SUMMER 08 COMMUTER PUBLISHED “EXPRESSLY” FOR MTA COMMUTER BUS RIDERS

BUZZYOUR RIDE IS HERE.

Governor’s Effort to Expand Transit Receives $3.36 Million for Additional Commuter Bus Service

Governor Martin O’Malley Washington, DC. recently announced additional • One daily round trip added to funding to expand and improve the No. 950 line operating the Commuter Bus program between Kent Island and around the State. The $3.36 Washington, DC. million in contracts approved in • Funding will allow the exten- May will fund additional Mon- sion of Kent Island trips on day through Friday trips on nine the No. 922 and No. 950 of the MTA’s most highly used lines to reach farther east to Commuter Bus lines. Planned include Kent Narrows. At a recent public hearing, Glenn Hoge (l), Acting Manager, Commuter Bus, and Com- improvements include: • Two daily round trips added muter Bus Deputy Director Glenn Saffran to the No. 915 line operating (rt) discuss service improvements with riders • Two daily round trips added between Columbia and in the fire hall of the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo by Frank Fulton) to the No. 901 line operating Washington, DC. between Charles County and • One daily round trip added to service to date proves that when Washington, DC. the No. 929 line operating provided with an efficient and • One daily round trip added to between Columbia and effective transit choice, people the No. 902 line operating Washington, DC. will get out of their cars, help between Prince Frederick and • One daily round trip added to reduce congestion and improve Washington, DC. the No. 991 line operating our environment. Better transit • One daily round trip added between Hagerstown, Freder- helps create better opportuni- to the No. 904 line operat- ick, Shady Grove Metro, the ties for Maryland’s families and ing between North Beach and Rock Spring Business Park businesses.” Washington, DC. and Washington, DC. • Two daily round trips added In addition to expanding Com- to the No. 905 line operat- “By adding more trips on muter Bus service, Governor ing between Charlotte Hall, our established routes, we are O’Malley has increased transit Waldorf and Washington, DC. making transit a more viable investments across the State, • One daily round trip added to transportation option for more including: the No. 922 line operating commuters,” said Governor between Kent Island and O’Malley. “Our success with this (continued on page 3)

Martin O’Malley, Governor Anthony G. Brown, Lt. Governor Governor’s Corner tunity to use their time more ronmentally-conscious, efficient productively, leaving the driving mode of transportation more to us. readily available to the people of In order to better suit the Maryland. needs of our riders, we are work- In the meantime, we welcome ing hard to improve our service your questions, comments and and expand this highly effective suggestions regarding MTA’s form of transit. commuter bus service. Replies To address growing demand, will be published in future issues we have dedicated an additional of Commuter Buzz. Thanks for $3.3 million to add trips to our riding MTA. commuter bus routes around the State, including those in Thank you for riding MTA’s Southern Maryland. This com- commuter buses. When people mitment will provide more seats Martin O’Malley choose to ride a commuter bus, for our commuters and more Governor that action translates into fewer options for travel times. cars on the road and fewer In the months and years Riders can send their emissions in the air. At the same ahead, we will continue to work comments and questions to time, it gives riders the oppor- to make this cost-effective, envi- [email protected]

Public Hearing Held on Commuter Bus Service Expansion Between Waldorf and Washington, DC

The Maryland Transit Admin- town Washington, the route 301 Park & Ride, effective on istration held a public hearing would follow the current align- or about August 1, 2008. In in Waldorf on June 25 to pro- ment of the existing Bus Route addition, selected trips would pose expanding Commuter Bus No. 905. be extended from the Suitland service by implementing the Existing Bus Route No. 913 Metro Station to downtown new Bus Route No. 650, and would be re-routed to serve the Washington, DC via the current by modifying the alignment and new Southern Maryland Base- alignment of the existing Bus extending selected trips on the ball Stadium instead of the U.S. Route No. 903. existing Bus Route No. 913. The new Bus Route No. 650 would operate between the The MTA, working with Queen Anne’s County, opened the new Kent Narrows park- Southern Maryland Baseball ing lot on June 2 using spaces available under Stadium in Waldorf and down- the Kent Narrows Bridge on Kent Island. The town Washington, DC, effective additional 100 spaces, with overhead light- ing, helps relieve overcrowding at the Park & on or about November 1, 2008. Ride Lot at Stevensville for riders of Routes This new route would oper- 922 and 950 travelling from Kent Island and ate with 10 trips each weekday Annapolis to Washington, DC. Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Gene Ransom helped morning to Washington, and 10 get the lot cleaned and striped. Nearly 80 trips each weekday afternoon commuters used the lot on the first day it back to Waldorf. Within down- opened. (Photo by Frank Fulton) 2 New Dillon’s Bus Service Facility

