Sic Transit Gloria Mundi.....does not mean don't sit next to Gloria on the bus Monday. It means "so goes the way of the world."....and so it goes...
Although we tried, I felt that even a concerted effort to save the 921 Bus Route was doomed. The state budget crunch is too severe and transit is too easy a target, but today's lead story in the local newspaper got weird. We learn that "Mayor Ellen O. Moyer said she is checking to see if it would be feasible for the Annapolis Department of Transportation to pick up the 921 route. Yesterday, she sent a memo to Director Danielle Matland about the issue, but she is out of the office this week and will have to examine that when she returns, Ms. Moyer said."
The mayor did speak out at the public hearing urging MTA to keep the route. This is a correction from my original post and I apologize for the oversight. However, nobody seems to care about the about the loss of the 210 route to Baltimore and the mayor does not pay any attention to the management and operations of our own bus system but now wants it to do more--outside the city no less. Her own transportation director can't even maintain the air conditioning systems on our buses but she entertains offering more service OUT of the city?
Just a week or so ago we read that her economic affairs director similarly asked the transportation director to run yet more buses between the county shopping malls (who likely do not want them...) and downtown. Our so-called leaders ignore our bus system and let it and its customers languish, but then like to jump forward and keep pretending that it can do more--for residents outside the city. Why don't we first offer a route down Edgewood Road? At least that's in the city? Why don't we replace the shelter at Forest and Hilltop that got wrecked a few months ago? Why don't we build a real bus station in the city instead of making everyone wait and transfer at a piece of blacktop shared with public works vehicles? C'mon--we own a bus system--let's make it great instead of trying to do the state's job!
While our own system has cut routes in the past two years, the mayor thinks we can just run another route that even the MTA does not want to do? And where will we get the bus for this route? While we have replaced our aging fleet (and still manage to make them look, sound and feel old), we just don't have excess capacity. We are a small-city bus system. If Ellen "O" wants to send one of our buses through two counties and almost into another city, she better start thinking, talking and acting about a region-wide presence--but somehow she and her county counterpart can't or won't even communicate--but they trade barbs about it.
And there is more. She sent a memo to her own employee, not even knowing she was out of town! But that should have not been a surprise, as Director Danielle Matland is often out of town, and often for long periods, and often around holidays...and still collects well in excess of $100k per year for the privilege to leave town often and not likely by bus. Does that perhaps explain a bit about why our buses are in such poor shape?
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If you need assistance during my absence please contact Rosa Fuller x14 fullerr@annapolis.gov in order that she may direct you to the person best able to deal with your particular issue. Thank you and have a wonderful Holiday Season.
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That's right. Two weeks---and apparently, or at least according to the local paper, the mayor did not even know it. And how come she could not have discussed it for the months that the impending route cut was announced?
As usual, the local newspaper runs to the pusillanimous and overfed (with our public dollars) Annapolis Regional Transportation Management Association or ARTMA to get a quote. This time the quote was that ARTMA "Officials....were not surprised to learn about the cuts." Hmmm. "Officials"? What kind of "officials"? ARTMA has one employee, a genial and well-meaning person who unfortunately does little more than go to meetings--official meetings, one may presume.
The local newspaper and county officials has never been willing to do an expose about this useless organization which I have investigated. It's not a pretty picture. It does next to nothing, and even its signature goal of matching rideshare partners has about a zippo track-record. I know. I've read all the reports which it refused to give to me but I got from another source. It mostly relies on another database to do what little work it barely accomplishes and the twp times my wife has contacted it for ridesharing, nothing came of it. However, the local newspaper sycophantically runs to it for "official" comments about anything to do with transportation. That would be akin to a reporter calling the same local boatyard chicken-necker every time there is a story about the seafood industry. (No offense intended to any boatyard chicken-neckers. I've used chicken necks and I read "Beautiful Swimmers" too.)
Here is a thought--let's replace the fareboxes on the buses with slot machines....think of the possibilities....
See:Bus to Nowhere...
12 Comments:
"I have eyes that don't see, ears that don't understand..."
--MTA Official
I still don't comprehend why Annapolis gets shafted for almost every transportation issue in the state.
I have to think it has something to do with the Baltimore elite's blatant disregard for the state capital and its City Council.
