Riders of MARC commuter trains will no doubt be pleased with the prospect of 26 new diesel locomotives like the one unveiled yesterday at Camden Station. It's nice that they are cleaner-burning and more energy efficient than the decrepit equipment they replace, but the prospect of improved on-time performance is much better.
As any DC-bound commuter can attest, MARC has a rather casual relationship with its schedule. Surely, the only thing more frustrating than some unexplained one-hour delay is the prospect of standing the entire way because MARC had to cancel an earlier train. This happens with all the rarity of an Orioles pitcher getting hammered by the competition, which is to say pretty often.
But as much as the new equipment is helpful, it is no panacea. It is more like overdue maintenance. The $100 million contract won't necessarily mean more MARC service, just a better on-time experience with the existing schedule and probably more seating, since the new locomotives can haul more cars.
This should be regarded as a helpful start. But to meet its full potential, MARC needs a great deal more investment. The Maryland Transit Administration has outlined its needs well enough (they range from new track, signals and related infrastructure to maintenance and storage facilities), and the price tag for the 20-year plan is in the neighborhood of several billion dollars.
There are other obstacles, too, such as negotiating with MARC operators CSX Corp. and Amtrak as both railroads have their own - sometimes conflicting - freight and passenger service needs. But cost is probably the biggest hill to climb. At the moment, the state's transportation trust fund doesn't have the money to cover Maryland's share of the cost, nor is there any plan to raise the revenue.
So while Gov. Martin O'Malley can tout the telegenic new engines as green and climate-friendly, he's not going to get much change in commuting patterns unless MARC expands. With thousands of defense industry jobs headed to Maryland because of base realignment decisions, the commuter rail system is well-positioned to serve passengers headed to Fort Meade and Aberdeen, but only if it is given the necessary resources.
