Every day thousands of people in northeastern Baltimore County depend on the state’s buses, MARC trains and light rail to get them to work. With gasoline prices at an all-time high, it is important to offer commuters an alternative to driving, and the state’s transit system usually does that.
That is why it distresses me to learn of recent problems at the Maryland Transit Administration.
Earlier this year, the MTA pulled its 53-car light-rail fleet out of service due to mechanical problems. That led to weeks of disruptions for commuters.
This summer the state’s MARC trains have experienced inexcusable delays. Nearly 20 percent of all trips on the Penn Line were delayed in June. Even worse, almost 40 percent of trips on the Camden Line were late.
Then, this month, the MTA was forced to concede that it had pulled 200 buses off the streets due to mechanical problems. About 50 of the buses had defective brakes.
The O’Malley administration has made a big deal out of funding transit. Recently, the governor’s allies on the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board voted to allocate all of the state’s new transportation money for transit projects, including a Green Line for the subway system that would go into northeastern Baltimore County.
More than 90 percent of all personal travel is done on highways, and I have grave concerns about not investing a penny in new money for roads and bridges. But what seems even more ludicrous is investing in new transit projects when the state cannot even guarantee the basic operation of its current vehicles.
The safety and maintenance of our state’s transit fleet must be guaranteed before embarking on costly new programs.
Del. Joe Boteler
White Marsh
