Both of the above are true. I would think that a freeman cross type of maple (Acer x freemani 'Autumn Blaze' or another similar cultivar) would take the alkaline soil better. Silver maples are usually more tolerant of dry and alkaline soils (although they don't necessarily like it). These freeman maples are crosses between red maples and silver maples, usually taking the best characeristics of each (good color, fast growth, poor site tolerance, stronger limb structure). This of course depends on just how bad your soil is, but it would be a better choice than the straight red maple cultivars.