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EspañolMARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
The 'Maryland Transit Administration' (MTA), better known as 'MTA Maryland' to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA, is a state operated transit service. The MTA operates a comprehensive transit system throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and a commuter bus service in other parts of the state. More than 50 local bus lines, along with other transit modes, serve Baltimore's public transportation needs, along with other services that include the Light Rail, Metro Subway, and MARC Train. With nearly half of Baltimore residents lacking access to a car [1], the MTA is an important part of the regional transit picture.
History
The MTA was originally known as the ''Baltimore Metropolitan Transit Authority'', then the ''Mass Transit Administration'' before it changed to its current name. The MTA took over the operations of the old Baltimore Transit Company on April 30, 1970.[2]
The routes of most of the agency's current bus lines are based on the original streetcars operated by the Baltimore Transit Company and its parent companies between the 1890s and 1960s. All these routes were ultimately converted to rubber tire bus operations, and many of them were consolidated, extended into newly developed areas, or otherwise reconfigured in order to keep up with the ridership demands of the times.[2]
With the growth in popularity of the private automobile during the 20th century, streetcar and bus ridership declined, and the needs for public transportation changed. Mass transit in Baltimore and other cities shifted from a corporate operation to a tax-subsidized state-run service. The amount of service provided was greatly reduced, and some areas once served by streetcars are currently served by buses.[2]
The demise of the Baltimore streetcar took place between the years of 1947 and 1963, as operators found buses to be low maintenance and more cost-efficient. As rails were demolished, Baltimore was no longer a streetcar city. As transit needs and trends changed, rail transit did return to the city, with the Metro Subway opening in 1983 and the Light Rail in 1992.[2]
Services
Local bus
Main articles: MTA Local Bus (Maryland)
An MTA Low Floor Hybrid Bus
Bus services operate throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and other parts of the state. These include local bus lines (routes 1 through 98 and routes M-1 through M-17), which serve areas of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County. Commuter and express bus lines, which also operate within other parts of the state, include routes 120 through 995.
Local bus lines consist of two types: regular bus lines, which are identified by a one or two digit number, and metro connection lines, which bear the letter “M” followed by a one or two digit number. The “M” lines, which are concentrated in the northwest part of the city and suburbs in the vicinity of the Metro Subway, are designed to serve as feeder routes for the Metro system.
Rail transit
Metro Subway
Main articles: Metro Subway (Baltimore)
Baltimore Metro Subway train at State Center station
This system operates elevated and underground from a corporate and shopping complex in Owings Mills in Baltimore County into the heart of Downtown Baltimore City's business, shopping and sightseeing districts to the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Medical Center Complex. The 15.5-mile northwest-southeastbound route includes 14 station stops.
Light Rail
Main articles: Light Rail (Baltimore)
Light rail at BWI station
This service travels from a corporate, hotel, and shopping complex in Baltimore County’s Hunt Valley, through the suburbs north of Baltimore and northern Baltimore City and into the heart of downtown Baltimore's shopping, sightseeing, dining, and entertainment districts, past the harbor and through southern Baltimore City and finally to BWI Marshall Airport and Cromwell Station/Glen Burnie in Anne Arundel County. There is also service to Amtrak’s Baltimore Penn Station.
The Light Rail operates at street level, and travels on bridges crossing several bodies of water. There are 32 station stops along the 27.8 mile system. Although much of the line was single-tracked when it was built, the MTA completed double tracking thesystem in early 2006.
MARC
Main articles: MARC Train
This service operates three rail lines that provide commuter service to riders out of and into Baltimore, Frederick, Aberdeen, Washington, D.C. and several other locations in between.
MARC commuter train at Brunswick station
Proposed services
There are a number of proposed services on the planning board for the MTA. These include a maglev train between Baltimore and Washington, D.C; the Red Line, a proposed east-west rail or rapid bus line that would pass from Woodlawn to Patterson Park; and the Green Line, a proposed north-south line that would extend from the Johns Hopkins Hospital into northeast Baltimore, possibly as an extension of the Metro Subway.
Other services
Paratransit
MTA was among the first transit agencies to offer paratransit for persons with disabilities. This mobility service is a "non-fixed route" service and consists of fleet of specially converted Ford F-350's and Ford Crown Victorias. Some service is contracted out to ''MV Transportation'' and ''Veolia Transportation'', but all vehicles are owned by MTA.
Taxi access
A sub-service of the Paratransit program is MTA's Taxi Access program, designed with technology made by a company called MJM Management. The Taxi Access program ensures that any sufficiently physically disabled person that consistently requires Paratransit service can also qualify for the Taxi Access program. The Taxi Access program allows the bearer of a Taxi Access card to take a taxicab door-to-door within the limits of anywhere MTA Paratransit vans go; i.e. within 1/3 of a mile of an MTA public transit stop of any kind. Once the trip is complete, total out-of-pocket cost for the customer is $3.00, and the MTA picks up the rest of the price of the fare, "paying" it to the driver in the form of a voucher that s/he later redeems at his/her cab company headquarters.
