Howard Transit service on the chopping block
Howard County will hold a public hearing next Tuesday on a series of service cuts, as well as a fare increase, that County Executive Ken Ulman has proposed to deal with rising costs at a time when money is scarce.
If the changes announced by Howard County's locally operated transit agency are adopted, the base fare would rise from $1.50 to $2 -- compared wiith the $1.60 charged by the Maryland Transit Administration. The agency would also eliminate three routes and diiscontinue all Sunday service.
The county will hold a public hearing on the changes May 25 at 7 p.m. at the Ascend One Building, 8930 Stanford Blvd. in Columbia.
The routes Howard Transit would eliminate include the Blue Route, which connects the River Hill Village Center with Columbia Mall. That change would leave Clarksville with no public transit service. Also on the chopping block are the Red Express and Yellow Express routes. The express routes offer limited-stop service along the Yellow Route between Columbia Mall and Ellicott City and the Red Route between the mall and the Columbia Gateway-Dobbin Center area of east Columbia.
Sunday service would end on the five Howard Transit routes where it is now offered: Green, Brown, Red, Orange and Silver. Fares would also increase from 50 cents to $1 for reduced-fare riders. Users of the agency's bus and van services for the disabled would also lose Sunday service and face a fare increase to $2.50.
Sharon Smith, director of customer development for Central Maryland Regional Transit, which operates Howard Transit and Connect-a-Ride, said the routes marked for elimination have had relatively small ridership totals. The Blue Route, which offers nine rides a day Monday-Friday, averages only 17 passengers a day, she said.
But for Arna Clark of Columbia, the Blue Route is the only way to get to her job at the Wendy's in Clarksville. Clark, who has no car and catches the bus near Howard County General Hospital, was collecting signatures at Columbia Mall Saturday to protest the proposed cuts.
"We live in a rich county. There's no excuse," said Clark, who added that she would have to quit her job if the route is discontinued in July as planned.
Ulman has proposed level funding for Howard Transit as part of an effort to hold the line on taxes. Smith said other costs have increased, forcing the agency to look for savings.
Smith said riders on the two express routes will still be able to get to the same locations using the Red and Yellow routes. She said Sunday ridership averages less than 200 on the five routes.
