Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will increase transit fares effective June 25, 2015

2010 (c) Washington Post Apartment Showcase

Another reason why I'm glad O'Malley is no longer is office - but his effects linger on...
His 2013 Gas Tax Bill mandated fare and service increases every 2 years for Local Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, and Mobility/Paratransit. It mandated increases for Commuter Buses and MARC every 5 years.

For those of you who take public transportation in Maryland be aware that fares for Commuter Bus and MARC train will increase by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the last five years starting June 25, 2015.

The MARC fare increases will be rounded to the nearest dollar meaning single fare prices will increase by a dollar. There is no chart yet for multi-use fares - Weekly and Monthly - but the CPI will be applied to those as well. We will need to wait and see.

The other change for MARC passengers is the cost of buying a ticket on the train will increase from $3.00 to $5.00 unless they qualify for senior/disability fares. More problematic for some, MARC will no longer cross-honor the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) monthly passes.

See: Brunswick Line Pricing

See also:  http://mta.maryland.gov/new-fare-pricing

** Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 (known as the gas tax bill).

Sources: MTA web site and Baltimore Sun.
 

FYI - Federal Transit Benefits Are Retroactive

Some good financial news comes in the latest news articles regarding Federal Transit Benefits being upped from $125/month in 2012 to $245/month in 2013 and clarifying retroactive payments for 2012.

"The bill Congress approved earlier this month to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff” included two key changes to these transit benefits. It increased the monthly cap while also noting that the benefits could be applied retroactively." (Washington Post)

The Examiner notes that "Transit riders will be able to receive even higher federal transit benefits -- and get back money for last year's transit costs."

"The $240 limit will be retroactively applied to 2012, replacing the $125 ceiling that was in place that year (before the bill was approved)." (Washington Post)

The IRS is instructing employers on how to accomodate this change so that employees can benefit. (See the IRS instructions in Notice 2013-8.)

MARC/VRE riders going the distance are most likely to benefit. "A monthly pass on VRE, for example, can cost as much as $294.10, while MARC trains can cost up to $350 a month."

 

What are CSX Heat Orders?

As we are in a heat wave with temperatures over 90 and hitting 100 degrees, two of MARC's lines are hit with "heat restrictions". Why the third doesn't is a matter of track ownership. Here is the "official" explanation:

What are Heat Orders?

Thursday, March 15, 2012 - 11:51am

Passengers on the Brunswick and Camden Lines often see messages during the spring and summer informing them that there are “heat orders” in effect. CSX Transportation, the owner of the Brunswick and Camden Lines, reduces the maximum speed of passenger trains by 20mph (but not under 40mph) under one or both of the following conditions:

• Consistent ambient temperatures of 85 degrees or greater
• A 25 degree swing in temperatures either warmer or colder in a 24-hour period.

Criteria for heat orders are more stringently implemented when trackwork has recently taken place. Newly-installed rail and ties are more likely to shift in high heat and fluctuating temperature conditions. An example of a sunkink can be viewed by clicking here.

Typically, heat orders cause delays of 5-15 minutes. The less stops that a train make and thus the more time a train spends operating a maximum authorized speed (such as Brunswick Line train 877 or Camden Line train 852), the greater the impact the heat orders will have on maintaining schedules.

In addition, CSX dispatches track inspectors to check the rails during these conditions. This requires one of two tracks to be out of service and may cause additional delays. Our colleagues at the Virginia Railway Express have written an extensive explanation of heat orders, which can be found on their website.

Heat orders do not take effect on the Penn Line until temperatures reach 95 or 100 degrees, and these restrictions relate primarily to the overhead electric wires. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor is a heavily-engineered, high speed railroad and much less prone to sun kinks because there is much more frequent, high-speed service, which discourages sun kinks from forming. Also, the Camden and Brunswick Lines have many more curves than the Penn Line does, limiting engineers’ ability to see track defects. It is important to note that this does not mean that CSX tracks are unsafe—CSX maintains its tracks in compliance with all Federal Railroad Administration regulations.

Source: http://mta.maryland.gov/advisories/what-are-heat-orders[06/21/12 11:15:54 AM]