Public Transportation

Anticipating a sharp rise in demand for public transportation and trying to respond to requests from riders, Harford County transit officials say they plan to push for more bus lines and expanded hours of operation. Users of the service want improvements including better signs and shelters at bus stops, and more extensive routes with evening, weekend and holiday service, said Michael Hannan, administrator of Harford Transit Service, the county's public transportation agency. "We serve the public," said Hannan, adding that the agency is considering all requests.

MASS TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION officials should reconsider the substantial cutback in service they plan for a bus line between Columbia and Silver Spring, a key route that links Howard County to jobs in Washington and its suburbs.Public transportation is not an option for some county commuters. It is the only way for residents without automobiles to reach their jobs or travel to social and cultural events in the nation's capital. MTA's plans to eliminate late-night, midday and Saturday trips between several Columbia stops and the Silver Spring Metro station would hurt riders who rely on this service.

Columbia resident Harold Rappoport has what he calls a "pie in the sky" idea to help solve what likely will become congested streets in downtown Columbia as officials aim to turn the area into a bustling urban environment: a Segway scooter transportation network. "Doing something I think is more visionary, more high-tech, is much more in line with what James Rouse thought," Rappoport said of the planned community's founder. Rappoport's idea of people zooming around pathways on electric scooters didn't get an enthusiastic response at yesterday's meeting of Transportation Advocates - Del. Elizabeth Bobo, a Howard County Democrat, said she fell off the machine the one time she tried it - but the Columbia group brainstormed how to allay what likely will become congested streets around Town Center in the future.

Anne Arundel County and the city of Annapolis will receive more than $425,000 from the state to help pay for transportation programs.The county will get about $125,000, while Annapolis will get more than $314,000. The money comes from the Mass Transit Administration (MTA) of the Maryland Department of Transportation.Virginia Thomas, a financial officer for the county Department of Aging, said the grant would be used to continue a taxi voucher program that provides discount coupons for senior citizens and disabled persons.

IT'S A GOOD start -- a $500 million, six-year effort to boost mass-transit ridership statewide. But much more must happen for the Baltimore area to get the quality public transportation system it deserves. State legislators last week approved Gov. Parris N. Glendening's transit initiative, his biggest effort ever. While the size of the program was trimmed from $750 million to $500 million, there's much to cheer about: Shuttle buses in city neighborhoods; reduced weekly and monthly fare passes; a statewide "smart card" payment system; Sunday Metro service in Baltimore.

The Washington-area transit system has teamed up with nonprofits in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to provide comprehensive, individualized training to people with significant disabilities on how to get around using public transportation. The two-year pilot program was launched last week by Metro. It's meant for people who need more than the one-day orientations that Metro now provides. The transit agency has been providing free, one-day orientations on its bus and rail system to individuals and groups for more than five years.

Corridor Transportation Corporation, manager of Connect-A-Ride bus service, will hold a "Stuff-A-Bus" food drive for area food banks. On Dec. 23, patrons are asked to donate nonperishable food items in lieu of paying transit fares. In addition, a bus will be at the Laurel Mill transit hub from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 to collect items received from bus riders. Those not using public transportation who want to donate are encouraged to do so at the transit hub. Donations will be distributed to Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services and the Christian Assistance Program Food Pantry in Odenton.

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan coalition of senators has hammered out an agreement to raise spending on mass transit by $5 billion over the next six years, an accord likely to have an important impact in Maryland.The agreement resulted from efforts by senators from Northeastern states who are concerned that public transportation needs are being slighted as Southern and Western lawmakers try to steer highway dollars to their regions.Key senators resolved the dispute through a familiar Washington maneuver -- they placated the sides by increasing money for highways and public transportation.

PHILADELPHIA -- During rush hour on Philadelphia's Schuylkill Expressway, traffic is as knotted as the soft pretzels this city is famous for.So it was hard to tell by driving this snarling path last Thursday whether this city's week-old transit strike, affecting 450,000 daily riders, had brought city traffic to a standstill.I was in Philadelphia to see how a major metropolitan area functions without a key portion of its public transportation.As Baltimore area officials grind out a long-range transportation plan, they could learn something from Philadelphia.

GOV. PARRIS N. Glendening has proposed an impressive initiative to significantly increase and improve mass transit services in Maryland. This initiative and the governor's funding proposal present quite a challenge to me in my roles as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, both as a representative of the entire state and as a delegate representing Baltimore City. As a member of the House of Delegates and a lifelong Baltimore City resident, I see firsthand how transit improvements are needed to benefit citizens who daily must rely on public transportation.