Transportation Congregation: Close the Saint Paul (JFX) exit, Build a Park

Open Baltimore shows 15,928 Crash Reports for 2023 in Baltimore City alone-many of them in Mount Vernon neighborhood connecting Penn Station, downtown, and the Inner Harbor. Traffic calming has been a pillar of the surrounding neighborhoods’ and UBalt master vision plans for years. Closing the JFX Saint Paul exit is one of those common goals because of the danger posed by cars exiting the freeway going too fast, making lefts across traffic to go east on Mount Royal, and no protected pedestrian crossing to Penn Station.

The solutions to transform our streets are proven, cost-effective, and universal. Safe roads are equitable, encourage walking, cycling (and running), reduce air pollution, and help combat the climate crisis. Learn about the global initiative .

We are seeing increased local attention, policy changes, and money focused on improving Baltimore's dysfunctional streets, from antiquated car-centric "stroads" to more accessible Complete Streets that allow peds and bikers to be safer, slow down the cars, and improve public transit times, connectivity, and accessibility. Now is the moment to lean into the momentum for progressive change on the streets.

Get involved in local solutions with residents, non-profits, schools, municipal leadership, and advocacy groups in the city. We're hosting a community get-together at the JFX Saint Paul exit park (Mount Royal and Saint Paul, next to UBalt School of Law) from 3:30-5 with music, refreshments, and resources. Join us to support a safer, cleaner, more inviting heart of the city, meet other progressive advocates, and see options of how to ultimately transform the reclaimed space.

And what do we want!? -a dog park, a playground, community garden plots, open green space, more flowers, all of these, something else? Mark your calendar and come celebrate the last day before daylight savings starts by doing something for people and planet. Let's Calm Down Saint Paul! And then keep going...

Host or Publisher Mount Vernon Belvedere Association (MVBA)