Maryland MTA crews complete light rail storm repairs
Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editorMaryland Transit Administration (MTA) returned light rail to service from the Patapsco to Cromwell and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport stations on Aug. 17, three days ahead of schedule.
The line required sections to be permanently stabilized following erosion that took place along the track following storms that hit the area on July 21.
“We thank the men and women of [Maryland Department of Transportation] MTA for their hard work and dedication in completing these much-needed repairs caused by the severe storms and ensuring our Light RailLink system is safe for our riders,” said MDOT MTA Chief Operations Officer Sean Adgerson. “We also thank our customers for their patience during this time.”
To mitigate flooding and future erosion in the area of the Twin Oaks Light RailLink grade crossing, MDOT MTA constructed a 36-inch drain pipe under the tracks. This repair work involved cutting and removing sections of track, gravel and soil, building a pipe and then excavating an area 40 feet wide and 16 feet deep. A 1,200-foot-long concrete drain also was constructed to minimize potential flooding. Reinforcements were constructed along the hillside next to the tracks to further stabilize the area.