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Annapolis commuters to D.C. lose bus

Moyer says she's asked city transit to consider taking over route

By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Staff Writer

Published 12/30/08

The Maryland Transit Administration is shutting down a route that helped hundreds of commuters travel between Annapolis and metropolitan Washington, D.C.

Starting Jan. 12, the administration will eliminate the 921 bus along with several other bus and commuting lines across the state. Commuters were warned about a proposed series of cuts in October.

MTA officials planned to announce their decisions to riders this week.

The 921 bus, which traveled between Annapolis and the New Carrollton Metro Station, was on the chopping block because it had the lowest ridership in the system, officials said. New timetables will be posted on the administration's Web site and information will be sent to riders through e-mail messages, as well as on the buses and impacted MARC Train lines.

"We're supposed to be putting out a release on the final changes within a day or two ... and it will also be on the Web site," said Cheron Wicker, an MTA spokesman. She added that saving money was a factor in these proposals, "and in some instances, it was better to consolidate a route."

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.

"This makes no sense," Ms. Moyer said. "It undermines all the time and energy we have already spent into getting people to ride share and do alternative transportation. We're also at a time where we need to be reducing congestion in Washington."

In October, the MTA introduced a series of proposals that were designed to save the state $25 million. In Anne Arundel, early plans were to eliminate the 921 bus, cut two evening trips on the MARC Train's Penn Line, and end the midday shuttle between Odenton and Laurel.

On the MARC Train, officials decided only to eliminate the last round-trip provided through trains 447 and 448 that stop at Odenton enroute between Washington's Union Station and Perryville. Trains 410 and 412, which operate midmorning, will be combined and operate as the 410 train, which also provides service to Odenton.

A series of hearings were held in the impacted areas and MTA officials accepted written comments through Dec. 26. Riders of the 921 bus argued that even though it had low ridership - roughly 125 people a day - the New Carrollton Metro Station was an all-encompassing location that included Metro, bus, MARC, Amtrak and Greyhound stops. The 922 and 950 buses go into Washington from Annapolis, but those buses provide one-way service into Washington and do not return to Annapolis until the afternoon.

Riders like Virginia Elliott had been attending hearings and contacting state and city officials to prevent the route's cancellation. Without it, Ms. Elliott would have to rely on her husband to drive her from her home in Bowie to her job in Annapolis.

"If that doesn't happen, I'll wind up missing work. It's sad," Mrs. Elliott said. "It seems as though there have been more people on the bus now. I guess this will be a shock to the new riders."

Officials at the Annapolis Regional Transportation Management Association, or ARTMA, said they were not surprised to learn about the cuts. However, the organization has a free option for commuters who will need a ride after the changes go into effect. A link on its Web site allows commuters to enter their information into a database to find a match.

Riders should be flexible with their arrival and departure times, said Heather McColl, executive director. Those who are just riding instead of driving may be expected to contribute to the gas or parking cost, but it is up to the driver.

Commuters headed to "a major commuting (area) such as Anne Arundel westbound into DC might hopefully find some matches instantly," Ms. McColl said. "The more people riding that bus register into the database, the more matches we're going to have of people seeking an alternative."

Bus rider Nicole Bowman lives in Suitland and uses the 921 to get to Annapolis, where she is a preschool teacher. Without the bus, she said she would be dependent on relatives who live in Annapolis to get her to work. She said she hoped to find other options in the new year. There were also other riders that she needed to notify.

"I'm bummed out over this," said Ms. Bowman, who had been riding the bus for six years. "I may have to get an apartment here, that's how much I love my job."

For information about the carpool service, visit www.artma.org and follow the links for Rideshare, or call 410-897-9340.

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Hold On Emma.... - 2009-01-10 09:21:15

You tell everyone to drive their own car and condemn public transit. Then you commend Dillon's Bus for providing public transportation. You seem to misunderstand that a great deal of their services are provided through MTA contracts.

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paul foer - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

Dillons - 2009-01-07 20:51:46

I commend Dillons Bus for the services they provide to the region. They are a shining example of private enterprise giving folks wonderful and needed transportation to our area. So I ask; How did the City screw this up or was it just simple economics? Were there city subsidies or what? Mr. Dillon, your comments would be appreciated if you choose to respond.

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Emma Giles - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

Thanks Dillons - 2009-01-06 19:51:55

My thanks to Dillon's for excellent, friendly service, and for getting us to New Carrolton and Annapolis safely and on time. I will truly miss the 921 bus.

