TRAC protests bus stop eliminations
The Transit Riders Action Council of Metropolitan Baltimore is protesting a decision by the Maryland Transit Administration to eliminate at least several bus stops in the Mount Vernon area as early as Wednesday with what TRAC contends was inadequate notification.
Accoording to TRAC, signs have gone up notifying riders of closings at such corners as Charlles and Read streets, Charles and Chase streets and St. Paul St. at Read. Affected lines include Nos. 3, 11, 61 and 64, according to TRAC.
The organization contends the closings are part of a broader pattern of bus stop eliminations for reasons TRAC finds questionable. The group contends the elimination of stops poses a hardship for elderly and disabled riders who have difficulty walking as far as other riders.
The MTA's public affairs was closed by the time the matter came to our attention, but we'll be seeking an explanation of the agency's bus stop closing policies.
Categories: City bus service, MTA, MTA bus system
Comments
I'd be willing to bet that few people in Mt. Vernon (where I live) even know about these stop eliminations, considering MTA's inability to communicate with their riders and the agency's embarassing experience with putting signs in the wrong places. I've tried looking on MTA's terrible website, but there's nothing about the proposed changes anywhere that is easily discoverable. I'm going to try TRAC's site next, I guess.
Posted by: kungpow12 | July 20, 2010 8:02 PM
Unlike the MTA's website, no one is paid to update our website, so the few who have the skills to change are only cajoled to do so during blue moons...
Posted by: Nate Payer | July 20, 2010 9:13 PM
There are stops every block (or at least two in two blocks in the case of St. Paul). Perhaps eliminating redundancy to increase on time performance?
Anyways, it's still ridiculous I found out about this here, especially since I'm a daily rider of the 3/8/11/36/61/64 (whatever comes first).
Posted by: Jed | July 20, 2010 9:34 PM
I agree with the concern for elderly riders. And the lack of communication is unacceptable. However I suggest people ride the #11 southbound. It stops at 26th, 25th, 24th, 23rd, 22nd, 21st, and North Avenue. One of the goals of good urban transit is to get riders' times closer to private car times. That can't happen with so many stops.
Back in the '90s both Charles Village and Midtown transit committees endorsed consolidating routes onto trunk lines in order to provide more frequent service at practically no extra cost (But they couldn't agree on which streets should become the trunk lines). 12 years later, I am glad the MTA is getting around to implementing the community ideas.
Posted by: s. howard | July 21, 2010 11:25 AM