Anne Arundel Today

ANNAPOLIS - Business and advocacy groups across the state have sent a letter to Gov. Larry Hogan, urging the governor and his administration not to limit or eliminate the Light Rail service in Anne Arundel County.

The administration said earlier this week that it will not cut the service.

Baltimore Development Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer William H. Cole said effective public transportation that connects people to jobs is crucial for the region's economy.

William H. Cole | Baltimore Mayor's Website

"Limiting or reducing Light Rail service in Anne Arundel County further exacerbates transit gaps, which exist in the Baltimore metropolitan region, and adds an additional barrier for those who rely on public transportation to find and get to jobs that provide a family-sustaining living-wage," Cole said in a statement provided to Anne Arundel Today. "Most people in the region live in one jurisdiction and work in another. Those job opportunities should not be limited to only those who can afford to own a personal vehicle."

Some politicians and residents claim the service going through the northern part of the county is cause for increased crime, but police data says otherwise.

In April, county police officers began patrolling the section of the Light Rail system that is in their jurisdiction. Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) police have also had an increased presence in the area to deter crime.

Data provided by MTA says there were 76 arrests between July 1, 2017 and June 30.

The letter sent to Hogan said organizations deeply care about the social, economic and environmental health of greater Baltimore. The organizations said they strongly oppose the recent requests to reduce or eliminate the Light Rail service to northern parts of the county.

"Closing stations and reducing service along one of the few high-capacity rapid transit corridors in the greater Baltimore region would come at a direct cost to the region and have adverse impacts on existing riders, limit transportation choices for residents and undermine the economic development potential of the region," the letter said.

The organizations said in the letter that Anne Arundel County Police have not reported a spike in crime related to the Light Rail service and that county police have only made three arrests since April.

"We should focus on reducing crime wherever it persists, but we should address root causes and use data to inform our decisions," the letter said.