Maryland DOT issues TOD plan for six stations along MARC Penn Line

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with the Maryland Economic Development Corp., last week unveiled a plan to spur development along the MARC Penn Line, laying out a vision for denser, mixed-use communities around transit hubs between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

The transit-oriented development (TOD) plan provides a blueprint for creating economic opportunities at six train stops, which would drive economic growth in underserved communities, according to an MDOT press release.

The plan provides market insight recommendations for the development of 170 acres of undeveloped state-owned land around Penn Line stations. Developments office, commercial and residential uses adjacent to the transit stops, which would drive up transit use while adding new jobs and tax revenue along the Penn Line, MARC’s busiest line.

According to the plan, projected benefits include up to 546,000 additional annual MARC trips. “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," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.