Maryland transit announces service cuts

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced service changes, effective Jan. 12, 2009, for its Commuter Bus and MARC Train services.

Several Commuter Bus lines and MARC Train trips with lower ridership will be eliminated, and service will not operate on and around federal holidays. A financial contribution from Howard County will allow reduced Commuter Bus service to continue on select lines, and West Virginia MARC service will continue with the riders paying higher fares.

The commuter service reductions, the largest in MTA’s recent history, were required in order for MTA to reduce its budget in response to dramatic declines in revenue to the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund. MTA’s administrative budget was also reduced in order to minimize the impact to customers.

MTA held public hearings in the areas of the state affected by the service reductions and modified the original proposal in response.