On Thursday, the Maryland Department of Transportation announced a new strategic plan along the MARC Penn Line to move to transit hubs between Washington and Baltimore.
The plan, developed in partnership with the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), outlines a blueprint for six train stops in the corridor, while illuminating the potential for more than 5,000 new jobs and generating more than $800 million in tax revenue for the state over the next 30 years, officials said.
“At the Maryland Department of Transportation, we are committed to connecting all Marylanders to life’s opportunities. This strategic plan will not only help improve transit connectivity but will also lead to the creation of new jobs and more affordable housing options,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said. “The Penn Line is a critical asset to the region. The undeveloped land around its core stations presents a prime opportunity for equitable and inclusive development that will yield numerous economic benefits to the region in decades to come.”
The Penn Line Transit-Oriented Development (POD) Strategy Plan contains recommendations for developing 170 acres of undeveloped state-owned land around Penn Line stations. The development the plan envisions in the Washington-Baltimore corridor would reinvent areas in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.
On top of additional tax revenues and more jobs, officials said the projected benefits include up to 546,000 more annual MARC trips, at least 2,600 new housing units and $1.7 billion in annual retail sales.
“The MARC Penn Line provides a vital connection for those traveling in the Baltimore-Washington region” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said. “Cultivating transit-oriented development near Penn Line stations is critical to increasing the use of transit and helping the state to achieve our climate goals.”