The Travelin’ Grampa Touring the U.S.A. without an automobile

Focus on fast, safe, convenient, comfortable, cheap travel, via public transit.

Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2009

Photo credits: SEPTA; TheCustomOfLife, Wikipedia; David T. Smith, SFPhototour.com

Snowy freezy Philly. Sunny Tampa streetcar. San Francisco BART train.

Grampa’s off to sunny California and Florida This issue of Travelin’ Grampa is “going to bed” a bit early, as Grampa soon is heading to the sunny climes of California and Florida. He’s booked on US Airways from Philly to Florida in mid-December. After visiting relatives and a horse there, he’ll fly United Air Lines in January to San Francisco, returning later to Tampa for more sunny enjoyment, before flying back to currently snowy freezy Philly. During this getaway, he plans to ride regional and local trains, buses and trolleys in St. Pete, Clearwater, San Jose, Los Gatos, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, and who knows where else. The Tampa round-trip was an especially good bargain. US Airways briefly awarded flights for cashing-in half the usual number of miles. As both flights were non-stop, the security fees were negligible. Total for fees and taxes: $5. Each time you change planes, you pay another security fee.

Baltimore is wonderful place to visit, without a car Among least appreciated wonderful places to tour is the area. Easy to get to without driving a car, it’s even easier to get around in without one. On following pages are some of Grampa’s experiences there. He often visits en route to Washington DC, partly because he lodges free at his daughter’s home in Elkridge.

Photo credit: Old ManGnar, wikipedia

Baltimore’s and skyline at nighttime.

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Car not necessary to see the sights in/around Baltimore It’s a major metropolis. It’s got what you’d expect: a first-class airport, with its own Amtrak and commuter railroad depot, plus a downtown station where Amtrak’s high speed Acela trains stop, a Greyhound Bus Terminal (actually two, the “downtown” one being not quite downtown), a subway, light rail lines, a major bus system, fleets of taxicabs, paratransit vans for the disabled, etc. Several smaller suburban bus lines, such as Howard County Transit, drop off and pick up passengers at BWI Airport terminals. Commuter motor coach lines do so within downtown Baltimore.

BWI is the region’s main airport Three major airports are convenient to the city: Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Washington National Airport (DCA), and Dulles International Airport (IAD). Quickly, easily reached by light rail line, BWI is 10 miles south of the city, and served by several bus lines from nearby Maryland communities, including Annapolis, Columbia and Silver Spring, the latter having a Washington DC MetroRail station. There are at BWI about 700 commercial airline flights in and out daily. at BWI. Both MTA Light Rail and buses and DC’s Metrobus stop there, as do Howard Transit and other suburban bus systems. Amtrak has a BWI Airport station. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (that’s it’s full official name), or DCA, is located just outside Washington DC, and is reachable from BWI via DC’s MetroBus #30 and the Greenbelt MetroRail station. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is in northern Virginia, and reachable from BWI via private shuttle bus and limos.

Amtrak stops at two Baltimore stations Amtrak and MARC commuter railroad trains stop at a big downtown depot called Penn Station. It once was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad, one of the nation’s most wealthy and powerful corporations which went out of business after it merged with the equally wealthy and powerful New Your Central Railroad system. (Merged giants often turn out to be flops, for some reason.) Penn Station also is a station of the Baltimore Light Rail line which, as mentioned above, goes to BWI Airport. (Baltimore’s subway doesn’t go to either.)

Senior rides subway, light rail, bus all day for $1.20 Both subway and light rail in Baltimore and its suburbs run 7 days a week from early morning until around midnight. The subway runs from Owings Mills in the northwest suburbs near Carroll County to Johns Hopkins Hospital in eastern Baltimore. The light rail system runs from Hunt Valley Towne Centre, a far north suburb, to Cromwell in Anne Arundel County, which is south of BWI airport. Regular one-way adult fare on Light Rail is $1.60. A $3.50 one-day pass entitles rider to unlimited rides on MTA local buses, Light Rail, or/and Metro subway. You can buy a one-day pass from the bus driver or at a subway/light rail station vending machine. Weekly pass $16.50. Monthly $64. Senior/disability (with proper photo ID) 55¢. Senior/disability one-day pass $1.20. Paratransit ticket book of 20 Tickets $37. Paratransit ticket books can be purchased the Lobby Transit Store, 6 St. Paul street. Paratransit full Fare $1.85. For more: www.mtamaryland.com

2 Photo credits: Hillrhpc, wikipedia; Robert McConnell, The Bergen Network; Steelplug, wikipedia

Baltimore Light Rail train. MTA Route 11 Gable Ave. bus. Baltimore Metro subway train.

