Just in from MTA - Guaranteed Ride Home Reminder

Just in:
Do you carpool or vanpool, take transit, bike or walk to work at least twice weekly? You’re eligible for Guaranteed Ride Home!

If you experience a personal illness, family emergency or unscheduled overtime at work, Guaranteed Ride Home will get you home free in a taxi, rental car or transit up to four times per year. Sign-up is easy at commuterconnections.org or call 800-745-RIDE (7433).

With Guaranteed Ride Home, you’re home free!

Source:

MTA Facebook page

Just in from Maryland Transit Administration

 

"On Monday, MARC Train Service opened the new high-level platform at the Halethorpe station. This is a major upgrade for one of our highest capacity Penn Line stations - and pretty good looking too, even if we do say so ourselves! It's designed to significantly reduce the time that the train needs to load and unload at the station, which will benefit all Penn Line commuters.The Northbound platform is scheduled to open in early July."



Facebook image (c)

"Amtrak Penn Line Conductor John Wickham (l) and his Assistant Conductor Tom Ensley (r) oversee boarding of Train 517 on Monday morning on the new Halethorpe platform."



Facebook image (c)

  

Source:

MTA Facebook Page

MARC Announcement - Seeking New Members for MRAC

In case you missed the e-mail notice:

The MARC Riders Advisory Council (MRAC), established in 2006, is seeking new members.  The MRAC meets once a month, on the third Thursday, from 4:30-6:00 PM, at or near Union Station. A toll-free teleconference line is also available for those who are unable to attend in person.

Requirements Include:
* Attend meetings regularly (in person or by teleconference)
* Ride MARC regularly
* Report problems to MARC management as soon as possible (defective cars, rude employees)
* Identify yourself to fellow riders, solicit their feedback, and report back to MRAC.

Qualifications include:
* Must be of legal age (18 years);
* a resident of the MARC service area;
* a customer of MARC service;
* committed to active participation as a member of the MRAC.

Note: anyone missing more than two meetings a year will be considered for dismissal.

Disqualifications include:
Employees or relatives of employees of the Maryland Department of Transportation and its contractors are not eligible to for membership.  This includes employees of Amtrak, CSX Transportation, and Bombardier Transportation Services.

Application Process:
Those interested are invited to submit an application, Click here!

Deadline: Friday, April 18 at 11:59pm

Do You Know About - MTA Online Ticketing Web Site?

Latest in from MTA...
 

New Web Site makes online ticketing easier

Customers of MARC Train and MTA Commuter Bus now have a new, more convenient way to purchase tickets online at mta.commuterdirect.com.

 

You can now place one-time or renewable orders, and the site also accepts electronic SmartBenefits, vouchers and employer-sponsored credit cards.

 

Please keep in mind that this facilitates online purchasing and is not a way to print online tickets.

 

Allow 4-5 business days for tickets to be mailed. FedEx is also an option for expedited delivery for an additional charge.

 

MARC Train tickets will continue to be sold at MARC Train stations where a Ticket Agent is available, as well as Amtrak ticket counters and Amtrak QuikTrak machines.

 

Copyright © 2011 Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)

Reminder: Put a valid phone number on your Monthly Pass!

Good day fellow travelers.

 

This year I have been the proud discoverer of not one, but two, monthly MARC passes.

 

Both monthly passes were CommunterConnect tickets and had their names but no phone numbers.

 

Fortunately for these passengers (I am honest and) their names were unique enough for me to google their starting/stopping points to find them. Yippie for Doreen's research skills!

 

The lesson to learn is: always  put your phone number on your monthly ticket.

 

And, if your name is not preprinted on the ticket, at least put your first name.

 

Happy Thursday!

Urgent Action Needed on State Transportation Funding

Montgomery County Council member Marc Elrich is asking for constituent assistance in getting Annapolis to address our public transportation needs properly. This year's legislative session is almost over and commuters need to take action now.

Why?
Because Maryland's State Transportation Trust Fund is almost bankrupt!

What can you do?
"Tell the Governor, Speaker Busch, and our County Delegation:  FUNDTRANSPORTATION - OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT! "

Show your support on Facebook and Twitter and using the hashtag #FundTransportation.

Let Mr. Elrich be your advocate: at 240.777.7966 or via email at councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Photo by Michael Ventura (c)