County politicians, citizens groups and residents came out in force this week to condemn proposed cuts to commuter bus service to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

"We understand that these are challenging times, but the cuts proposed are a big step backwards," said Roy Ferguson, of Columbia, on behalf of People Acting Together in Howard, a community advocacy group, at a Nov. 18 hearing on the cuts. "Many people have no practical alternatives to this service."

As part of an overall cost-cutting measure, the Maryland Transit Administration wants to eliminate bus routes 310 and 311, which go between Columbia to Baltimore, and route 320 from Laurel to Baltimore, and cutting back on routes 929 and 995, which run from Columbia to Washington and from Clarksville, Ellicott City and Columbia into Washington. The changes would take effect Jan. 12, 2009.

The MTA hearing drew a standing-room-only crowd estimated at 400 to the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia, according to an administration spokeswoman. About 250 attendees signed up to speak.

Howard County state lawmakers, the County Council and Howard County Executive Kenneth Ulman have come out against the proposal, and many of those elected officials were at the hearing.

"The bottom line is we are united in opposition to this," said State Del. Guy Guzzone, a Columbia Democrat who is chairman of the House delegation. "We feel that it is a critical component to our quality of life."

Ulman noted that the proposal comes only months after the county expanded the Park and Ride lot at Snowden River Parkway and Route 175 because of increased demand for the buses.

"I understand the pressure the state is under," Ulman said at the hearing. "I'm just asking you to work with us to see if there is an option.

"Once it's eliminated, my concern is it may never come back," he said.

Angela Bryant-Lecompte, 45, of Columbia, said she has been using the commuter bus to get to her job as a dental hygienist in Baltimore for the past three months in response to higher gas prices, as well as the high cost and inconvenience of parking downtown.

"On the one hand, they tell people to go green," she said. "Then they're telling people to get back in their cars."

MTA has proposed statewide cuts to or outright elimination of 11 commuter bus routes and six train routes, which would save $5.4 million per year.

Administration officials argue the cuts are necessary because of declining income from gasoline taxes and vehicle title and registration fees, which pay for much of MTA's operations. A handout distributed at this week's hearing states that the agency gets 40 percent of its operating costs from fares, which were not raised because it would be a burden at a time when household budgets are stretched.

MTA officials also said the particular routes targeted -- in both Howard County and elsewhere in the state -- were chosen based on how many riders they averaged per trip. The agency said the bus routes averaged 18.7 passengers per trip, well below the system-wide average of 36 passengers.

Many residents questioned MTA's contentions, pointing out that buses are often packed and the number of riders has been increasing each year.

When longtime bus commuter Calvin Blinder, 60, of Columbia, asked to see how many people would be willing to pay increased fares in exchange for keeping the routes intact, a majority of those at the meeting raised their hands.

County Council member Mary Kay Sigaty, a Columbia Democrat, said people throughout her district are affected by the proposed cuts.

"I'm here to say we need to keep the connection to Baltimore. It is essential for our work force to get there," she said. "We all understand it is tough budget times, but the reality is, to cut people off from their jobs is unacceptable."

Representatives from a number of community groups, including the Howard County Citizens Association, the League of Women Voters and People Acting Together in Howard, spoke out against the proposed cuts.

Decision due soon

MTA is taking written comments on its proposal through Dec. 26 and will make a decision shortly after that, said Cheron Wicker, an MTA spokeswoman.

Hearings are being held throughout the state, she said, but the turnout at the Columbia hearing has been the highest so far.

About 435 commuters would be affected by cutting routes 310 and 311 and about 110 riders would be affected by cutting routes 929 and 995, according to MTA figures.

For the elimination of routes 310 and 311, the agency suggests people could take route 150 from Ellicott City to Baltimore or use the MARC train Camden Line.

---

user comments (1)

user brdoon says...

Many at this meeting supported raising the gas tax. For the most part the impact of this on any one household would be neglible and commuter buses benefit drivers not just bus patrons...they take autos off the highways during the busy time of the day and make efficient use of a finite resource , petroleum. Also by reducing demand for gas they help to keep prices lower. As the article points out...environmentally they are alot less onerous to air quality than 20 to 40 autos would be.

However the problem on the horizon is that there is afoot a move to raise the gas tax at the Federal level to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund which will be broke come Oct 2009. I believe citizens should oppose this. At the Federal level there are far more mechanisms to raise funds than at the State level. If the tax is increased at the Federal level it leaves the State of Maryland "less room" to respond to the needs of the citizens of this State. I believe the State Government is in a better position to guage and respond to the needs of its citizens than the Federal Government is. State politicians are more "sensitive" to which way you vote. A thousand votes in a State election can decide the race so naturally our elected State and local reps are more attuned to our needs and the shape our household and collective budgets are in. Oppose rraising the Federal gas tax increase but support it on the State level. Ultimately most of the Federal funds come back to the State so why add another level of government when it is not necessary?

Posted 10:44 AM, 11.20.08

• Permalink