Walking, riding bus often essential when touring Baltimore Unlike New York City or London, England, the Baltimore Metro subway and light rail systems do not go close to most places tourists want to go, notably the city’s famous Inner Harbor. To get there you often need to transfer to a bus, walk a long distance, or hail a taxicab.

Don’t travel public transit during school let-out hours Warning: In and around Baltimore, during school hours, most public transit has plenty of available seating. When area schools let out, however, buses, light rail and subway suddenly become packed. It too crowded, a bus driver will simply not stop to pick up additional passengers. You could find yourself standing in the cold, wind and snow a half hour or more. And when you do board, many youngsters seem reluctant to offer a senior a seat, though front seats supposedly are senior/disabled priority.

Maryland, seniors ride at 1/3rd usual adult fare In Baltimore and other places in Maryland, MTA bus, subway and light rail lines charge senior citizens, age 65 years and older, approx. one-third the regular fare. MARC commuter trains cost approx. one-half the regular adult fare. Many bus drivers insist that to get the reduced fare the senior show an MTA-issued photo ID card. Also, Maryland residents have told Grampa this card is available only to Maryland residents. Both of these are misconceptions. The MTA’s official policy is that the senior show… “…a valid MTA Senior/Disability photo ID card, or any valid government issued photo ID with proof of age, or a valid disability ID from another transit agency and any valid government issued photo ID, or a Medicare card and any valid government issued photo ID.”

Get your very own MTA photo ID card, like Grampa’s However, if you are like Grampa and like to flash your official MTA-issued ID with your very own portrait on it, you can do what he did. Go to the MTA Reduced Fare Certification Office in the lobby of 6 St. Paul street and have your picture taken and a card issued within five or ten minutes. It’s open 8:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. Regular fare for local bus, light rail, and Metro subway. $1.60 one-way, $3.20 round trip, $3.50 one-day Pass, $16.50 weekly pass, and $64.00 monthly pass. Senior/disability fares: $.55 one-way, $1.20 one-day Pass, $16.50 monthly pass.

3 Baltimore celebrates author Poe’s 200th birthday Edgar Allan Poe’s 200th Birthday is celebrated big-time this month in Baltimore. Though Philadelphia and New York City also lay claim to this famous 19th century writer who invented the mystery novel, Baltimore gets more passionate about him. All three cities have a Poe House museum, but only one annually pulls out all the stops. It does so doubly for two weekends this year. At Westminster Hall, Poe’s burial place on West Fayette Street actors will perform Poe’s comedy, Some Words With a Mummy, the world’s first mummy-come-alive story and precursor of many goofy horror movies ever since. It’s about an Egyptian mummy brought back to life by scientists using electricity (a-la Frankenstein). Poe wrote it in or about 1844. While famous for mystery and horror tales, Poe's writing was almost on-third comedy, although most of it seemed to have a tragic flavor. Also to be is a play based on Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. Westminster Hall is a short walk from the Lexington Market stations of both the subway and light rail. Many MTA bus lines stop nearby. Saturday the 17th, Mark Redfield, producer of the film The Death of Poe, will present Poe’s Hop Frog with live costumed actors and life size puppets. It’s a horrifying tale of revenge upon a cruel king and his ministers. For more: www.poebicentennial.com

Photo credits: WallyG, Flickr; Diane F. Evartt, Md. Dept. of Veterans Affairs;

Baltimore War Memorial. Baltimore City Hall. Afro American Museum. Poe House.

Famous Poe House tour can be guided or self-guided In a famous 2 ½ story 5-room row home, Poe House (and museum), on West Amity street, tours will be conducted as usual. Inside are the actual living quarters -- and his writing table -- of Poe, his wife Virginia, grandmother, aunt and her children. Guides tell interesting stories here. Or, if you wish to explore the house yourself, there are plenty of video displays and artifact exhibits. You can buy a souvenirs in the front parlor gift shop, including copies of his famous poem The Raven in his own handwriting.

Fancy Poe’s Raven cake to be given away on TV show Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes bakery will display during the month a literally “monumental” cake that resembles the city’s Poe Monument. On it will be a black raven made of icing and "1809 Celebrate Poe 2009" in icing around its base. This bakery is run by the host of the TV show Ace of Cakes on the Food Network. On the Sunday show, January 18th, it will be given away to some lucky Baltimore visitor.

