MTA Announces Proposed MARC Train and

Commuter Bus Service Reductions

Public hearings are scheduled for communities affected by service reduction proposals

(Baltimore, MD), October 16, 2008 – The Maryland Transit Administration is announcing proposed service reductions that will affect MARC Train and Commuter Bus operations. The MTA and other State agencies must reduce spending and identify efficiencies that help address budget challenges brought about by the severe downturn in our national economy. The sources of revenue that support the operation of MTA’s MARC Train and Commuter Bus services have declined dramatically since the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

Regrettably, MTA must reduce its budget, and while the majority of reductions are taking place in administrative areas some MARC Train and Commuter Bus services are proposed for elimination. The proposed service reductions are listed below. Service reductions are proposed to take effect on January 12, 2009 or sooner if the service reduction is based on a holiday.

MTA will hold public hearings throughout the State to receive public comments on these proposals. Citizens may provide comments at any hearing that it is convenient, or may send comments directly to the MTA by mail or email. All comments received by December 26, 2008 will be considered before proposals are finalized.

By mail, please address comments to:
          Mr. Glenn Litsinger
          MTA Office of Customer Information
          6 St. Paul Street
          Baltimore MD 21202

For additional information on MTA schedules, fares and other services, visit www.mtamaryland.com or call (410) 539-5000 or (866) RIDE-MTA. TTY 410-539-3497

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Proposed MARC Train and Commuter Bus Service Reductions
 

Commuter Bus

• All service from Baltimore to Columbia on the Nos. 310 and 311 Lines

• All service on the No. 320 Line from Laurel to Baltimore

• All service on the No. 412 Line from Bel Air to Baltimore

• One round trip from Harford County to Baltimore on the Nos. 410, 411 and 420 lines

• All service on the No. 913 Line from Waldorf to the Suitland Metrorail Station

• All service on the No. 921 Line from Annapolis to New Carrollton Metrorail Station

• One round trip on the No. 995 Line from Columbia to Washington, DC and the branch of the line serving Oakland Mills

• Saturday service and one weekday mid-morning round trip on the No. 929 Line from Columbia to Washington, DC

• In addition to these service reductions, MTA proposes, effective Veterans’ Day, to:

       • Eliminate all holiday service (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Columbus Day, 
          Veterans’ Day and the day after Thanksgiving)

       • Eliminate all service on the day after Christmas

       • Operate holiday service rather than full service on Christmas Eve and the day after New Year’s Day.

MARC Train

• The last two evening round trip trains on the Penn Line (Trains #445, 446, 447 and 448)

• All service on Mondays through Thursdays on Brunswick Line train #871 (Friday service to continue)

• Termination of Brunswick Line train #883 at Brunswick

• All service on the mid-day bus shuttle between Odenton and Laurel

• In addition to these service reductions, MTA proposes, effective Veterans’ Day, to:

       • Eliminate all holiday service on all lines (Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day and the 
        day after Thanksgiving)

       • Eliminate service on all lines on the day after Christmas

       • Operate holiday service rather than full service on Christmas Eve and the week between Christmas
         and New Year’s Day

• The MTA also proposes to eliminate the MARC Ten-Trip Ticket.

MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Jawauna Greene            Cheron Victoria Wicker
Office: (410) 767-3936   Office: 410-767-3936

MARC/COMMUTER BUS PUBLIC HEARINGS
November 17 through 25, 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008

Bel Air
The John Carroll School
The Brown Room
703 E. Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Metropolitan Washington COG
Training Center
777 North Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20002
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Rockville
Council Office Building, Auditorium
600 Jefferson Plaza
Rockville, MD 20852
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Baltimore City
State Center Office Complex, Auditorium
301 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM And
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Columbia
Owen Brown Interfaith Center
7246 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Laurel
City of Laurel Municipal Center
Council Chambers
8103 Sandy Spring Road
Laurel, MD 20707
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Odenton
O’Malley Senior Center
1275 Odenton Road
Odenton, MD 21113
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Waldorf
Waldorf Jaycees
JCI Room
3090 Crain Highway
Waldorf, MD 20601
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Annapolis
Stanton Center, Gymnasium
92 West Washington Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM And
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Brunswick
Brunswick City Hall
Second Floor Conference Room
1 West Potomac Street Brunswick, MD 21716
6:00PM – 8:30 PM

Monday, November 24, 2008

Essex
MAA, Martin State Airport
Hanger 4, MAA Classroom
701 Wilson Point Road
Baltimore, MD 21220
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Halethorpe
Arbutus Town Hall
1347 Stevens Avenue
Halethorpe, MD 21227
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Martinsburg
Martinsburg City Hall
J. Oakley Seibert City Council Chambers
232 North Queen Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Edgewood
Edgewood Recreation and Community Center
Multi-Purpose Room
1980 Brookside Drive
Edgewood, MD 21040
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Frederick
Winchester Hall
First Floor Hearing Room
12 East Church Street
Frederick, MD 21701
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Perryville
Perryville High School
Second Floor Media Center
1696 Perryville Road
Perryville, MD 21903
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM