TRANSIT TODAY SUMMER 2009
New “Green” Locomotives and Additional Double Decker Cars Enhance MARC Train Service
The Maryland Transit Administration recently unveiled the first of 26 new “green” locomotives that are now entering service with Maryland’s MARC commuter rail system. Governor Martin O’Malley exited the 3,600 horsepower locomotive at a special press conference held at Camden Yards Transit Center in Downtown Baltimore on May 6, dubbing the more efficient, state-of-the-art locomotive the Senator Barb Go Green Express in honor of Senator Barbara Mikulski’s continuing support of MARC Train service. “Our investments in these new locomotives have only been possible because of funds we’re receiving from the federal government – $79 million of the $100 million purchase price, to be exact,” said Governor O’Malley. “We wouldn’t be receiving this funding without Senator Barbara Mikulski, who once again fought hard – and won – federal invest¬ments in Maryland which are making our State stronger.”
The new locomotives will reduce emissions of nitrous oxide by 42 percent, carbon monoxide by 70 percent, and particulates, like soot, by 67 percent. The locomotives will provide additional power over the current fleet of older diesels and the new equipment will be more reliable. They also come equipped with an electronic fuel injection system making them more fuel-efficient than the 1970s locomotives they replace. “This project shows that even a piece of equipment this large and this powerful can be environmentally friendly and fuel efficient,” said Governor O’Malley. “This new fleet of ‘green’ locomotives will reduce our impact on the environment while at the same time improve the reliability of our MARC service for the 32,000 riders a day that use the system.”
In addition to the new locomotives, 13 double-deck MARC passenger cars have also entered service. The additional cars hold 135 passengers and will join the 62 MARC double-deck cars already in service, adding capacity and reducing overcrowding. The cars were purchased from Virginia’s commuter rail system for $22 million, as that system was transitioning to different equipment. Purchasing the cars rather than procuring them from scratch allowed MARC to add capacity in months rather than wait years for new cars to be manufactured.
Governor’s Corner
Martin O’Malley, Governor
The investments that we make today in our roads, bridges and public transit system are critically important to our ability to rehabilitate and sustain Maryland’s aging infrastructure. Despite difficult economic times, we are able to make these investments in our State thanks to President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which will also provide jobs and opportunity for Marylanders across our State. Maryland is one of the first states to have implemented an accountability website to allow all Maryland constituents to monitor and track Recovery and Reinvestment fund spending in the State. The website can be accessed by visiting www.recovery.maryland.gov. In addition, a complete list of Phase 1 and 2 projects and information on Maryland’s use of federal recovery funding can be found at www.marylandtransportation.com/Planning/Economic_Recovery/Index.
Maryland will receive a total of $610 million in ARRA funding to invest in our transportation infrastructure. Statewide road and bridge projects will receive $369 million with another $62 million going directly to our local jurisdictions for their own transportation priorities. Locally operated transit systems will receive $43 million in funding to purchase replacement buses and improve transit, while the balance of the $135 million available for transit will go toward the purchase of replacement hybrid MTA buses and rehabilitation of the Metro, MARC and Light Rail systems. Another $44 million represents Maryland’s share of ARRA funding for the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority. This level of transportation investment has the potential to support up to 17,500 jobs.
The MTA is already making impressive progress on our ARRA-funded transit projects. Our new 40-foot hybrid replacement buses are expected to begin arriving in August. Improvements are being made to the Laurel and Muirkirk MARC stations. The Board of Public Works has approved contracts to improve the audio/video customer information systems at MARC and Baltimore Metro stations, as well as a contract to begin purchasing buses for locally operated transit systems across our State. We will continue to work diligently on maintaining our progress over the summer. With each project, we move forward towards building a better, stronger future for our State by investing in Maryland’s infra¬structure, while creating and preserving jobs for our hard working families.
MOBILITY NEWS
The Office of Mobility Services has had a very busy winter and spring as it has completed its move to 4201 Patterson Avenue. In January, the Division installed a new phone sys¬tem and began hiring additional Call Center agents, both of which have significantly improved customer access. A new seatbelt / wheelchair securement policy has been instituted which has greatly improved safety for customers and operators. Mobility on-time performance has remained above 91 percent during the first half of 2009. Mobility has also announced a proposal to implement changes in its operating model later this year, including revising origin to destination service, increased travel training, enhanced certification ca¬pability, conditional eligibility, and a new “No-Show” policy. The new Mobility phone number is 410-764-8181.
LOCAL BUS NEWS
New Diesel Electric Articulated Hybrid Buses Now in Service
The thirty new 60-foot diesel electric articulated (accordion-style) hybrid buses that arrived last spring are now in service on some of Baltimore’s busiest routes. The buses are 50 percent quieter than the older diesel buses they are replacing, use 20 percent less fuel, and are much more reliable, logging nearly twice as many miles between service calls as regular buses. They also feature ergonomic passenger seating, advanced video surveillance systems, wider exit doors, LED lighting, and tip-in windows for improved circulation and passenger safety.
In July 2008, Governor O’Malley announced that the MTA would purchase only diesel electric hybrid buses in the future as the agency replaces older models that are retired from service. Up to 600 hybrid-electric buses will be part of MTA’s fleet by 2014, and at least 100 forty-foot hybrids will enter service later this year. MTA expects to use funding available through President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to purchase additional buses.
Community Meetings Held on Proposed Service Modifications
The MTA held a series of six community meetings in the spring to gather feedback from the public on proposed Local Bus service modifications. Changes in service will take place in August 2009 and will be announced on the MTA website mta.maryland.gov as soon as they are available.