Actor John Austin will give traditional Toast to Poe A traditional Toast to Poe will be done by actor John Astin and Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House, at the end of each event. Prominent soloist Paula McCabe will sing several musical selections during the event.

4 Photo credits: Baltimore Water Taxi

Pier Five taxi landing at Little Italy. Water taxi landing at .

President-elect Obama will speak in Baltimore Probably his last speech as President-elect will be by Barak Obama on a stopover in Baltimore en route to his Washington DC inauguration. After that, he’ll be President Obama. From the steps of the War Memorial Plaza across from City Hall, he will address what’s expected to be a wildly enthusiastic crowd. Whether he’ll mention Edgar Allen Poe is anybody’s guess. But he’s almost certain to mention Francis Scott Key and the Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem. Key wrote its lyrics while captive aboard a ship in Baltimore Harbor, overlooking Fort McHenry, under attack by the British Navy during the War of 1812. Key watched bombs bursting in air giving proof thorough the night that our flag was still there.

Fort McHenry’s still there; ride to it on a water taxi You can ride a water taxi to Fort McHenry and back for $9. In fact, for $9 you can ride a water taxi all day, to any of 19 different landings, all the location of one or more popular tourist attractions. An all-day ticket is $9 for adults and $4 for children age 10 and under. No senior discount. Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine is landing #17. Water Taxis land there April thru September, weather permitting. The star- shaped fort and its beautiful waterfront grounds have an important place in American history, being where the British decided to turn around and stop attacking the USA. This was after they had sacked Washington Dc and burned the White House.

Photo credits:; Sturmovik wikipedia; Ellicott City; Historic Flag House

National Aquarium. B&O ststion, Elicott City. Historic Flag House.

Like Philly, Baltimore has its own famous U.S. flag house MTA routes #7 and #10 buses stop near the Star Spangled Banner Flag House on Pratt street. Built in 1793, this was the home and place of business of Mary Pickersgill, maker of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s famous poem that later became the

5 national anthem. In 1806, Mary and daughter Caroline moved in, along with Mary’s mother, Rebecca Young, who had a flag-making business in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War, obviously competing with the Quaker City’s Betsy Ross, who might or might not have sewn the first Stars & Stripes flag for Gen. George Washington. Inside the Baltimore house it’s still the early 19th century. Furniture and other items of that period are there. If you’d care to walk a couple of blocks, it’s that far from the Shot Tower and Market Place stations of the Metro subway line.

B’more museum showing Inauguration on big screen If in town for the Poe Bicentennial and prefer not to go south to DC on Inauguration Day to fight what undoubtedly will be packed roads, streets, buses and trains moving at a snail’s pace or not at all, you can remain in Baltimore and watch the inauguration at Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. It will show a live broadcast of the events. Just blocks from the Inner Harbor, it’s a major museum featuring Afro American exhibits, music and recorded oral histories. Take the MTA #10 bus. Or ride the Metro subway to Shot Tower Station and walk two blocks south. Museum is on the left. An alternative is a water taxi to Marriott Waterfront Hotel (pier 6) and walk three blocks north on President Street. Museum will be to your right across Pratt Street. Of course, on the 19th, the museum will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Films, musical performances, storytelling and arts and crafts will examine the life and impact of this famous Civil Rights leader.

Family bus company hauls distant commuters to B’more As a contractor with the Maryland Transit Administration, Dillon's Bus Service Inc., in Baltimore, provides daily scheduled long-distance motor coach rides into and out of downtown Baltimore. They include: ● # 410 commuter bus does 8 trips daily between Churchville and Baltimore, making a dozen stops in-between, and several in Baltimore, including Camden yards, Charles Center, Mount Vernon Square, and the State Office Center, where connections can be made to MTA Light Rail, MARC railroad, or MTA buses. ● # 411 commuter bus does 8 daily trips between Hickory and Baltimore/ It making four stops in-between, and ten in Baltimore, including Camden Yards, Convention Center, Charles Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital. This also allows transfer to other public transit. ● # 420 commuter bus runs 8 daily trips between Havre de Grace and Baltimore, plus an early afternoon trip on Fridays and the day before a federal holiday. It makes 12 in- between stops, including Aberdeen, Edgewood and Joppatowne, and 9 in Baltimore, including the Convention Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital. ● Carro D921 commuter bus as of Jan. 12, no longer will be an MTA route, but Dillon's Bus Service will continue it anyway. But MTA monthly passes or 10-trip tickets no longer will be accepted. Drivers will sell 10-trip passes printed by Dillon's for use only on the D921. Otherwise all fares, stops, and departure times remain for at least a month. The 921 does a dozen daily trips between Annapolis and New Carrollton Metro Station, where the MetroRail Orange Line carries commuters into DC, etc. MARC’s commuter train also stops here, as do Amtrak trains nearby.

