s light rail service helps keep Baltimore area residents and the local economy on the move – which is why we need to keep it in top shape,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen said in a press release. “This federal investment will provide the critical funds the MTA needs to fully replace its aging fleet with state-of-the-art railcars and ensure that people across the city and surrounding communities can get where they need to go safely, efficiently and reliably.”

The $450 million light rail vehicle replacement program is a high priority in the MTA’s Transit Asset Management Plan and Capital Needs Inventory, the MTA said, and is included in the Baltimore Metroplitan Council’s long-range plan. Maryland will provide $90 million in matching funds and is allocating another $127.6 million in federal formula funds to the railcar purchase.The current vehicles have either reached the end of their useful life or will do so within five years, a time frame required by the Rail Vehicle Replacement program.

“This federal funding is vital to enhancing safety, accessibility and performance on MTA’s light rail,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said in a press release. “By having a more reliable light rail fleet with low-floor cars, MTA will deliver premiere customer service to the greater Baltimore region.”