TAKE MTA TO THESE FUN EVENTS
African American Heritage Festival
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
333 Camden St., 410-235-4427
www.aahf.net
7/3 – 7/5
Metro – Lexington Market or Charles Center (west)
Light Rail – Camden Yards
Local Bus – 7, 10, 19, 27, 35
Artscape
Mt. Royal, Cathedral & Charles St.
410-752-8632
www.artscape.org
7/17 – Dionne Warwick 8:30
7/18 – Anthony Compton 7:00
(2008 Cab Calloway Winner)
7/19 – Robin Thicke 6:30
Metro – _Lexington Market or Charles Center (west)
Light Rail – Mt. Royal
Local Bus – 7, 10, 19, 27, 35
Orioles Games
Oriole Park at Camden Yards333 Camden St., 410-333-1560
www.orioles.com
Now thru 10/4 – Orioles games (see website or call for schedule)
Metro – _Lexington Market or Charles Center (west)
Light Rail – Camden Yards
Local Bus – 7, 10, 19, 27, 35
Summer Live! Concert Series
Harborplace Ampitheater
Off 200 block Pratt St.
410-332-4191
www.harborplace.com
Free concerts every Saturday
8 p.m. & 11 p.m. and Sunday
5 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Metro – Shot Tower or Charles Center
Light Rail – University/Balto. St.
Local Bus – 7, 10, 11
1st Mariner Arena
201 W. Balto. St., 410-347-2020
www.1stmarinerarena.com
7/28 – WWE Smackdown & ECW
8/5 – American Idols Live Tour 2009
Metro – _Lexington Market or Charles Center
Light Rail – University/Balto. St.
Local Bus – _1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 19, 20, 27, 35, 36, 40, 91
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
1212 Cathedral St., 410-783-8000
www.bsomusic.org
7/9 & 10 – Hitchcock’s Psycho
7/11 – Bugs Bunny on Stage
7/16 & 17 – Music of Disney
7/23 & 24 – Beethoven’s Ninth
7/25 – Music of John Williams
Metro – State Center/Cultural Center
Light Rail – Cultural Center
Local Bus – 3, 10, 11, 19, 21, 27
Hippodrome Theatre
12 N. Eutaw St., 410-837-7400
www.france-merrickpac.com
7/16-19 – Defending the Caveman
Metro – Lexington Market
Light Rail – University/Balto. St.
Local Bus – _1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 19, 20, 27, 35, 36, 40, 91
Pier Six Pavilion
731 Eastern Ave.(Harborplace),410-783-4189
www.piersixpavilion.com
6/25 – _George Benson, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and Ledisi
7/12 – Rock Royalty w/Zombies, Yardbirds
and Spencer Davis Group
7/14 – _Joe Cocker with Dave Mason
7/18 – BSO performs music of Queen
7/19 - Reggae
7/23 – Hippiefest 2009
7/24 – Randy Travis
7/26 – Blind Boys & Ladysmith
7/27 – mtvU Sunblock Festival
9/12 – Pink Floyd Experience
Metro – Shot Tower or Charles Center
Light Rail – University/Balto. St.
Local Bus – 7, 10, 11
COMMUTER BUS NEWS
Contracts for Commuter Bus Service Currently Being Advertised.
New contracts are being advertised to continue Commuter Bus service until 2013 on the 901 and 907 currently run by Keller, and through 2014 for the 410, 411, 420, 915, 922 and 929 now run by Dillon’s, the 310 and 320 currently run by Veolia, the 905 and 909 currently run by Keller, and the 991 currently operated by Eyre. The MTA hires independent contractors to operate state-wide Commuter Bus service to the Baltimore and Washington, DC areas and surrounding suburbs, offering seven routes to Baltimore and 15 to Washington, DC. Nearly 15,000 people use MTA Commuter Buses every weekday, or approximately 3.7 million annually.
LIGHT RAIL NEWS
Upgrades Planned for Falls Road Light Rail Stop Parking
The MTA has begun construction of a $2.3 million upgrade at the Falls Road Light Rail Stop, funded by President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The improvements to the Falls Road facility were developed in close coordination with surrounding communities. The Falls Road project has been designed to meet the increased need for parking. Design elements and station improvements include: increasing parking capacity from 97 to 197 spaces; a new lighted pedestrian path from Old Falls Road; new lighting, landscaping and signs; new fencing between the station and Railroad Avenue; new bike racks; upgraded storm water management facilities that reduce run-off to the Jones Falls; and bus access improvements.
MARC TRAIN NEWS
New Public Address Systems to Interface with MARC Tracker
The MTA is now installing new public address and customer information systems at MARC commuter rail stations across the state. The $6 million project, funded under President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will replace the system currently in use, and will interface with the MARC Tracker system so passengers at the station will be able to hear and see messages regarding when the arrival of the bext train based on real-time information.
The new audio and electronic message signs also will be used to alert passengers of approaching trains, relay schedule change or delay information as well as important safety messages. The new system will allow the MARC Operations staff to target messages to individual stations, providing customers with more specific information than before, and the upgrades will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Platform Construction at BWI Rail Station Construction has begun on the north end of the north¬bound platform at the BWI Rail Station. Passengers will need to use the temporary walkway facing the ticket office. Passengers going south that need to use the elevator will not be affected.
Published by: MTA Office of
Communications and Marketing
6 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202
