Riders slam state at 913 bus hearing

Commuters protest plan to close route

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

More than 70 people appeared at a public hearing held by MTA at the Jaycees center in Waldorf, and 24 of them spoke against a proposed elimination of the 913 line or cuts to other lines.

In order to cover a $5.4 million hole in its fiscal 2009 commuter budget, MTA has proposed slashing bus and train services in the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. Officials are proposing to eliminate holiday service, reduce service on three bus lines and eliminate six others, including the 913.

The agency itself is absorbing an additional $25 million in cuts in administrative expenses.

The 913 is an express line stopping at South Potomac Church in White Plains; Regency Furniture Stadium and the Mattawoman Beantown park and ride lot in Waldorf; and Federal Center and the Metro station in Suitland. Like other lines being considered for elimination, it carries around 250 passengers a day, far fewer than the 1,100-passenger average for Washington bus routes.

"We certainly do realize we don't have a good alternative for the elimination of the 913," acknowledged MTA planner Glenn Saffran before the hearing began.

Several 913 riders insisted that the bus is their only convenient public transportation option.

"If you cut out the 913 that picks us up, the 903 is already full," said Doris Duvall, referring to the popular Charlotte Hall-to-Washington, D.C. route. Duvall said she drives from Lusby every day to catch the 913.

"When I rode the 903, I'd have to get to Mattawoman a half an hour early just to get a seat," said Catherine Hayes of La Plata, a five-year veteran of the bus system.

Hayes predicted that the 903 would be too crowded to guarantee 913 workers a ride home. She asked, "Are we going to call [contractor] Keller and say, ‘Can you come and get us?'"

Angela Baker of Nanjemoy suggested that many riders who currently catch the 913 at the church and stadium stops would have to begin parking at the already crowded Mattawoman stop.

"Please don't base your decision just on ridership numbers," said Mary Frauenfelder of Waldorf.

"Please consider where the route is."

Frauenfelder said that 903 drivers are already tolerating unsafe practices — such as standing in the aisle and sitting on the floor — in order to pack riders onto buses.

"I've been one of those people who sat on the floor," said Brian Smith of Waldorf, noting that he once had to stand in the aisle while wearing a cast on his broken leg.

Some riders suggested that MTA take buses from the 905 route, which services St. Mary's County.

"The 905 is very accommodating," said Amanda Vignansky of Waldorf. "It comes every 15 minutes."

A handful of public officials also pleaded for alternatives to bus cuts.

Jody Nyers of Bryans Road, a member of the Charles County Commuter Bus Advisory Group, noted that MTA's proposed cut to holiday service would leave 4,200 nongovernment workers stranded without transportation.

Senior county planner Jason Groth noted the service was in high demand in Charles County and asked for an alternative to cuts.

Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) rushed from a late county commissioner meeting to the hearing to deliver a prepared statement.

He called the MTA's action "the wrong cut at the wrong time" and "both a tactical and strategic mistake."

MTA is scheduled to make a decision on cuts Jan. 12. Riders can still comment on the cuts in writing until Dec. 26.

Comments should be sent by e-mail to commuterbus@mtamaryland.com or by mail to Glenn Litsinger, MTA Office of Customer Information, 6 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202.

jfriess@somdnews.com