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Photo Credits: Dillion’s Bus Service Inc.;Howard County Government

Dillon’s Bus Service bus. Howard County hybrid. Howard Transit riders.

Howard County Transit bus routes are c o l o r f u l l Howard County and its famous Columbia planned community has nine Howard Transit bus routes known not by numbers – but by colors. There are: blue, brown, green, gold, orange, purple, red, silver, and yellow routes. Fixed route buses serve Clarksville, Columbia, Ellicott City, North Laurel, Savage, Elkridge and other communities, and go to/from BWI Airport, MARC rail stations, and industrial parks. Most run Mon. – Sat., a few Sun. Regular adult fare is $1.50, with a free transfer available. Seniors age 60 and up and disabled pay 50¢, by showing a system-issued ID card, of which Grampa has one. Students also pay 50¢ if showing valid school-issued ID Card. Children age 5 years and under free. 10-ride ticket is $13.50, for seniors $4.50. Howard Transit also operates HT Ride shared ride transport to medical appointments, senior centers, etc., to eligible Howard County residents who suffer a disability, are age 60 and over, and/or have a low-income. HT Ride ADA also has general shared ride service for anyone eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It’s limited to areas within 3/4 mile of Howard Transit fixed route service. It also runs Neighbor Ride for Howard County older residents, a budget priced transportation service that uses community volunteers and resources. For more: www.howardtransit.com

Connect A Ride buses serve Laurel race track area Connect-A-Ride buses provide daily bus service in the Laurel area and between Columbia and Laurel, plus in the Whiskey Bottom area of Howard County. Buses stop in Savage, Owen Brown, and Kings Contrivance with free transfers to Howard Transit routes. For more: www.neighborride.org

There are two B&O Railroad museums In the Baltimore area there are two B&O Railroad museums. Grampa enjoyed both very much, especially the smaller one in Ellicott City, Md., southwest of the city. The bigger one, on the MTA #31 bus route along west Pratt street, is within walking distance of the MARC commuter railroad’s Camden Yards station. But a pretty tough neighborhood is in-between. The #31 bus meets the Light Rail line at Howard and Pratt streets, across the street from the Baltimore Convention Center. Light Rail and MARC trains meet at Camden Yards station. The #150 express commuter bus goes to Ellicott City. You also can get there on Howard County Transit bus. Howard Transit bus meets the Light Rail line at BWI Airport station.

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ADOT bus runs between BWI and Annapolis Anne Arundel County next door to BWI Airport includes Annapolis city, the state capital. It has its own small public transit system. Four fixed routes serve Annapolis, Parole, Arnold, Edgewater, Deale and BWI Airport. There also are three “shuttle” routes, plus a “trolley” linking downtown Annapolis to fringe parking. ADOT carries residents and visitors to the state capital, recreational areas, shopping centers, educational and medical facilities, employment hubs, etc. It also has special service for “the elderly and persons with disabilities.” Fixed Routes run Mon.-Sat. 6 am - 7 pm., with limited Sunday service. Shuttle Routes run Mon. - Fri. 6:30 am - 8 pm, and Sat. & Sun. 10 am - 6 pm.

Carroll County has no Baltimore subway connection Usually, at the terminus of a major subway/elevated line, at least feeder buses haul riders to and fro. Not at Owings Mills, where Baltimore’s subway line terminates. Not a single bus line goes into nearby Carroll County. A lone circulator bus, the M17, provides service to the outskirts of a mammoth shopping center. But no regular bus goes to/from Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, New Windsor, Taneytown, Union Bridge, Westminster, or any other Carroll County community. CATS, the Carroll Area Transit System, a private nonprofit corporation, does have four fixed routes: Eldersburg - Westminster, South Carroll, Taneytown, and Westminster Shopper shuttles. Fare $1 per trip, 50¢ for seniors. CATS also offers call-up-and-reserve shared ride transport to county’s seniors, disabled, and “transportation disadvantaged” (whatever that is?). Exact fare is paid on boarding the vehicle, either cash or one CATS Ticket (book of 10 can be purchased at the CATS office for $10). These shuttles have regular schedules and stops. Riders can make connections from one shuttle to the other to get to more locations around Carroll County. For more: www.carrolltransit.org or www.gobycats.org