I'm almost thinking that O'Malley did this to Moyer for spite. I have to give her some credit for at least showing up at the MTA Hearing.
You have to also commend the Capital for at least covering the story. The short blurb in the Baltimore Sun once again speaks to the disdain Charm City has for the real charm city-- Annapolis.
Thanks so much for your letter. Annapolis gets shafted because everyone is getting shafted--but we are smaller and weaker and our mayor has not clout. The real problem is that the MTA is a state agency running a regional system. I have posted about this topic before. Nobody did this for spite.
Did the mayor really show up at one of the hearings? I came to the evening hearing. If she did, I will correct my post.
The Capital covered it well and has been more fair to transit than it used to be. The Sun used to be very much pro-transit but these days, it is barely surviving....Thanks again--please subscribe and keep writing. PMF aka CP
Ellen Moyer did attend the November hearing in Annapolis, and she is the only elected official I know of who tried to save this bus.
Three of us approached Gov. O'Malley personally on 11/3 at New Carrolton Metro during a 'get-out-the-vote' drive, offering to pay higher fares to keep the bus. He claimed to know nothing about it but promised to look into it. Commuters of other routes made the same offer to MTA and their offers got accepted while the 921 riders' pleas fell on deaf ears. It's a very disappointing outcome.
Dear Barbara You have also corrected me-the mayor was at the hearing. I was in contact with Councilman Josh Cohen,and with Delegate Ron George who got the entire District 30 delegation involved from early on. They all wrote letters supporting the route.
I don't think we can expect the governor to know every issue, However, I do believe the MTA had it all planned and did not even explore reducing 921 service or raising the fare. It is and always has been a nightmare to deal with the MTA.
Yes, I can also verify that Ms. Moyer attended the MTA Hearing in Annapolis in November.
I think it would worthwhile to submit petitions to the Annapolis Transit Authority and the Mayor to arrange for a bus to and from New Carrollton.
We were probably petitioning the wrong people (MTA, Governor). This decision was probably made months ago.
I did correct my post regarding the mayor. I agree the decision was made before the hearings ever started. I think it would be a total waste of energy to petition the city for such a route for the reasons discussed in my post. That poor bus system needs so many more improvements IN the city before we try to go out of the city.
What we really need is a rail link to Washington and Baltimore. Yes, I know that may be too forward thinking for this state.
Put one in the middle of Route 50 with stops in Davidsonville and Crofton. It would connect to New Carrollton, presenting commuters with additional options for taking the Metro, Amtrak, or MARC.
The other would span up 97 to the Light Rail in Glen Burnie with a stop in Severna Park.
Imagine how many cars we could take off the road!
Rail to DC and Baltimore? Even if construction started tomorrow, it would be five years or so until opening. But it takes years of planning and acquiring right of way funding before construction starts. And it will cost about $50 million per mile....but sure-we should start planning now. However, in the meantime, let's not focus on rail and forget buses-specifically bus rapid transit which can be on line within a year at a fraction of the cost. The City of Annapolis will likely have zero to little say in rail. Please watch the video of my speech.
It appears the 921 route may be saved after all. I just got off the phone with a representative from Dillon's and they have agreed to continue operation of the route.
I think the Annapolis Transportation Director should do the right thing and agree to subsidize this route.
We should all call Dillon's and congratulate them for their meritorious service.
Charles We can only hope. Dillons did this before with the 210. It did not work. If they required a subsidy contract to run the 921 before, how will they do it without a subsidy contract? If it costs them $75 per hour or $2.00 per mile to break even from an operating standpoint, AND it takes 30 minutes each way to go the 20 miles,they'll need to regularly bring in $75 to $80 per round trip. If they charge $4 each way, or $8 round trip, they will need to have ten customers for each round trip. Well, if they can do it, GREAT!! I thank them and wish them well. I'll use it.I'll help them promote it and have offered that service to Dillons before. We shall see. Let's hope it works and shows up the MTA!
Formerly working in downtown Baltimore, I was a victim of the 210's demise. Sometimes it appears the MTA is trying to eliminate all of my transportation options.
However, I remain unjaded.
I think the 921 will not suffer the same dour fate because this route is supported by more community activism than that route.
Thanks again--and keep writing....we need more folks like you!
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