MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Grant Mercer
BTCo President

The Appreciation of our Unique System.

Followng World War II, while other transit systems were disinvesting in their rail systems and taking the inexpensive route of converting services to bus operation, only to become bogged down years later by converting into Government operated entities,  the Baltimore Transit Company held in there to become the Nation's preemminent Independent Transit Operation, still managing to operate a clean, largely electric system.  The road has never been an overwhelmingly easy one, but the results of the coordinated effort between the BTCo and the City of Baltimore has yielded many rewarding benefits:

• First and foremost, our service levels are second to none for a city the size of Baltimore. The result is that over 60% of commuters who work Downtown use either BTCo services, MDOT Commuter Trains or both in their commute to work.
• Air Quality Levels in Baltimore are among the best on the entire Eastern Seaboard, despite the retention of a healthy industrial base.
• The Downtown retail core remains healthy and vibrant, unlike many cities which have seen their retail cores decline in the past 50 years!
• Likewise, the city tax base has remained stable, largely due to our excellent transportation network, and the minimization of sprawl that has harmed cities nationwide.

 - Grant