Fear of buses entering Carroll County from Baltimore City has nothing to do with race, Carroll Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge says.
After commenting recently that Carroll citizens would “have a fit” if a public transportation system traveled into Baltimore and back, she has received numerous complaints from outraged residents.
“I was referring to … an MTA-style, mass-transit bus, not a comment on the race or social status of the riders,” Gouge wrote in an e-mail. “I have heard from citizens for many years that they are generally not interested in mass-transit in Carroll County.”
But some residents do not agree.
“Only 3 percent of our county is minorities ? that creates a stigma,” said Brad Brown, founder of the Carroll County Progressives. “I thought Commissioner Gouge?s comments were very racially charged.”
Gouge, a commissioner of 17 years, said she has worked on campaigns for black candidates and has taken a Kenyan into her home.
The county?s public transportation system, which consists of a small-scale mini-bus system mainly for senior citizens, is not enough, Brown said.
He wants to take a bus to the National Aquarium in Baltimore City or to see a baseball game.
“It?s inadequate; there are not enough shuttle buses,” Brown said. “I?ve heard of people having to wait two, three hours.”
But the county?s rural character makes it a bad fit for mass transit buses that make frequent stops, Carroll Commissioner Michael Zimmer said.
He took a commuter bus operated by a subcontractor to the Maryland Transit Administration from Columbia to law school in Baltimore City about 20 years ago, and says he “just liked it.”
He could take a nap or read a book without worrying who else was riding, he said.
“The same people who were getting on in the morning were getting off at night,” Zimmer said.
Gouge said she is not opposed to discussing “limited, commuter shuttles” to the Owings Mills Metro station or “other commuter points.”
“People are going to want to go elsewhere, because Carroll County doesn?t want to bend,” Brown said. “It?s like we?re stuck in time.”
