NEWS
September 25, 2009
Maryland commuters - particularly those with thoughts of traveling between I-95 in Laurel and Montgomery County's I-270 technology corridor - received a bit of sticker shock this week. Tolls on the Intercounty Connector could top $6.15 for a one-way trip in peak hours. No Maryland road, bridge or tunnel has ever charged anything approaching that. The most expensive facility currently operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority is the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, the 48-mile portion of I-95 north of Baltimore where cars face a $5 toll at the Tydings Memorial Bridge, but that's only assessed on northbound travelers; the southbound trip is free.
NEWS
By Peter Hermann | August 26, 2009
There are a lot of obstacles that Nate Evans considers when he designates a bicycle route. Baltimore's bicycle pedestrian planner - yes, this is his official title - accounts for potholes, the quality of pavement and how fast cars travel on a particular street. (He calls Northern Parkway a "speedway" that should be avoided by the pedaling crowd.) But there's another factor that has to be part of the bicycle-loving mayor's Bike Baltimore campaign to mark cycling routes throughout the city.
NEWS
July 17, 2009
Baltimore City is getting a touch of Venice with a fleet of water taxis to whisk commuters downtown from Fells Point, Canton and Locust Point via the Inner Harbor. Even if the snappy blue-and-white vessels aren't quite on a par with Venice's famed Vaporettos, they certainly make city commuting more scenic, and on top of that, they're free. But should they be? The system, which is being expanded with a $1.6 million federal stimulus grant, costs about $150,000 a year to operate. But so far, it's only attracted about 90 passengers a day, which seems a lot for a relative handful of commuters, most of whom probably could afford at least a token fare.
NEWS
By MICHAEL DRESSER | April 13, 2009
March 31 was a lousy day to observe the travails of life aboard a MARC train. I took two round-trips - one on the Penn Line and one on the Camden Line - and the rides couldn't have gone more smoothly. Where was the dysfunctional MARC I'd been hearing so much about? I was aboard that day as an exercise in making amends. After a recent column implied that MARC riders were a wee bit more persnickety than the typical transit rider, my in-box was flooded with indignant e-mail. One of my more spirited e-mail discussions evolved from ire to mutual respect to an invitation to meet with a group of MARC commuters over a beer.
NEWS
January 7, 2009
MTA service cuts hurt Annapolis commuters The Maryland Transit Administration's decision to eliminate the commuter bus between Annapolis and the New Carrollton Metro stop has left many Annapolis-area commuters without access to mass transit ("MTA cuts service, keeps 10:05 train from Washington," Dec. 31). The 921 bus circulated between Annapolis and the New Carrollton Metro stop. It has been ended. However, bus service from Annapolis to downtown Washington via buses 922 and 950 has been retained.
NEWS
By Michael Dresser | August 17, 2008
The Maryland State Highway Administration has eased parking restrictions along U.S. 1 in Halethorpe, creating an additional 70 spaces for MARC train commuters - many of whom have been parking in nearby residential areas. The highway agency said it removed some no-parking signs along the part of U.S. 1 known as Southwestern Boulevard last week after being asked by the Maryland Transit Administration whether it could provide additional parking along the highway, which runs alongside a free MARC lot whose 770 spaces fill up most weekday mornings.
NEWS
August 1, 2008
What MARC needs is better funding As a frequent user of MARC trains from Baltimore to Washington, I think The Sun's criticism of the Maryland Transit Administration was unwarranted ("Fixing MARC," editorial, July 27). The MTA is dancing as fast as it can in trying to address the tremendous growth in ridership, and summer heat does create operational problems. At least the current administration is aware of how difficult the situation is becoming for daily commuters and willing to address their concerns.
NEWS
By Mary Gail Hare | July 27, 2008
Ridership has increased on the MARC train's Penn Line from Perryman to Washington by nearly 25 percent this year. To meet demand, three new trains have been added, and the service is looking to add to its fleet of bi-level passenger cars. But, while more people are taking the train from Aberdeen, fewer are finding nearby places to park. "Parking is a nightmare," said R.V. Scott, who commutes from Aberdeen to a job in Washington. "I sometimes park on the grass. I have gotten ticketed. I have missed the train several times while looking for a space, and then I am late for work.
NEWS
By Michael Dresser | June 26, 2008
On Avon Court in Halethorpe, there's an unwritten law that says the parking space in front of your home is your spot. But the commuters who flock to the Halethorpe MARC station don't follow that code. They see the absence of no-parking signs as an invitation to leave their cars on the residential street - especially as the 770-space lot at the station fills up every day. The daily influx of outsiders has led to ugly scenes between residents and commuters, sometimes involving calls to police.
NEWS
May 18, 2008
Lesson on tolls goes unheeded Regarding your article on new toll lanes for I-95: Back when Kennedy Highway (I-95) was built about 47 years ago, there was a local toll on the on-and-off ramps all along I-95. Local commuters screamed. Even if they were only going a short distance they had to pay coming or going. So the poorer local commuters took Route 40, Route 7 and Route 1. As traffic increased over the years and the roads deteriorated with no toll to repair them, some light bulbs started to go off realizing their mistake.