Light Rail Collection
-
Place requests at folder level.
Scope and Contents
The Light Rail Collection documents the planning, public citizens' response, public hearings, and research regarding Baltimore's Light Rail system, local public transportation options, and the Northeast Corridor Transit plans. The collection includes correspondence, publications, reports, meeting minutes, research files, and newspaper clippings related to the development and construction of Baltimore's light-rail public transportation system.
Dates
- Creation: 1965-1996
Creator
- Tyson, George (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
To the extent that they own copyright, the donor has assigned the copyright of this collection to the University Foundation. However, copyright for some items in this collection are held by their respective creators.
Historical Note
As early as 1957, Baltimore was considering the viability of light-duty railways to alleviate much of the automobile congestion brought on by the demise of the trolley system in the 1950s. In 1964, the Metropolitan Transit Authority studied the pros and cons of a combined bus/light-rail/subway system versus an all-bus system. The consulting firm of Parsons, Brinkhoff, Quade and Douglas estimated the cost of the combined system at $260 million, as compared to the $50 million all-bus option. Construction for the Central Corridor Light-Rail System was begun in 1990, with the first sections of track being laid in Timonium near the Maryland State Fairgrounds. Approximately 27 miles long, this system uses a portion of CONRAIL's Northern Central Rail line to the north and the old Baltimore and Annapolis railroad to the south.
Extent
8.00 Linear Feet (8 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in six series:
- Correspondence, 1967-1988
- Maryland Research Files, 1926-1996
- Citizens for Rapid Transit, 1968-1969
- General Research Files, 1965-1991
- Newspaper Clippings, 1957-1991
- Public Hearings, 1970-1988
Custodial History
The collection was donated to the University of Baltimore by George and Carolyn Tyson on March 6, 1996.
Processing Information
Five of the series in the collection include folder inventories. The Correspondence series is described as a series without an inventory.
Subject
- Maryland. Mass Transit Administration (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Light Rail Collection
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by archives staff. Revised by Aiden Faust (2011). Revised by Laura Bell (2022).
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Baltimore Studies Archives Repository
H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons, Room 104
1415 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore Maryland 21201 USA
410-837-4253
specialcollections@ubalt.edu