Snow Emergency in Effect for Baltimore City: 2/5
All vehicles traveling on roadways must be equipped with snow tires, all season radials, or chains. After 6 pm, parking in Baltimore City will be prohibited on Snow Emergency Routes. Snow emergency Routes are clearly marked.

Parking is available at the following school parking lots:
- Western High School, at the corner of Falls Road and Coldspring Lane
- Walbrook High School, at 2000 Edgewood Street
- Thomas G. Hayes Elementary, at 601 N. Central Avenue
- William Pinderhughes Elementary, at 1200 N. Fremont Avenue
- Patterson  High School at 100 Kane Street
- Thurgood Marshall Middle School, at 5000 Truesdale Avenue and Moravia Road
- The Edmondson Westside Skill center on Athol Avenue. 

The Water Taxi Harbor Connector will not be operating today.
Charm City Circulator Service will suspend Friday at 6 pm and will remain out of service through Saturday 2/6.

Snow & Transit: 8 inches of snow will close metro stations
In his "Getting There" blog, The Sun's Mike Dresser cites a release from the MTA that it will close above ground MARC stations when snow accumulations reach 8 inches or more.  While it's doubtful we'll have that much snow by the Friday evening commute, MARC riders should have a back up plan, just in case.   

Orleans Street Closure
Starting Monday, February 1, and continuing through Friday, February 5, Orleans Street will be closed between Wolfe Street and Broadway from 6 pm until 6 am each day. Motorists traveling in this vicinity are encouraged to use alternate routes.

Westbound Orleans traffic will be detoured left on Wolfe, right on Fayette, right on Broadway, and back to Orleans.

Eastbound Orleans traffic will be detoured right on Broadway, left on fayette, left on Washington, then back to Orleans.

Circulator Success
The newly-launched Charm City Circulator has attracted more riders than expected in its first two weeks.  It is also drawing rave reviews from people who have used this free, environmentally-friendly service. 

City transportation officials were expecting fewer than 1,000 riders a day, but ridership exceeded 1,200 per day for a total of approximately 15,000 riders.  Officials are also pleased that the service is meeting its goal of arriving at stops every ten minutes. 

So far, the east/west Orange route is running, taking passengers from the Hollins Market area on the west to Harbor East on the east.  Two other routes, including a north/south route from Cross Street to Penn Station, will begin later in the spring.  For complete information about the new service and its routes, visit www.CharmCityCirculator.com.   

Lombard Street Lane Closures 
Beginning Tuesday, January 19, lane closures will be implemented along Lombard Street between Light and Greene Streets for utility work. The closures will remain in effect through the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed in mid-April. Motorists traveling in this vicinity should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes.

Be sure to check out our alternative routes page and traffic camera link.  For more information, please visit the City's project website at http://www.lombardproject.com.

New Dedicated Bus-Bike Lanes Created on Lombard and Pratt Streets
The right-hand lanes of Pratt and Lombard streets have been reserved for bus and bicycle usage.  According to the Department of Transportation, dedicated bus-bike lanes have gone into effect on Lombard and Pratt Streets between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and President Street. 

These specially-striped lanes give priority to bicycles and busses, including the new Charm City Circulator.  Drivers may also use the lanes for making right turns.  Motorists found in violation of the dedicated lanes are subject to a $90 fine and the citation may result in points against the driver.

Utility Work on N. Charles Street
Trigen is conducting utility work on N. Charles Street between Saratoga and Pleasant Streets.  The project will close the right lane to traffic.  At least one lane will be open at all times.  During afternoon peak (4 - 6 pm), the right parking lane will be restricted to facilitate traffic flow.  Trigen is working with business owners to reduce the impact on businesses and patrons.  All business will remain open for the duration of the construction.

I-295 Construction
The Maryland State Highway Administration is widening the B-W Parkway between I-695 and I-195.  Construction will involve lane closing on nights and weekends, but will not be scheduled during public events like Ravens or Orioles games.  Work is expected to be completed in fall 2011.  Alternate routes include I-95, I-97, and US 1.

Ongoing Construction Projects

Mercy Hospital Construction
Mercy Hospital is moving forward with construction of its $400 million inpatient tower building. In the coming months, this could bring delays and lane closures around the site in the vicinity of St. Paul Place, Calvert Street, and Pleasant Street.

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