Board OKs $44M BWI shuttle contract

Maryland’s Board of Public Works approved a $44 million contract Wednesday for airport shuttle service despite complaints the company has continually shirked minority participation goals.

The board previously had postponed a vote on the three-year contract with First Transit Inc. at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport three times. Under its previous contract, First Transit was supposed to have 30 percent minority participation. After achieving only 13 percent, black lawmakers and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People told members of the board hiring First Transit again means the state does not take minority participation goals seriously.