Dillon’s Bus Service, Inc., the win-win for all involved.” operator of MTA Commuter Bus The facility has many driver routes 410, 411, 412, 420, 904, amenities, such as a break room 915, 921, 922, 929, 950, and and training classroom, and can 995 has a new home. It moved easily store Dillon’s fleet of 110 into a state-of-the-art Baltimore motor coaches. The new main- bus facility on two and one half tenance shop has a large office, acres at BWI Airport off of New Dillon’s Bus Service, Inc. recently moved a tool and parts storage area, a into a state-of-the-art Baltimore bus facil- Ridge Road in Hanover, Mary- ity bus on two and one half acres at BWI long service pit, and a full ser- land. Airport off New Ridge Road in Hanover, vice wash bay. The new complex consoli- Maryland. (Photo by Frank Fulton) The building also has a cam- dates Dillon’s Cherry Hill and us the ability to bring the entire era monitoring system, and a Millersville facilities into one Washington commuter service controlled access proximity card location, and all staff offices are operation under one roof, and system for better security. The now under one roof. This helps gives our management team entire facility is fenced, and to improve communications more opportunity to interact contains a gate with an outside and the efficiency of the overall with operators on a daily basis,” security guard shack at the en- operation. said Nelson F. Cross III, Dillon’s trance/exit to the property. “The Hanover facility gives Director of Operations. “It’s a

Veolia Continues to Operate Return Evening Bus Service from Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Veolia (formerly Yellow/Con- Regular MARC Train service of the ball game and stops at nex Transportation) won the to weekday Oriole games at Savage, Greenbelt and Union contract for the 2008 Oriole’s Camden Yards is available on stations. The driver will accept a baseball bus service. It has been the Camden Line. Since there valid MARC ticket for the return operating under contract to Ori- is no train service in the eve- trip. In the absence of a MARC ole Park at Camden Yards since ning, baseball fans may re- ticket, the cash fare is $5 to Sa- 1995. Veolia also operates the turn on the MTA 701 Express vage, $6 to Greenbelt, and $7 MTA’s Commuter Bus Routes Commuter Bus, which leaves to Union Station. 310/311 and 320. 20 minutes after the last out

Commuter Bus Service Expanded (continued from page 1) • Expansion of local bus service • $50 million a year for the digit ridership increases over in the Baltimore Metropolitan Washington Metro, and the past year. As with transit area; • Additional funding for Locally agencies across the country, • $411 million to develop the Operated Transit Systems Maryland’s Commuter Bus rider- Purple Line, the Corridor throughout the State. ship has been steadily increas- Cities Transitway and the Red ing month after month, along Line; MTA’s Commuter Bus service with escalating gas prices, which • More than $200 million for between Washington, DC and have risen about 25 percent the MARC Growth and Southern, Western and Central since this time last year. Investment Plan; Maryland has seen up to double 3 MTA Administrator Wiedefeld Appoints John Hovatter as New Commuter Bus Director MTA Administrator Paul J. appointment of Glenn Saffran Wiedefeld announced the ap- as the new Deputy Director for pointment of transportation MARC Train and Commuter veteran John Hovatter as the Bus Services. Glenn, previously new Director of MARC Train and Manager of Commuter Bus, had Commuter Bus Services. Mr. Ho- been Acting Director for the last vatter comes to MARC having several months. more than 30 years of railroad Frank Fulton has been ap- experience with CSX Transporta- pointed to the new position of tion. Chief Communications Officer As Director, Mr. Hovatter will for the Office of MARC Train and oversee the operation of MARC John Hovatter was recently appointed as Commuter Bus Services. Frank the new Director for MARC Train and Com- Train service and Commuter muter Bus Services. (Photo by Frank Fulton) will focus on improving com- Bus operations. Since 2002, Mr. munications with MARC and Hovatter served as Manager of all who use transit in the state,” Commuter Bus riders, and will be Commuter Rail Services for CSX said Administrator Wiedefeld. rolling out a new “Meet the Man- Transportation. He worked as the “We welcome him to Maryland.” agers” program for both MARC CSX liaison with MARC, Virginia Mr. Hovatter’s primary goal is and Commuter Bus. Railway Express (VRE) and other to improve customer service by “This is a strong team made commuter services. Throughout making management more re- up of railroad and bus profes- his long career, having joined the sponsive and the commute more sionals,” added Administrator freight railroad after high school, comfortable for passengers. He Wiedefeld. “John brings a com- Mr. Hovatter has held a variety of has completed management bination of business experience transportation-related jobs. courses at Florida Community and strategic management skills “John’s wealth of knowledge College and received specialized to advance the Administration’s regarding rail transit and his training in negotiations and other vision for improved rail and Com- familiarity with the MARC system management skills through CSX. muter Bus transit throughout will be a tremendous benefit to MTA also announces the Maryland.”

Sting Operation in Queen Anne’s County Nabs Catalytic Converter Thieves

Following a series of thefts of senger got out of the truck and The officers seized additional catalytic converters, deputies crawled under the decoy car. saw blades, a battery charger from the Queen Anne’s County Officers said the driver appeared and suspected heroin and drug Sheriff’s Office parked a decoy to be acting as the lookout paraphernalia as evidence from car at the MD 8 Park & Ride Lot watching for any vehicles en- the truck. The suspects were ar- and set up surveillance in the tering the lot. The deputies rested and taken to the Sheriff’s area. Within an hour and a half, charged the vehicle and con- Office for further questioning. a Chevrolet pickup truck with two fronted the two. When they As a result, the two are facing occupants drove into the lot and pulled the man out from under charges involving at least 13 parked near the decoy car. the decoy car, he was carrying a incidents of catalytic converter Deputies watched as the pas- battery-powered saber saw. thefts.

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