Camden Line

The most controversial of four proposed sites for a Baltimore-area center for transferring cargo between trucks and trains carries the lowest cost estimate, while one that has virtually no close neighbors would cost nearly twice as much, according to officials of CSX and the Maryland Department of Transportation. But during a news briefing Tuesday at the agency's headquarters, the officials offered assurances that while all of the locations remain in the running, none is favored over the others.

As of 9 a.m. Friday, traffic was slow on southbound I-795 between Owings Mills Boulevard and the Baltimore Beltway due to an accident. A disabled vehicle was slowing traffic on northbound I-95 at the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Accidents were also disrupting traffic at St. Paul and Preston streets and Monument and Curley streets, both in Baltimore. Numerous street signals were out due to Hurricane Irene, and many downtown roads were closed in preparation for the Baltimore Grand Prix race this weekend.

The Maryland Transit Administration warned MARC train patrons to expect delays to train service on the Penn, Brunswick and Camden lines on Wednesday following Tuesday's earthquake, as crews work to restore full service. According to the MTA website, the Brunswick Line was expected to have delays of up to 55 minutes due to several crews exceeding hours of service allowed by the Federal Railroad Administration. The Camden Line was expected to have trains running 20 minutes late. The MTA also said that light rail service has resumed between Timonium Station and Hunt Valley after it was temporary suspended and replaced by a shuttle bus service.

Commuters experienced delays on roads, bridges and transit systems around the state as Marylanders felt the effect of a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Virginia Tuesday, but most of the disruptions were clearing up by late afternoon. Jack Cahalan, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Transportation, said from his cellphone outside the evacuated department headquarters in Hanover that service on the MARC and light rail were suspended immediately after the quake. The subway and light rail had reopened by about 3:30 p.m. MARC train service out of Washington's Union Station resumed shortly after 4 p.m. on the Penn and Brunswick lines, and Camden Line service was expected to start up shortly afterward.

Last week a bill came before the General Assembly that could have a profound impact upon the future of two of the three MARC commuter lines. But nobody showed up to speak for the riders. Not the MARC management. Not the Maryland Transit Administration. Not the Maryland Department of Transportation. Neither did a single MARC rider show up. But it's hard to blame them. They'd have to take a day off work to testify — and it's doubtful anyone would have paid much attention anyway.

Howard County officials have postponed a decision about a site for a new school in Elkridge this week, citing concerns among neighbors that the state is eyeing their backyard as a site for a new rail transfer facility. Howard's school board delayed voting Thursday night on a plan to build a badly needed elementary school on a 20-acres donated by a developer next to Coca Cola Drive, where big trucks carrying cargo containers could rumble 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if an adjacent parcel is chosen for the transfer facility.

Service on MARC's Camden Line was restored Tuesday afternoon between Washington and Baltimore while Anne Arundel County firefighters investigated possible chemical leaks on a mile-long CSX train, fire and transit officials said. MTA spokesman David Clark said Train 853 is departing Dorsey operating about 45 minutes late. Passengers should expect 5-10 minute delays between Savage and Dorsey, Clark said. The CSX train was stopped at Montevideo Road at the Anne Arundel-Howard County line about 1:40 p.m., said Division Chief Michael Cox, an Anne Arundel fire spokesman.

Maryland has canceled the bidding on a contract to take over the operations of the MARC Camden and Brunswick lines from CSX, saying its bid solicitation had failed to generate sufficient competition for the work. "We were not happy with the competition or lack of competition," said state Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley. Swaim-Staley said the Maryland Transit Administration would revise its request for proposals in an effort to make it more attractive for bidders.

Snow or no snow, Len Sipes is planning to make his usual train journey this morning from Martin State Airport to Washington and be at his desk by 8:30 a.m. "The federal government is open. I report," said Sipes, press spokesman for a federal agency. Sipes said he's prepared to stay as long as his agency needs him, but he's hoping it won't need him too long. He'd like to catch the 12:20 p.m. Penn Line train out of Union Station, though he's expecting a madhouse as federal workers make an early exodus.