Stadium shuttles to end
by Lori Barrett | May 16, 2008 at 7:46 am
Posted in Baltimore, travel
MTA’s shuttle service from park-and-ride lots to Ravens games, Orioles games, and special events like Preakness is scheduled to end on June 2. The service is in violation of a federal regulation.
The MTA charges $10 for the shuttle, significantly more than a normal bus fare. Because of this, the Federal Transit Administration classifies the service as “premium,” which puts the MTA in danger of losing much-needed federal funding. States are not allowed to offer premium services if private charter operators are offering the same service in the area.
According to the FTA’s spokesman: “The rule is designed to keep a federally subsidized transit [system] from competing with a private-sector business.”
Typically, about 2,500 fans use the shuttles to get to Ravens games. (Significantly fewer people — a couple hundred — take the shuttles to O’s games.) Riders will now have to use the Metro, light rail, or buses if they want to continue using public transit. The MTA is cannot afford to operate the shuttles at a reduced rate, as they are already subsidized by the state.
Does anyone local use this service? Seems like it will be missed more by out-of-towners than Baltimore-area residents.
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Oh, noooooooo! This service will be sorely missed. My son and I take the park-and-ride from Carney to all the Ravens games. It's the best way to get in and out of that sea of humanity. The only two things that the government has done right are EZPass and the Ravens shuttle. Now, there's only one thing left!
May 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Looks like you're SOL there JRJ.
On a completely different note, and I apologize (sort of) ina dvance for jacking your thread Lori...but I just can't hold back any longer.
The person responsible for the cover design of you paper should be fired right away. Well actually, that person should be kicked in the shin, THEN fired. The covers have been pretty bad overall....but yesterday was the WORST. If you're trying to attract a younger crowd, it MIGHT be a good idea to employ someone with actual design skills - not some dude with a jacked copy of photoshop.
Just sayin.
!
May 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Well, Yuckter, maybe not. I am counting on the free hand of economic forces to fill the void.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:28 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
free hand of economic forces? Hope it's not the back of the hand.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:55 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
So you're going to sell handjobs to pay for the cab rides?
How much?
!