BALTIMORE, MD - Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley today presented Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake with Governor Martin O'Malley's 2010 Smart, Green & Growing Award for Baltimore City's collaboration with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to complete a three-mile section of the Jones Falls Trail that connects the Woodberry Light Rail Station to Penn Station. The trail is a great example of Governor O'Malley's Smart, Green, and Growing Initiative because it provides inter-modal connections for bicycles and pedestrians to light rail, metro and regional rail service, as well as connections to major parks and residential areas.
"Baltimore City is truly leading by example with this trail project that provides low-cost and low environmental-impact connections to where we work, live, learn and play," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "Today, we are honoring Baltimore City for its work to provide a viable transportation alternative. We count on the City's continued partnership as, together, we are growing a stronger economy and creating a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for all Marylanders."
The Governor's Smart, Green and Growing Award is given to localities and projects that demonstrate Smart Growth in practice. The Governor's Smart, Green and Growing Award Program was established to recognize and to promote local governments and groups that are leading by example, by creating projects or programs that improve the communities and community design and that support Smart Growth concepts.
Secretary Swaim-Staley nominated Baltimore City for the award. She presented the award today at an event where the Baltimore City Commission on Sustainability delivered the City's First Annual Sustainability Report to the Mayor. The Annual Sustainability Report will continue to serve as an accountability tool to track Baltimore's progress toward improving the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the city. The Report tracks progress made on the 29 goals and 131 strategies, included in The Baltimore Sustainability Plan that was adopted as a City Ordinance on March 2, 2009.
"It is an honor to accept this great award," said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "The new Jones Falls Trail provides residents and visitors with an excellent option to travel, explore and exercise throughout the City. It makes the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, reduces energy use and provides recreational space to all."
In addition to presenting the award, Secretary Swaim-Staley announced an ongoing reforestation effort at Druid Hill Park and four other City parks as part of the State's I-95 Express Toll LanesSM Environmental Program.
During the event at City Hall, the Secretary announced a new partnership between Baltimore and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), which finances, owns and operates the State's toll facilities and is a newly accepted member of Maryland's Green Registry.
This spring, the partnership will result in the planting of more than 1,100 deciduous and evergreen trees within City communities at the following locations: Patterson Park, Joseph Lee Park, Druid Hill Park, Carroll Park, Farring Baybrook Park and along the Broadway median. The reforestation project is part of the MDTA's I-95 Express Toll Lanes Environmental Program.
"Both the reforestation effort and the Jones Falls Trail are great examples of how Maryland can maintain a vital transportation network while simultaneously investing in sustainable transportation alternatives like transit and our local trail network," said Secretary Swaim-Staley.
A member of Maryland's Small Business Reserve, Greenskeeper Environmental Service has already planted more than 200 trees in the Broadway median and this week has started planting 200 trees at Patterson Park and 100 trees at Joseph Lee Park. The total 1,100 plantings are valued at $156,000.
MDOT is committed to a more sustainable transportation network by linking: community revitalization, transportation improvements, economic development, smart growth and environmentally friendly travel options. Through a number of these efforts, MDOT is working hard to move forward Governor Martin O'Malley's Smart, Green and Growing Initiative, including many efforts to restore the bay, preserve land, revitalize communities, create green jobs, improve transit, conserve energy and reduce climate change.
Contact:
Jack Cahalan
Erin Henson
410-865-1025 |