Fares
These are the current fare prices for MTA buses, Light Rail, and Metro Subway travel.[6]. There is a separate fare structure for MARC Train services.
| Type of Fare | Cost (USD) | Express Bus Sevice | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | $1.60 | $2.00 | |
| Day Pass | $3.50 | +.40 (per ride) | Allows unlimited use of the bus, Light Rail, and Metro Subway on the day purchased. |
| Weekly Pass | $16.50 | +.40 (per ride) | Allows unlimited usage of MTA services for that week (Sunday through Saturday). |
| Monthly Pass | $64.00 | +.40 (per ride) | Allows unlimited usage of MTA services for the calender month. |
''Note: There is a special fare structure for disabled people and senior citizens with a special photo ID issued by the Maryland Transit Administration.''
| Type of Fare | Cost (USD) | Express Bus Service |
|---|---|---|
| One Way | $0.55 | $0.95 |
| Day Pass | $1.20 | .40 (per ride) |
| Weekly Pass | $16.50 | .40 (per ride) |
| Monthly Pass | $16.50 | .40 (per ride) |
:''Note: The shuttle's fare system only applies to one-way trips. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes can be used as on other buses.''
| Type | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Regular | $1.00 |
| Senior Citizens/Disabled | .50 |
:''Note: People who qualify for paratransit services can use all MTA rail and bus services free of charge.''
| Type | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| One Way | $1.80 |
Fare collection methods
Prior to the summer of 2005, the MTA used an older fare collection system. Day passes purchased on buses were printed out by the bus fareboxes. It was possible to alter these passes so that they could used on other days, and to sell them to other passengers, despite the fact that they were officially nontransferable.
The MTA has since installed new fareboxes on all of its buses that issue daily, weekly, and monthly passes with magnetic strips; new ticket vending machines at Light Rail and Metro Subway stations issue identical passes. [7]
The newer day passes can only be used on the appropriate day because the machine encodes the date and expiration time in the magnetic strip, which is read when swiped through the magnetic reader. Swiping the pass also sets a time limit on reuse so the pass cannot be immediately handed to a different passenger and used for free boarding.[8]
The MARC train service is preparing for the eventual integration with the regional SmarTrip smartcard-based fare system. The system will involve conductors using handheld units to validate SmarTrip cards as well as the MTA's Maryland Transit Pass.
Maryland Transit Pass
The MTA plans to begin selling smart cards under the name ''Maryland Transit Pass''. These will be similar to, and compatible with, Washington's smart card system, the SmarTrip card. [9]
When the Maryland Transit Pass system is fully implemented, it will be used not only on just Maryland Transit Administration transit services, but will also be able to be used in Washington D.C. on all WMATA buses, the Washington Metro and in Northern Virginia. Likewise, the WMATA SmarTrip card will be accepted by the fareboxes used by the MTA.[10]
Special programs
Baltimore City Public School System
A special agreement is set up between the Baltimore City Public School System and the Maryland Transit Administration to allow all eligible BCPSS students (usually students who live outside a predetermined area surrounding the school) during a school year to receive one color-coded booklet of dated tickets for each month with an ID card with a special number printed on the booklet and on the lower-right hand corner of the tickets.
The tickets allow students to ride on MTA buses, light rail, and subway free going to and from school. [11]
MTA College Pass
The Maryland Transit Administration has a special program set up with 24 Baltimore area colleges and universities which allows college students who are enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours per week can receive a monthly pass for $39.00.[12]
Participating colleges
★ Anne Arundel Community College
★ Baltimore City Community College
★ Baltimore International College
★ Catonsville Community College
★ College of Notre Dame of Maryland
★ Coppin State University
★ Dundalk Community College
★ Essex Community College
★ Harrison Career Institute
★ Johns Hopkins University
★
★ Homewood Campus
★
★ School of Medicine
★
★ School of Nursing
★
★ School of Public Health
★
★ School of Radiology
★ Morgan State University
★ North American Trade Schools
★ Sojourner Douglass College
★ TESST College – Caton Ave. and Towson
★ Towson University
★ University of Baltimore
★ University of Maryland, Baltimore
★ University of Maryland Baltimore County
★ Villa Julie College
Criticism
Main articles: Criticism of MTA Maryland
Over the years, MTA has been heavily criticized by its riders, delegates, community activists, and other advocates. Criticism has included that the system is slow, that its buses (even the new ones) break down far too often; and that the system is too unreliable to ensure that workers on wage-based work can get to their jobs on time, and that many areas where such workers need to reach have little or no bus service. In addition, suburban bus service on busy corridors is very minimal, and some suburban communities have no service at all.
External links
★ Official MTA site
References
1. SUSTAINABLE CITY,
Shifting Gears: Safer Cycling in Baltimore
2. A Concise History of Baltimore's Transit
3. A Concise History of Baltimore's Transit
4. A Concise History of Baltimore's Transit
5. A Concise History of Baltimore's Transit
6. Current Fares
7. Introducing New Fareboxes on MTA Buses
8. Maryland Transit Administration adds fare inspectors to prevent freeloaders
9. Maryland Transit Pass
10. Maryland MTA: Growing the Nation’s First Statewide-to-Regional Smart Card System
11. BCPSS FAQs
12. MTA College Pass Program
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