Can both Light Rail and buses share a new tunnel downtown?
Potentially yes. With proper safeguards and specially designed stations, light rail and buses could share the downtown tunnel. There are two methods of sharing. First, a tunnel could provide separate lanes, two each for buses and light rail vehicles. The widths for such a tunnel would not typically fit under Baltimore streets. If such a tunnel would not fit under streets, then the tunnel would have to be very deep to be below the foundations of major buildings. Tunnels of this width will therefore be difficult to implement in Baltimore. A second approach would entail a narrower tunnel where buses and light rail share the same lane in each direction. At the entrance to both ends of the tunnel, a signal system would be placed to maintain a safe distance between the two modes. This separation is necessary to meet national safety codes. If a light rail vehicle enters the tunnel and a bus pulls up to the entrance right behind it, the signal displays a red light to keep the bus from entering