Suburban shopping center shuns bus from subway Gerald Neily of Baltimore Regional Partnership. an alliance of civic and environmental groups, has called Owings Mills subway station “a planning disaster.” While the surrounding area is booming, in the immediate vicinity of the station is nothing but “vast expanse of parking lots,” he notes. “Beyond these lots in one direction is a lone office building where the historic Samuel Owings House used to stand. In the other direction, one can see a large dirt plateau, crowned by the Owings Mills Mall.” “Forget about walking to any of these destinations from the transit station,” he said. “A sign on the dirt plateau warns against doing this with a warning as stern as if it was quicksand. One person who tried to make the journey through this no man's land was murdered. The MTA feeder bus system is of little help. The Mall will only allow the bus to stop at the outer reaches of their huge parking lot, perhaps because of the stigma of letting lowly bus patrons be associated too closely with the mall. Consequently, people don't like to take the bus, which means that service is infrequent, which means that it is poor, which means that congestion is heavy, which means that Owings Mills development ignores the Metro and looks instead to still more highway access for its transportation salvation.”

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SEPTA’s new Silverliner V at Market East station New cars have different lighting and color scheme from current SEPTA

self-propelled passenger cars, and have a lighter seating arrangement.

Designer’s drawing of SEPTA’s new Silverliner V passenger cars.

Photos: John P. Almeida, Phila. Chapter, National Railway Historical Society

Would-be riders test seats. SEPTA guide conducts tour. Conductor welcomes visitors.

Photos: Railroad Net, Dudeman1975; John P. Almeida, Phila. Chapter NRHS; Hyundai Rotem USA

Car has new color scheme. Well-lit high ceiling. Prototype at Suburban Station.

Photos: Bob Vogel, Phila. Chapter NRHS; Wikimedia Adam E. Moreia

3 + 2 seating arrangement. Prototype at Suburban Station. Real Silverliner train underway.

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Harford County has half dozen regular bus routes has a half dozen bus routes based out of Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Riverside, Edgewood, and Joppatowne. Route #1 serves Havre de Grace, Aberdeen and Bel Air, Route #2 serves Joppatowne, Abington, Edgewood and Bel Air, Route 3 is the Bel Air Town-Go-Round bus, Route #4 is called the Aberdeen Doodlebug. Route #5 is the Edgewood Circulator bus. Route #6 and #6A serves Edgewood, Riverside, Perryman and Aberdeen. Harford Transit buses link up with MTA's Flyer and MARC train service to Baltimore and Washington DC. It also offers Americans with Disabilities Act service. All of its vehicles are wheelchair accessible.

Photos: NYC Transit Forum; Bob Vogel, NRHS; SEPTA

Artist’s version of SEPTA. Interior of Silverliner V. Prototype being unloaded.

New SEPTA Silverliner V seats are less comfortable SEPTA displayed its new Silverliner V railcar at Suburban Station Oct. 2-16. This passenger car features a different lighting and color scheme from current self-propelled passenger cars, and has a lighter seating arrangement. Seats are more rigid and strait backed, thus less comfortable than present SEPTA commuter railroad car seats. After inspecting the car, Grampa went immediately to the SEPTA Museum in the basement of the PSFS Building at 12 south 12th Street and boarded an old SEPTA PCC trolley car on display there. He sat in a few of the seats. Compared to the Silverliner V’s, they were more comfortable. See Special Picture Feature on Page 9

Since late August, when it arrived from manufacturer Hyundai-Rotem in Korea, Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority engineers have given it a thorough going-over at Wayne Junction. SEPTA has ordered 120 of the new 108 or 110 Silverliner V rail cars for its Regional Rail fleet issues. They can accommodate wheelchair passengers. Like cars of the Broad Street and Market-Frankford subways, they will have destination signs, inside and outside, and automated station announcements. Thus, when a train approaches Lansdowne, riders no longer will hear a conductor shout “Lansdale.” Hopefully, they also will not do as the Market-Frankford elevated has done lately – announce the wrong station. To improve the flow of passengers boarding and exiting the train, each coach will have two doors on either side of the car. Larger windows, wider aisles and comfortable seating enhance the sleek new look of the cars. ------© 2009, all rights reserved. The Travelin’ Grampa is published monthly by John A. Moore Sr., Freelance Journalist, P. O Box 636, Clifton Heights PA 19018. One year (12 issues) subscription by e-mail: $75. U. S. residents age 62 and up can get a 66-2/3% discount.

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