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Barbara Friedmann - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

921 - 2009-01-06 14:40:04

This is my last comment ,the 921 carried 47,783 in 2008 thats a lot of people back in their cars

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Ronald Dillon Sr. - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Bad

pehaps you did'nt know - 2009-01-05 14:18:24

Commuter buses carry 13 thousand people a day ,operate by private bus companies .The 921 carried 3227 people in Nov.the 922 carried 13,244 and the 950 carried 20,527.

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Ronald D. - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Bad

Perhaps - 2009-01-04 19:09:07

A private car lending commuter program could be worked out? Maybe something run by a church or other organization? It would be less costly than paying a government employee $30,000.00+ a year and running and maintaining a bus (With apparently few riders). I'll gladly lend a 6 passenger car once a month. How about you Mr. Paul Foer? Will you lend your car for a good purpose? Or is it the government's job to get you where you want to go? Let's step up to the plate people.

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Emma Giles - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

Poor Paul - 2009-01-04 11:33:56

He/She thinks the government should control everything. Typical Liberal or maybe Socialist? My comments were to show how gullible Liberals are. And YES I AM a descendant of the REAL Emma Giles and a Paca by the way. I'll use whatever moniker I want without your permission. Sam Clemens used Mark Twain. I hope that's OK with you. Or should we burn all his great works and reprint them under his real name just to make you happy?

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Emma Giles - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

commuters to DC lose bus - 2009-01-02 22:45:13

MTA has to give a thirty day notice to the contactor in writing and to the riders,notices on the buses and at the stops ,they have not.Info.from md.PSC

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Ronald D. - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Bad

Huh? (Again) - 2009-01-02 20:43:03

Where is the board moderator? Good grief!

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J. Jovkovich - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

In Response To Emma Giles - 2009-01-02 15:38:11

Emma Giles' comments are mean-spirited and really nasty and as usual, suggest that he or she is a very angry person! Why is Emma so afraid of telling us who he or she is? Just look at Emma's style and invective in every comment, for example, talking about an Obama Magic green bus running on water. Emma's solution of just using cars will only increase our dependence on foreign oil. And by the way "Emma", the govt is responsible for infrastructure. I'd rather read Emma Goldman--but will the real Emma Giles stand up? (Taking her name from a former ferry boat in a comment about the loss of a bus route no less...Come on Emma--show yourself!)

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paul foer - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

Just wait - 2009-01-01 17:10:11

Obama will buy you a Magic 'Green' Bus that runs on water that takes you wherever you want to go. Only 'Mean People' and Republicans will have to pay for it! Geez! Go buy a cheap car and drive to Bowie and get on the Metro Shuttle bus. Now take a deep breath and LISTEN....The government is NOT responsible for your transportation needs.

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Emma Giles - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

Loss of 921 Bus - 2008-12-31 20:42:40

Why stress commuters to use public transportation and when things get a little hectic, you cut out public transportation. What is a single parent or a caregiver to do that works in DC and her young child or older parent gets sick, catch a taxi to Annapolis from DC which runs about $50 one way? It wasn't fair to cut the 921 completely if a cut had to be done, cutting back maybe one or two buses would have been sufficient. Work with the commuters not against us.

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S. Dunning - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Bad

Gov. O'Malley - 2008-12-31 09:04:16

I wrote to the gov. pleading to keep the bus and he (his office) didn't even have the decency to respond. And he touts himself as a supporter of middle class -- HAH.

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Tanya R. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi - 2008-12-30 23:40:34

I said at the public hearing that it was a charade and that is why I turned my back to the MTA officials and addressed the audience, pleading with them to join with me and petition the governor. He was the only one who had the power to not cut the routes. Transit is an easy target. See www.annapoliscapitalpunishment.blogspot.com for further comments.

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paul foer - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

921 - 2008-12-30 20:30:01

It's apparent the MTA hearings were just a charade. Despite the numerous petitions, comment letters, pleas from concerned citizens, and even proclamations from the Annapolis City Council, the MTA has regrettably severed the ties between Annapolis and the Washington Metro.

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Charles Owen - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

A great loss - 2008-12-30 20:07:56

At public hearings many of us offered to pay increased fares for reduced number of trips, to save the 921 bus route in some form. With the hardship of losing this bus, as well as global warming and congested roads, it's a shame our pleas were ignored.

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Barbara F. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad