Light Rail

Critics of Baltimore's light rail system keep on insisting it is falling short of expectation because ridership hasn't yet reached the projected 33,000-a-day target. A new survey, taken since the system was extended south from Camden Yards to the vicinity of Glen Burnie, shows a jump in riders to more than 18,000 a day. Does that mean the light rail is lagging halfway behind expectations, as Del. Timothy F. Maloney, D-Prince George's, seems to think? No, it means the system is well ahead of expectations.

Shuttle buses will replace light rail trains at five stations north of Timonium from May 5 to about June 30 as workers upgrade crossings in Hunt Valley. Riders who use the Warren Road, Gilroy Road, McCormick Road, Pepper Road and Hunt Valley stations should either board buses or bypass the closures and park at the 850-car space Timonium Road station, the Maryland Transit Administration said Thursday. Crews will replace worn track and shore up rail foundations — the first major work on the section since it opened in 1997.

Anne Arundel County police said Wednesday they've charged five people after investigating alleged drug dealing at the Cromwell Light Rail Station in Glen Burnie. Detectives performed a two-day undercover investigation last week at the station along with Maryland Transit Administration officers. The detectives charged three people with selling drugs to the officers, a fourth person with drug possession and a fifth person with violating probation. During the investigation, the officers seized 15 suspected Xanax pills, 7.62 grams of suspected marijuana, 21 suspected Promethazine pills and $340.

Little by little, Baltimore's fledgling light-rail system is gaining strength.This modern-day electric trolley was initially tested about a year ago with baseball fans going to the Orioles exhibition at Camden Yards from Timonium and other points north. Last August, a 3.2-mile extension was added to the original 14-mile segment, stretching the line to Patapsco Avenue.On April 2, to mark another Orioles exhibition game, the line adds yet another four important stations: Baltimore Highlands in Baltimore County and Nursery Road, North Linthicum and Linthicum in Anne Arundel.

Bad publicity over crime on the light rail could ruin the system's promising future if the Mass Transit Administration doesn't step up law enforcement along the line.The situation is not as dire as residents make it sound; most of the crimes are minor. But residents and riders who have been victimized are getting fed up enough to make some serious noise -- enough to discourage riders and spawn opposition to further expansion of mass transit. In Linthicum, one community association has demanded that a nearby station be closed.

Look! More Baltimore Oriole fans traveled by light rail to Camden Yards on opening day this year than last. And not only has light-rail ridership doubled in the last year, it is more than halfway to the projected ridership goal of 30,000 for 2010.So, the latest headlines about crime notwithstanding, the Mass Transit Administration has lots of good news for us. And more good news seems to be in prospect, because light-rail extensions to Hunt Valley, BWI Airport and Penn Station are under way.While nobody hopes MTA's optimism is ill-founded, basic questions remain unanswered.

State transit officials are wise to quickly nip in the bud the rise in crime on the Central Light Rail line and buses. The question is whether they're nipping hard enough. Attempting to reach out to youths who live along the light rail line, some of whom are responsible for most of the crime and intimidation of passengers, is good as far as it goes. But nothing discourages potential criminals or vandals as effectively as the sight of a blue uniform.Mass Transit Administration officials are worried that rowdy kids, male and female, will discourage people from riding on the new rail line.

The state medical examiner's office has identified the woman who died a week ago after being struck by a light rail train in Baltimore County, police said Monday. Janet Elizabeth Tennekoon, 66, of the unit-block of Nightingale Way in Timonium, died on Dec. 12 after she was struck by a northbound train on the Central Maryland corridor, just north of Lutherville, police said. The medical examiner has not yet determined the cause and manner of death, police said. The woman was struck around 7:15 a.m. on the tracks and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Maryland Transit Administration, which operates the light rail trains.

The Maryland Transit Administration is warning passengers to plan for delays Monday on the MARC Penn Line and modified service on the light rail line at least through Tuesday as the agency operates in "storm recovery mode" following Hurricane Irene. The MTA issued a statement saying that all of its systems were operating for the Monday morning commute but that the Penn Line will operate a limited service schedule so certain repairs can be made by Amtrak, which operates the line for the MTA. Passengers were advised to consult the MTA website to see which trains are running and when.