ST. MARY’S TODAY
LEONARDTOWN --- County
officials as well as bus
drivers prefer the current
operations in the St. Mary’s
Transit buses instead of
contracting the buses out to
a contractor like Charles
County does.
The St. Mary’s Transit or
STS buses are county owned
and operated. Bus driver
Milton Taylor said he finds
the current system ‘more
acceptable’ because he
cannot invest his trust in a
contractor. "I just haven’t
had any faith in
contracting" said Taylor.
George Erichsen, the
Director of St Mary’s
Department of Public Works
and Transportation shared
Taylor’s desire to keep the
bus system away from
contractors. "We are able to
better schedule, dispatch
and maintain the fleet of
buses under the current
operational system" said
Erichsen. Erichsen also
mentioned that almost all of
the bus drivers are
part-time workers and
therefore do not need the
benefits that some
contractors can offer.
According to Erichsen,
Charles County
transportation officials
recently contacted the St.
Mary’s Department of Public
Works and Transportation
asking to evaluate the STS
system because costs for
them are "growing
exponentially"
Erichsen said that according
to the approved FY08 budget
that the approximate annual
cost to the county for the
bus system is 2.5 million
dollars. He said the county
receives 286 thousand
dollars in federal grants
and 871 thousand in state
grants. He said the
remaining money comes from
social services ($75,000),
advertising ($45,000), rider
revenue ($580,000) and
county contribution
($458,000). Erichsen said
the county puts in $144,000
dollars above the state
requirement.
Although Erichsen mentioned
that the bus system needs
improvements in offering
services to the disabled, he
is very optimistic about the
future of the STS buses.
Erichsen said the STS bus
service has become a
"tremendous success" in
recent years. He mentioned
reaching a record high of
33,974 riders and being
recognized as the Best Fixed
Transit System from the
Maryland Transportation
Administration. He also
mentioned improvements such
as the putting into practice
weekend and evening service
with some bus routes. Erica
Toye of Calvert County
however, mentioned that
while the buses of the
Calvert Connection Route
were clean and reliable,
that she would like the
hours to run later in the
evening.
County Commissioner Larry
Jarboe (R) is also a
supporter of the STS bus
system. Jarboe favors the
STS buses for environmental
purposes. Jarboe, who drives
an electric car created by
the Great Mills High School
engineering club, said he
uses the buses when he has
car problems. Jarboe said he
would ride a bicycle before
he buys a new car. According
to Jarboe, all cars in
America need lower mileage
and emissions. "And that’s a
Republican speaking!" said
Jarboe.
Along with the other four
County Commissioners, Jarboe
supports ‘Dump the Pump’
week, a movement by the
Department of Public Works
and Transportation for
members of the St. Mary’s
community to literally dump
the pump and ride the STS
buses on June 20th, 21st and
22nd. During Dump the Pump
week, patrons can "ride all
day for a dollar"
