Yellow Transportation

In a first-of-its-kind arrangement, the Mass Transit Administration will pay two private companies to take over three bus routes that were to be dropped at the end of the month as a cost-saving measure.MTA officials yesterday announced they have awarded grants totaling $108,000 to Eatman Bus Service Inc. and Yellow Transportation Inc., both of Baltimore, to establish private shuttle service along the routes that were scheduled to be discontinued on Jan. 31.Eatman Bus will receive up to $85,000 over the next two years to serve two routes.

An article in the Howard County edition of The Sun on Wednesday incorrectly stated the reason for the creation of a passenger advisory group. Formation of the group was part of a contract between Corridor Transportation Corp. and Howard County's transportation division. The group was created before passengers lodged complaints about local bus service.The Sun regrets the error.Buses that are late. Wheelchair lifts that don't work. Buses that don't even show up.These are a few of the more than 30 complaints that passengers have lodged since late July against the Howard Area Transit Service (HATS)

It's deja vu all over again at Corridor Transportation Corp.Ray Ambrose, transit administrator for 10 years until he left in May to work for Yellow Transportation, will be back at his old job starting Nov. 15, said Walter Townshend, president and chief executive officer of the Baltimore-Washington Chamber of Commerce, who has been filling in.The chamber oversees the corporation, a private nonprofit operation that provides bus services in portions of Howard,...

Now when a cab driver tells you he can't break a $20 bill because he just came on duty, you might not have to give him your watch to hold hostage while you get change. You may be able to simply say, "charge it."Plastic -- which has been making inroads from drug stores to hamburger joints -- is now being accepted by 500 Baltimore taxis that are associated with Yellow Transportation Inc., the city's largest association accounting for about half of Baltimore's cabs.The taxis, which trade under the names Yellow, Checker, Sun and Fleet Service Associates, began taking the cards two weeks ago and already there are about 25 charges a day, according to Mark L. Joseph, president of Yellow Transportation.

New positionsHuman Genome promotes Ruben to VP for researchHuman Genome Sciences Inc. promoted Steven M. Ruben to the new position of vice president, research. Ruben was the first person hired by HGSI to hold the job title of scientist.Before joining HGSI, he was with the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. He earned his doctorate in cell and molecular biology from the University of Cincinnati, has published many scientific articles and is a co-inventor of several HGSI patents.HGSI also promoted Timothy A. Coleman to director, protein development, and A. Anders Brookes to director, intellectual property.

The road has been anything but smooth for a Baltimore-based company that has taken over the county's Medicaid transportation contract.Recipients are complaining about a new policy that requires them to give dispatchers in Baltimore their doctor's name and address in order to book transportation. Patients, who use the service, say that revealing a doctor's name violates their privacy.Carroll Transit, the previous provider, required patients to provide an address before being transported for medical appointments.

In Baltimore City Metal-plating firm to pay fine to settle EPA allegations An East Baltimore metal-plating company has agreed to pay $30,000 to settle charges that it violated hazardous waste regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday. A&A Metal Finishing Corp. in the 4000 block of E. Monument St. was accused by the EPA of operating a hazardous waste facility without a permit, improperly storing waste, failing to comply with labeling, training and disposal requirements and other violations.

The owners of the SuperShuttle see their van service at BWI airport as the "newest and most unique of transportation systems," but airport taxi drivers look at the blue and gold vans and see more competition."

The Downtown Partnership announced its 2004 Downtown Baltimore Awards yesterday, recognizing eight groups and one individual. The awards recognize contributions to making downtown an attractive area for living, working and shopping. This year's winners include Uniform City USA, a provider of uniforms to medical and hospitality professionals, for expanding and upgrading its North Howard Street location. "They've really done a lot to make their building an attractive building, to draw people to the west side that wasn't getting a lot traffic," said Mike Evitts, the partnership's director of public relations.

Six mentally challenged adults and children suffered minor injuries yesterday afternoon when the van they were riding in was involved in a chain-reaction collision on the inner loop of the Baltimore Beltway near Towson, state police said. A passenger in a car also was injured. Trooper Ryan Orner of the Golden Ring Barracks said the van, operated by Yellow Transportation Services and carrying several passengers, was eastbound on Interstate 695 and nearing the York Road exit about 4:30 p.m. when a car in front of the van slowed during a brief back-up.