A Pennsylvania-based transit authority is considering a commuter route between York County and Baltimore County?s Hunt Valley, aiming to relieve increasing congestion on Interstate 83, officials said Thursday.
Officials from RabbitTransit, York County?s transportation agency, said they are examining a potential spin-off of their York-to-Harrisburg express service in Baltimore County after survey results indicated interest from frustrated commuters. They plan to meet with Hunt Valley business owners next week to discuss funding.
“This would be primarily tailored to meet the needs of York County residents heading to Baltimore,” said Richard Farr, RabbitTransit?s executive director. “But if there?s reverse commuters coming with us, great.”
A survey of 450 Pennsylvania residents, including some outside York County, named Hunt Valley and downtown Baltimore via the light rail as commuters? top two destinations. A commuter bus between York and Hunt Valley would likely include other stops, such as Shrewsbury, Pa., Farr said.
Traffic volume on I-83 has increased almost 15 percent over the past eight years, from 20,121 cars per day in 1999 to 57,502 in 2004, according to Maryland State Highway Administration statistics. Farr speculated the spike could be caused by an increase of York residents commuting to Baltimore (last estimated at 16,000 in 2000) as well as Marylanders moving across the state line.
More than 340 survey respondents indicated congestion generated the most anxiety during their commute.
RabbitTransit said the cost would likely exceed the $3-per-ride fare on its Harrisburg route. The agency?s buses between Harrisburg and York feature lap trays and television, and run six round trips on weekdays.
Maryland transit officials said they have not received an official proposal from the York agency, but said a state-sponsored route would be “years in the future.”
