Thousands of new homes and $1.4 billion in tax revenue. Plan to develop land near Baltimore-area transit stations unveiled.

Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials unveiled a plan to develop land around the transit system in the Baltimore area, creating thousands of housing units.

Moore said Monday that he hopes to put state-owned land to use and cut housing costs for residents. The newly announced Baltimore Regional Transit-Oriented Development Strategy will seek to develop state-owned land near transit stations. 

"This is about building housing that is connected to transit, connected to community and connected to opportunity," Moore said.

The governor said 134 acres of state-owned land are available in the Baltimore region for development, "ready to support nearly 5,000 new homes and ready to generate almost $1.4 billion is state and local tax revenue." 

Moore explained that the plan aims to expand the community's access to housing and opportunity by improving transit accessibility, allowing people to travel to surrounding neighborhoods. 

"You cannot have economic mobility if you do not have physical mobility," Moore said. "People need dependable and affordable ways to get around." 

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said that the development will largely use empty parking lots, reducing the need for people to drive to the station to get on the subway. 

Among the first areas targeted will be the Rogers Avenue Metro Station in Baltimore, Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation Kathryn Thomson announced. The state is seeking a developer for about 9 acres of state-owned land around the station, with the potential for 400 new homes and $27 million in state and city tax revenue.

Moore also announced that they would also be introducing 78 new rail cars to the metro and light rail by 2027. 

According to the American Public Transportation Association's 2025 fourth quarter report, Baltimore's subway system supports an average of 12,500 riders each weekday. 

In 2024, the system had 5.5 million total riders, according to data from the mayor's office.

The city's metro subway system was established in 1983 with eight stations, from Charles Center to Reisterstown Plaza. By 1995, five more stations had been added.

Currently, the system includes 14 stations, spanning 15.5 miles, from Owings Mills to Johns Hopkins Hospital.